Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
1-713-791-0700
Reconstructive Procedures - Aesthetic and Functional Benefits Reconstructive surgical procedures help resolve abnormal structures of the body, improving both function and aesthetics. Such structural irregularities may arise due to congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or diseases. Depending on the type and extent of the issue, the plastic surgeon can customize the reconstructive procedure to provide optimum results. Here are the main reconstructive treatments performed on adults and young children. Ear Reconstruction Microtia is a condition characterized by underdeveloped pinna or outer ear. The deformity may vary from an ear that is slightly smaller than the normal to the complete absence of the outer ear. Ear reconstruction surgery is an appropriate method to correct this abnormality, where an external ear is created using one’s own tissue or some other methods. The surgery can correct conditions such as: • An incomplete ear with closed off external ear canal • Anotia or non-existence of the whole ear • Small ear with recognizable structures and a small external ear canal
Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
1-713-791-0700
• The existence of a small peanut vestige structure • The non-existence of the external ear, ear drum, and external ear canal Cleft Lip and Palate Cleft lip and palate surgery is performed to correct the birth defect in which the baby's lip or mouth does not form properly. It happens at early stages of pregnancy and is characterized by an opening (palate) or split (cleft lip) in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth or both. Based on the extent of the problem, more than one surgery may be necessary. In certain cases, some sort of orthodontic treatment is required prior to surgery. Such a pre-surgical treatment called Nasal Alveolar Molding (NAM) is done to guide the growth of the mouth in the right direction. The technique allows the construction of columella (middle part of the nose) non-surgically using the method of tissue expansion. Craniosynostosis Craniosynostosis is a congenital defect that occurs due to the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. The newborn child would have an abnormally
Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
1-713-791-0700
shaped skull and/or forehead with possible asymmetry of the eyes and/or ears. Craniofacial surgeons determine treatment after evaluating factors such as patient’s medical history, age, overall health, the extent of abnormality, and the type of craniosynostosis. Two common surgical procedures performed to correct craniosynostosis are: • Endoscopic Synostosis Repair • Cranial Vault Remodeling Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder affecting both adults and children and is characterized by complete or partial blockage in the upper airway during sleep. Symptoms of this condition include habitual snoring, labored breathing, observed apneas, restless sleep, and daytime neurobehavioral problems. Based on the specific problem, various procedures such as Tracheostomy, Tonsillectomy, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, and distraction osteogenesis may be performed to treat it. Brachial Plexus Injury The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the neck and provides movement and sensation to the shoulder, arm and hand. Any injury to these nerves may cause severe pain in shoulders or
Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
1-713-791-0700
arms and may limit the movement or decrease the sensation in these areas. The extent of injury determines the treatment for brachial plexus injury. Small injuries can be treated with nonsurgical treatment procedures whereas severe injuries can be corrected only with surgery. Nerve repair for adults may involve nerve transfers, nerve grafting or a combination of these. While nerve grafting can help children too, surgical procedures may be performed to enhance function and growth if the nerve injury has caused muscle, bone and joint problems. Orthognathic Surgery Orthognathic jaw surgery is performed to correct discrepancies between the size of the jaws, in relation to each other, or in relation to the base of skull. The surgery corrects the discrepancy between the size of jaws (lower and upper) and improves facial appearance. It also ensures the proper functioning of his/her teeth by eliminating the functional problems associated with chewing, eating, breathing, and speaking. The surgery involves three stages. • Stage I: Proper positioning of teeth with orthodontic braces • Stage II: Jaw fragments are moved into the preplanned position and are fixed in to the new position using bone plates and/or screws
Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
1-713-791-0700
• Stage III: The braces are removed and the patient can feel the best possible ‘fit’ of their teeth. Breast Reconstruction This procedure restores the shape, appearance and size of breasts after a mastectomy. The breasts can be reconstructed using saline or silicone gel implants. On the other hand, in DIEP Flap breast reconstruction, the patient's own skin and fat are used to recreate natural, warm, and soft breasts.