Many times plastic surgical care is needed to help restore function, either from a congenital defect or from an injury sustained, and/or to help improve cosmetic features of a child, because of injury or defect. Leading pediatric plastic surgery procedures such as cranial vault remodeling for craniosynostosis, distraction osteogenesis of the mandible, midface and cranium for various congenital conditions are done at our hospital.
Cranial Vault Remodeling for Craniosynostosis
A surgery performed to correct prematurely closed sutures (openings) which prevent the baby's brain from expanding and cause a misshaped head. The surgeon will remove strips of bone on the skull and create artificial sutures. Artificial sutures are needed to allow the baby's skull to expand normally and release pressure on the brain. This surgery is typically performed between 8 and 12 months of age.
Distraction Osteogenesis of Mandible, Midface and Cranium
This procedure is used to correct a bone deformity. A surgeon makes cuts in the jaw bone that needs to be fixed and places a device into the underdeveloped jaw in order to stabilize it. Then the bone can be slowly moved apart each day using a small tool.
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects that occur when there is an opening in the upper lip, roof of the mouth or both. Surgeries are performed in the Surgical Center to repair these openings. Follow-up surgeries are also performed later in life to improve speech or improve the appearance of the lip and nose.
Complex facial reconstruction
This surgery can include soft tissue repair, bone repair, grafts (skin, bone, muscle or fat), and tissue expansion depending on the extent of damage from trauma and the number of skin layers involved. Complex facial reconstruction can take many surgeries.