The Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, is the first dedicated center for correction of face and head disorders in South East Asia. Its service began as the ‘Craniofacial Team, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital’ in 1986, led by Dr. Charan Mahatumarat in cooperation with other experts: plastic surgeons, pediatricians, neurosurgeons, radiologists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, anesthetists, orthodontists, psychiatrists, speech pathologists, social workers, psychologists and nurses.

In 2001, the Craniofacial Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society was officially established in honor of the 48^th birthday anniversary of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. And in 2008, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn proceeded to officially open the center and its official name, “Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society”, was granted in 2009.

Achievements

The Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has succeeded in many achievements.

1. The Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital is the biggest referral center and supports many provincial hospitals, non-profit organizations and public media especially the Bureau of the Royal Household which transferred patients according to the Royal visits of rural areas as well as patients from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.  
   
   
2. There have been more than 3,000 patients with face and head disorders in its care. This database is the knowledge center for medical personnel all over Thailand.
   
   
3. The prototype of comprehensive craniofacial care on physical, mental and social dimensions has been done under various activities such as craniofacial support group,  Green activity for the fulfilled dream Project, Happy Meal, Happy Heart Project, Happy Family Day and the Multidisciplinary Mobile Clinic, etc.
   
   
4. It is recognized worldwide as the center for frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele. The ‘Chula technique’ invented by Dr. Charan Mahathumarat and Dr. Chopoew Taecholaen won the Mahidol B. Brown Award for Thai Medicine and Public Health in 1999, and was later adopted by other surgeons around the globe.
   
   
5. It is renowned as the leading craniofacial center which introduced advanced technology such as a distractor, customized implants, resorbable plates & screws and computerized surgical simulation into the country. 
   
   
6. The staff of Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center were honored to be the editorial board for many international medical journals.
   
   
7. The staff of Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center play important roles in international associations of this field. For example, Dr. Charan Mahatumarat was the co-founder and an executive committee of the Asian-Pacific Craniofacial Association and an executive committee in 2009. Dr. Charan Mahatumarat was a council member of the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery (June 2001 – Present), established by Dr. Paul Tessier,the world-famous Craniofacial surgeon Professor from France. (Dr. Charan was the first Thai to be a Council Member of this organization). Dr. Nond Rojvachiranonda is an executive committee of the Asia Pacific Craniofacial Association.
   
   
8. Dr. Charan Mahatumarat  and Dr. Nond Rojvachiranonda were the co-founders of the Thai Cleft Lip-Palate and Craniofacial Association. Dr. Charan was the first president while Dr. Nond has been on the executive committee and is currently the president.
   
   
9. Dr. Chutima Jirapinyo was an associate member of Asian-Pacific Craniofacial Association.
   
   
10. Professor Emeritus Dr. Charan Mahathumarat was honored with the Dushdi Mala Medal for Arts and Sciences for the year 2023 (B.E. 2566). This recognition highlights his outstanding contributions, particularly the establishment of Thailand’s first Center for Facial and Skull Deformity Correction and his development of the Chula Technique for the surgical treatment of elephantiasis, among other achievements.

Obligation

1. To be the central agency for comprehensive patient care by multidisciplinary teams whose quality is equivalent to the international standards.
2. To achieve academic excellence in craniofacial surgery.
3. To offer fellowship training programs in craniofacial surgery.

Support Activities

Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center aims to correct face and cranium abnormalities and treat patients with physical, mental, and social disorders with the same excellent standards as the ones offered in the developed countries. Such patient care is provided by highly specialized personnel both at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and regional hospitals close to patient homes. Most importantly, patients and their families are relieved from any medical expenses and are not restricted by any health insurance system conditions for their medical care.

Dr. Charan Mahatumarat is the Head of Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center and Dr. Nond Rojvachiranonda as the Deputy Head. There are other staffs in the Center as follow:

1. Craniofacial surgeons
2. Speech pathologist
3. Psychologist
4. Registered nurse
5. Experts from several specialties
6. Administrative officers

Dr. Charan Mahatumarat
The Head of Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center

Dr. Nond Rojvachiranonda
The Deputy Head of Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center

Services

For those who have face or head disorders, they can contact Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center directly using the below QR code.

Physical care

1. Medical service at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (Bangkok area).
   The out-patient service at Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center is the prototype of a craniofacial clinic attended by several specialists. It has been operating for 20 years on every Monday. Bhor Por Ror Building, 17^th Floor, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
   
   
2. Online medical service (all over Thailand)
   The medical service can be provided online to solve traveling limitations through normal calls, video calls, photos and videos sent via Line, Facebook, email, and fax. 

Craniofacial conference    

This craniofacial conference only happens at world leading centers, suitable for patients with complex conditions. The craniofacial conference has been conducted on every 3^rd Wednesday of the month since 1986. Our specialists attend the conference to manage each patient with face and head disorders.

Craniofacial surgery

Apart from the regular surgery service, we also provide:

1. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. 
   
   Out of office hours surgery service.
   Patients with facial and head disorders are increasing yearly and most of them need surgery. The long queuing is a concern so the out-of-office-hours surgery service is necessary to reduce the waiting  time.
   
   Augmented capacity of patient beds in ICU.
   The ICU care is necessary after complex craniofacial surgery. Donation money is used to overcome The limitation of ICU beds.
   
   
2. Upcountry surgery service
   The craniofacial surgeons regularly travel to perform surgery at hospitals close to patients’ homes.

Mental care

1. Psychologists.
   All patients and their families will get advice from psychologists to deal with personal anxiety about face and head disorders and bullying. All of these concerns are as important as the physical issues.  
   
   
2. Craniofacial support group.
   The Craniofacial support group was initiated in 2003 for the first time in Thailand by Dr. Nond Rojvachiranonda, Miss Pranee Songdechakraiwut (social worker) and Miss Nantana Pracharitpakdee (vocal therapist) for those suffering from face and head disorders. The Thai Red Cross Society has endorsed the project title as “ Hopeful Life Project”.  
   
   
3. Happy Family Day.
   Every year, the Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center holds a recreational day that includes food and beverage booths, games, stage performance or outdoor activities such as a trip to the amusement park. The day is meant to create relationship between families and to be similar to ‘ Children day’ for the patients. These result in great cheerfulness to the patients to fight with the physical disorders and to be able to live in society with hope.
   
   
4. Self-Esteem Enhancement Project.
   This project aims to support patients with craniofacial abnormalities, even those who have undergone surgery but may still bear residual scars or visible facial irregularities. Such conditions often affect self-confidence, especially in children and adolescents, making them hesitant to express themselves. The initiative focuses on developing emotional resilience, adaptability, and self-expression skills through various activities. It seeks to boost self-esteem, shift patients’ perspectives about themselves, and empower them to interact with society with greater confidence.

Social care.

1. Financial support.
   All related expenses such as medical expenses , traveling costs, medical equipment, living costs, extra expenses out of the medical allowances, are supported together with consultation by the social workers.
   
   
2. A full belly, happy heart.
   The project was initiated as a lunch support to patients and their families who visited the center. This also promotes relationship and self-care among the families.
   
   
3. Agiriculture to fulfill the dream.
   The Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Center in cooperation with the Meechai Weerawaithaya Foundation provides an opportunity to the patients  over 15 years old to practice agricultural skills. This project aims at helping those patients to earn their livings. Usually, the patients are considered as a social burden and need the support of others while they actually want to prove their ability and social acceptance rather than social sympathy.  
   
   
4. Scholarships for better lives.
   Gulf Energy Development Co., Ltd, (Gulf) and the Thai Energy Foundation give scholarships to patients so that they have a chance to further their study for career opportunities in the future. Those who are eligible for scholarships are from kindergarten level to undergraduate level and from underprivileged families.