Reconstructive Surgeries

Implant Expanders are our most common reconstructive technique.  With this procedure, a tissue expander is placed under the pectoral muscle and over the course of weeks, and sometimes months, saline is injected into the expander.  Once the tissue has stretched sufficiently and reached an acceptable size, the expander may be removed and replaced with a more permanent implant.  This is followed by Nipple reconstruction.

In Flap Construction, we use tissue from other parts of the patient’s body such as the back, buttocks, thigh, or abdomen.  In one type of skin flap, breast reconstruction surgery, the tissue, which consists of skin, muscle, and fat, is placed beneath the skin of the chest in order to create a space for a breast implant.  Sometimes, during this breast reconstruction procedure, the tissue can form the breast mound itself without any need for a breast implant.

Nipple Reconstruction is usually the final procedure once the breast mound has been created. Creating the nipple areola is what makes the breast reconstruction complete. How we go about creating the nipple areola is dependent on what works best for you. It is often done as an outpatient procedure.

Fat Grafting is the transfer of fat cells from one part of the body to improve the appearance and feel of  another area.  Often done on the face, hips, buttocks, and even the breasts during reconstruction.

In the Mohs Procedure, the tumor is cut from the skin in thin layers.  During the procedure, the edges of the tumor and each layer of the tumor are removed and viewed through a microscope to check for cancer cells. Layers continue to be removed until no more cancer cells are seen.  This type of procedure removes as little of the normal tissue as possible and is often used to remove skin cancer on the face.  Once we have removed the cancer, we can then work to reconstruct the area to restore it to a more normal appearance.

If you have a severe wound, such as a burn that has limited your mobility that causes a loss of sensation, or is cosmetically unappealing, plastic surgery may be an option.  We can help with your Burn Care through a number of procedures to help you regain mobility and help your overall appearance.