Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Skin cancer

Skin cancer is, unfortunately, a growing disease, with over a million new cases reported each year. While it can be fatal, many cases, especially those detected early, can be treated effectively. But after skin cancer is removed, it can leave behind unsightly scars or deformities.

Now, the remaining traces of skin cancer can be repaired through skin cancer reconstructive surgery. The cosmetic surgery to repair skin to its original state depends on the severity of the skin cancer and the type of procedure used to remove it. Reconstructive surgery can also be combined with a face or brow lift for maximum renewal. You don’t have to live with a daily reminder of skin cancer anymore.

Scar revision

Scar revision is performed to reduce the appearance of scars caused by injury or previous surgery. Scars are by definition permanent, but surgery can narrow, fade and otherwise reduce the appearance of severe or unattractive scarring, which is especially helpful in areas of cosmetic importance such as the face and hands.

There are many surgical methods of scar revision, only some of which may be appropriate for a particular type of scar or its location. These include surgical excision, skin grafts, flap surgery and Z-plasty (repositioning a scar so that it aligns with the face and is less noticeable). The effectiveness of scar reduction depends on a number of factors, including the nature of the injury, your body’s healing mechanism, the size and depth of the wound, how much blood supplies the area and the thickness and color of your skin.

Breast Cancer Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure commonly performed after a mastectomy to offer patients psychological and aesthetic benefits when recovering from breast cancer. This procedure allows many women to fully return to the life they enjoyed before being diagnosed with breast cancer, with barely any signs of the disease remaining. Although the treatment of cancer is the main focus for both patient and doctor, restoring your appearance after breast cancer can often help ensure a complete recovery of body and mind.

For many women, breasts are an important symbol of femininity that helps define their self-confidence and body image. The emotional affects of an altered appearance can be as psychologically damaging as the initial cancer diagnosis. Breast reconstruction serves to restore a woman’s body to its original condition after the treatment of breast cancer. Most of the aesthetic changes caused by breast cancer treatments such as a partial or simple mastectomy can be significantly helped by breast reconstruction.

Wounds

A wound is a break in the skin or tissues that may be caused by an accident, injury, surgery, disease or several other factors, and often involves bleeding, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness and other symptoms. They may occur nearly anywhere on the body. While many wounds can be treated at home by simply cleaning and bandaging the wound, more severe wounds may require professional care.

Many patients with skin ulcers, burns and other types of wounds face difficulty with the healing process for these troubling wounds, especially if the patient is diabetic. There are several different treatment options available for wounds resistant to conventional therapies. Some of these may include creams, ointments, synthetic skin grafts and other therapies that promote natural healing within the skin to avoid wound complications.

We are proud to offer patients many advanced solutions to their wound healing problems. It is important for wounds to remain clean and free of debris and bacteria in order to properly heal and prevent infection, so proper dressings that are changed on a regular basis are essential. We provide a clean, moist environment that is conducive to healing for most wounds and helps lead toward a quick and efficient recovery, while keeping cosmetic concerns in mind as well.

Your doctor will determine which type of wound care is best for you after an initial evaluation of your wound size, location, and severity.

Burns

Burns involve an injury to the skin and associated tissue, often caused by fire, chemicals, heat, electricity, the sun or other factors. They can range in severity and are classified as first, second, third or fourth degree burns, based on their depth and the degree of damage to skin tissue. Burns can often leave patient self-esteem physical disfigurements, depending on the cause and severity of the burn.

Improving the aesthetic appearance of burns can help the patient’s self esteem and prevent permanent scarring. Burn treatments usually involve skin grafting and cosmetic reconstruction, and may be performed in an emergency facility or later on. These treatments also focus on restoring function to the burned skin to reduce the risk of complications such as loss of mobility or a loss of one of the senses.

Cleft lip/palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are openings or splits in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both. Cleft lip and cleft palate result when facial structures that are developing in an unborn baby don’t close completely. Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects. They most commonly occur as isolated birth defects but are also associated with many inherited genetic conditions or syndromes. Having a baby born with a cleft can be upsetting, but cleft lip and cleft palate can be corrected. In most babies, a series of surgeries can restore normal function and achieve a more normal appearance with minimal scarring.