Little Luna Tavares-Fenner had a huge nevus birthmark covering her nose and eyelids. It was dark in colour and resembled a Batman mask covering large parts of her young face

A two-year-old girl who had a birthmark on her face which resembled a Batman mask has had it removed in a pioneering operation.

Little Luna Tavares-Fenner had a huge nevus birthmark covering her nose and eyelids, and had made regular visits from her home in Florida to Russia to have treatment.

She had been receiving photodynamic therapy – a treatment not yet available in the US.

Her doctor Pavel Popov said: “Luna has already started speaking and she says herself: ‘My black spot has gone. I am a princess’.”

The surgery took place at a clinic in Krasnodar – a Russian city close to Ukraine amid high tension between the two countries.

Luna with her mother in their Krasnodar apartment
And there has been a heartwarming result from the Russian medical treatment, which medics say has prevented possible skin cancer for the toddler.

“We only had six operations to remove the nevus and have succeeded in making it disappear,” Dr Popov said.

“The main medical part of the task is done. This does not mean that we have finished treatment.

“We are letting Luna rest from the treatment she has undergone and then we will undertake the aesthetic surgeries.

Luna after treatment

She is recovering well

“Later we aim to make sure Luna will not have any complexes when she comes to the age where she is concerned about her appearance.”

The doctor had no hesitation in saying the treatment was a “success”.

“I am completely satisfied with the result of the surgery,” he said.

“Luna is very loyal to us. Often there is an aversion to the medical staff.

“Children are afraid of doctors, but Luna brings her dolls to the appointment every time and asks me to treat their faces.

“I attach a plaster to the doll’s face. Luna is happy that the doll is also treated.

“I guess the lack of pain in the treatment allows her to be so loyal. I can’t tell you how long the cosmetic part of Luna’s treatment will take.

She needs cosmetic surgery following the removal of the birthmark 

“It depends on too many factors – pandemics, lockdowns, visas.”

However, he is sure it will bring great results for Luna.

The girl’s mother said she was grateful for the treatment not involving an invasive and “aggressive” surgery, which would have been the case elsewhere.

“Luna is good now,” she said. “Her bandages are off.

“We’re going to fly away for Christmas and come back for the final cosmetic surgeries at the end of January.

“I don’t regret at all having the treatment here. Luna doesn’t feel the pain. She dances a few hours after the surgery.”

Carolina, a US citizen originally from Brazil, and her husband Thiago Tavares, 33, raised tens of thousands of dollars for their daughter’s treatment in Krasnodar and also had the support of an anonymous Russian donor which they called a “miracle”.