Do you know the profession of epithetist? This is the manufacture of facial prostheses for people who have had part of their face removed or who were simply born with a deformity.
Annie and Vicky have an extremely rare job. They are the only two epithetists in Quebec.
“The profession of an epithetist is to restore the harmony of the face. So we basically do eyes, noses and ears,” explains Vicky Dessureault.
The manufactured parts are called epitheses.
“We can also have severe burns or people who have had an accident. It has to be of high anatomical quality so that it’s undetectable for the person to regain their life before the disfigurement,” she continues.
Thoroughness, patience and humanity are the most important qualities for practicing this profession.
Serge Dulude was able to benefit from the work of Annie and Vicky. His nickname changed his life.
“I was diagnosed with skin cancer. Every time I reset the prosthesis, I find the man I am,” he says.
“It gives us great satisfaction to enable these people to resume their daily activities,” adds Annie Laverdière.
There are about ten epithetists in Canada, and nearly 300 at the planetary level.
Even after several years of struggle, epithets still do not fall under the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.