Dr Waner is South African and was formally the associate professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery at the University of Arkansas Medical School, USA. He now works at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.

He has operated on between 2000 and 3000 patients, who come from all over the world with haemangiomas and vascular malformations. He is an internationally recognised authority and is actively involved in research.

Dr Waner recognises that these haemangiomas and vascular malformations cause emotional and psychological distress for both the child and for the family. The child's health can also often be severely affected by these haemangiomas and vascular malformations and this is not helped by peoples' stares and comments which can be devastating.

Dr Waner therefore feels it is beneficial to operate on the child whilst they are still very young to make him/her look "normal" or as normal as the child can be to avoid as much distress and discomfort to the child as possible.