Facial reconstructive surgery can help a patient feel whole again after a devastating event. Dr. Guyuron operates on individuals who need facial reconstruction after an accident, cancer surgery or another type of trauma. Depending on the case, facial reconstruction may involve a single operation or multiple operations staged to augment the safety of the operation. Dr. Guyuron combines his experience and skill to provide exceptional results for his patients.
Fractures & Lacerations
Some of the more common facial reconstruction surgeries are performed to repair the face after a fracture or serious laceration. Fracture cases typically involve the jawbone, cheekbone, eye socket(s) or the brow. Lacerations can cause visible scarring, nerve damage, tear duct injury or even the loss of an ear or other facial feature.
Ear Reconstruction
Ear reconstruction is performed for the following reasons:
- To correct an ear defect that results from trauma or cancer surgery
- To treat microtia, which is a congenital condition characterized by a missing or very small ear
Reconstructive options include using a synthetic material or the patient’s own tissue and rib cartilage as a framework for the ear. Alternatively, a prosthetic ear can be sculpted and attached to the body to restore normal appearance. Dr. Guyuron prefers autogenous materials.
Cancer Reconstruction
Mohs surgery is a technique to remove skin cancer layer by layer. While Mohs surgery is an effective treatment for skin cancer, it can unfortunately result in skin defects that require reconstruction.
Dr. Guyuron commonly uses healthy adjacent skin flaps or skin grafts to reconstruct the defects and restore a normal appearance to the face. In cases involving large facial cancers, he may use a free tissue transfer (that includes skin, muscle and/or bone from another area of the body) to fill in the facial defect.
Cleft Lip/Palate Repair
Cleft lip or palate repair addresses birth deformities of the upper lip and roof of the mouth (palate), which can interfere with eating or speaking capabilities.
Cleft lip surgery can repair a small notch or complete split that extends to the base of the nose. It is typically performed when a baby is between three to six months of age. Dr. Guyuron will trim the tissues and sew the lip together.
Cleft palate surgery can address one or both sides of the roof of the mouth. It is typically performed when a baby is between 9 and 12 months of age. Dr. Guyuron will take tissue from the roof of the mouth to cover the soft palate.
Cleft lip/palate repair may be combined with rhinoplasty to refine the tip of the nose.
Scar Revision
A scar is a visible mark resulting from a burn, injury, surgery or acne. There are several different types of scars, including keloid and hypertrophic scars, and those on the face can be particularly noticeable and bothersome. Dr. Guyuron offers several different types of scar revision.