Doctors Russia’s pioneering surgeons have safely removed a “Batman mask” birthmark that was left by a Florida two-year old girl.

Luna Tavares Fenner (Florida) had a massive nevus.She had a mark on her nose and eyes that covered her eyelids. For more than two decades, she traveled with her mother to Russia in order to receive treatment.

Photodynamic therapy is a non-existent treatment in the United States for children.

Luna was born with congenital Melanocytic Naevus. This skin condition causes abnormally dark pigmentation, often across the entire body.

Luna Tavares-Fenner had a huge nevus birth mark covering her nose and eyelids, and she made regular trips with her mother Carolina (both pictured) to Russia for treatment

Luna Tavares Fenner suffered from a massive nevus birthmark on her nose and eyelids. Luna made frequent trips to Russia with Carolina (both shown) for treatment.

After six operations, Luna (pictured after treatment), aged two years and nine months, has had her birthmark removed and will return to Russia in the New Year for cosmetic treatment

Luna is now two years old and nine months after six surgeries. 

Doctors inject unnamed drugs into patients to treat the condition. The drug accumulates within the birthmark, causing the tissue to die. New, healthy skin grows underneath. 

Luna is now two years old and nine months and has undergone six surgeries. She will return to Russia for treatment in the New Year and fly back home for Christmas.

East2West News spoke with Dr Pavel Popov in an exclusive interview. It is a princess. 

Luna had surgery at a clinic in Krasnodar – a Russian city close to Ukraine amid high tension over reports of a new conflict between the two countries. 

Luna was born with congenital melanocytic naevus, a skin condition that produces dark blemishes, usually on the face. Pictured: Carolina and Luna wearing bandages after surgery

Luna was born with congenital Melanocytic Naevus. This is a condition where the skin develops dark patches, most often on the forehead. Carolina and Luna after their surgery.

The toddler (pictured after the treatment) had been receiving photodynamic therapy, a treatment which is not available in the US, where Luna and her family live

Photodynamic therapy is a form of phototherapy that can be used to treat skin conditions.

Dr Pavel Popov said the treatment was a 'success' and added he is not yet sure how long Luna's cosmetic treatment will take. Pictured: Luna wearing bandages after treatment

Doctor Pavel Popov stated that the treatment was successful and said that he doesn’t know how long Luna will need to have cosmetic surgery. Luna with bandages following treatment 

THE TREATMENT

Luna was born congenitally melanocytic, which is a skin condition that causes dark spots on the skin, mostly across her face.

This treatment involves doctors injecting unnamed drugs to patients, and then the drug builds up in their birthmarks.

The tissue dies, and a crust forms over the skin. New, healthy skin is born beneath the crust. Laser surgery is used to “cleanse” the skin and decrease pigmentation.

The pioneering process left only pink skin, small crusts and a few spots but they will disappear soon.

Luna, her mother Carol Fenner (37) and Luna managed to continue returning for groundbreaking care even though it coincided with Covid-19.

The operations have had a positive outcome, which doctors say prevented the possibility of skin cancer in the child.

Dr Popov explained that he only needed six operations to get rid of the nevus. He was able to make it go away.

The main medical aspect of the job is complete. It does not mean we’re done with the treatment.

“We will let Luna recover from her treatment and then perform the aesthetic procedures.

“Later, our goal is to ensure Luna does not experience any problems when she reaches the age of concern about her appearance.”

He said that Luna had been a success with the cosmetic procedure and that he doesn’t know how long it will last.

He stated that he was completely happy with the results of his surgery.

We are very proud of Luna. There is often an aversion towards the medical staff. Doctors are often afraid of children.

“But Luna takes her dolls every appointment – she wants me to care for their faces.”

I attach plaster to the doll’s face. Luna loves that her doll gets treated. It’s possible that Luna feels so happy because there isn’t any pain involved in her treatment.

The treatment is said to work by doctors injecting an unnamed drug into a patient, which then accumulates in the birthmark and causes the tissue to die. Pictured: Luna after treatment

Doctors inject a drug unidentified into patients to treat the condition. The drugs accumulate in the skin and cause the tissue to die. Pictured: Luna after treatment

There has been a heartwarming result from the operations which medics say has prevented possible skin cancer for the toddler. Pictured: Luna with her birthmark

Luna (pictured during process of having birthmark removed) had surgery at a clinic in Krasnodar - a Russian city close to Ukraine amid high tension over reports of a new conflict between the two countries

The heartwarming results of the operation have prevented the possibility of skin cancer in the toddler. (Photo left and right, with her birthmark).

Luna's mother (pictured with her daughter) said she was grateful that the treatment did not involve invasive and 'aggressive' surgery, which would have been the case elsewhere

Luna’s mother, pictured here with Luna, said that Luna was very grateful that her treatment didn’t involve aggressive and invasive surgery.

“I cannot tell you how much time the cosmetic portion of Luna’s treatment is going to take. This depends on many things – lockdowns and visas, pandemics. 

Luna’s mom said that she is grateful for the fact that there was no need to perform invasive or aggressive surgery.

WHAT IS A CONGENITAL MELANOCYTIC NAEVUS?

A CMN affects around one in ten babies. They are usually smaller. They can even be very hairy in some instances.

Doctors sometimes call CMNs “brown birthmarks”. These CMNs get larger as the children grow older.

Although they don’t often cause complications, they can make you itchy. Although there is a small risk of melanoma in people with larger CMNs, it is not high. 

MailOnline spoke with Dr Adil Shahad, British Skin Foundation spokesperson and consultant dermatologist. 

A naevus can also be referred to as a mole. Congenital melanocytic moles (or birthmarks) are moles that have been present since birth. 

The best treatment is surgery.

Large growths might require grafts of full thickness.

Laser therapy is an option if surgery is impossible due to the severity, location, and thickness of the pigmentation.

Also, you might consider using Dermabrasion. The skin is resurfaced to make it smoother.

“Luna seems to be doing fine,” she stated. Her bandages have been removed.

“We are going to travel for Christmas but will return for our final cosmetic procedures at the end January.

“I’m not regretful of having received the treatment. Luna didn’t feel the pain.

“She still dances for a couple of hours after her surgery.”

Carolina is originally from Brazil and she’s’really happy.’ She also speaks with other mothers who are receiving different treatment in the US.

“I talked to many mothers who had traditional surgery in the US, and I found that they were more susceptible to infection.

“The children are kept in the hospital for a prolonged time and receive general anaesthesia.

Luna could have suffered from multiple seizures. It was only the local anaesthetic that she had.

Carolina Tavares (33), and Thiago Tavares (30) raised many thousands of dollars for the treatment of their daughter in Krasnodar. A Russian anonymous donor also supported them, whom they called a “miracle”.

Carolina left America after a Florida mother called her child a monster. Carolina decided to have her daughter operated on and set her off to Russia.

Carolina stated the following in 2019, when she spoke about her daughter’s treatment: “When I made the decision to move a few months back, everyone called me insane.

“But I felt something inside me telling me to try.

“People claim mothers feel something. I believe it.”

“I knew that I must try to come.

“I don’t understand why but I’m just going to try it.”  

Dr Popov assured her online that she could save her child from debilitating pain.

She stated that she wanted to steer clear of the more aggressive procedures being performed by other US doctors. 

Dr. Popov, a specialist in cancer treatment has been “working in photodynamic therapy since over twenty years”. 

Luna is free from cancer. However, the technique may be useful for those with similar conditions.