Model pursues surgery to face (6)
I believe the answer is:
oppose
'to face' is the definition.
(I know that oppose is a more specific form of the action confront)
'model pursues surgery' is the wordplay.
'model' becomes 'pose' (model can mean to pose).
'pursues' says to put letters next to each other.
'surgery' becomes 'op' (short for operation).
'pose' after 'op' is 'OPPOSE'.
(Other definitions for oppose that I've seen before include "Resist, go against" , "face" , "Argue against" , "match" , "Refute - confront" .)