Plastic surgery is a specialty that involves both the improvement of a person's appearance and the reconstruction of tissue defects caused by illness, trauma or birth disorders.
In addition to cosmetic procedures, our board-certified plastic surgeons focus on performing reconstructive procedures following cancer surgeries like a mastectomy or skin cancer removal, as well as on correcting problems caused by trauma or wounds.
They work closely with the multidisciplinary health care team at University Health to help you heal and to repair any functional or aesthetic changes caused by a disease or injury.
Reconstructive procedures our surgeons perform
Our plastic surgeons collaborate closely with oncologists and breast cancer surgeons. They offer immediate breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy. If needed, reconstruction can be performed as a delayed procedure after all breast cancer treatments are finished.
Learn more about our breast reconstruction expertise.
Our plastic surgeons have been through intensive training in hand surgery. They will consult with you to determine the right treatment, perform the procedure with skill, and connect you with resources for rehabilitation and recovery.
Common hand conditions our surgeons treat include:
- Carpal tunnel. Our team can offer nerve compression as well as endoscopy carpal tunnel surgery—a minimally invasive procedure.
- Our team can provide nonsurgical treatment with steroid injections.
- Ganglion cysts and benign growths or tumors of the hand.
- Traumatic injuries. Our surgeons collaborate with orthopaedic surgeons to treat soft tissue wounds.
Whether your scar is caused by an injury, surgery or a body piercing, our plastic surgeons can help improve the appearance and reduce symptoms like itching, pain or restricted movement.
During your initial consultation, our team will discuss your expectations and the outcome you're looking for. Your plastic surgeon will examine your scar in detail, discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment.
Our team offers both nonsurgical and surgical scar treatments. They can treat all types of scars including:
- Hypertrophic scars. These thick areas of scar tissue can be raised, red and uncomfortable.
- Keloid scars. These are larger than hypertrophic scars and can be painful or itchy.
Scar treatment is meant to minimize the scar or correct a deformity so that it is more consistent with your surrounding skin tone and texture. Although our plastic surgeons can improve the look of a scar, you should know that a scar cannot be completely erased.
Skin cancers can occur on any part of the body, but about 80% of skin cancers appear on the face, head or neck. The right treatment for skin cancer depends on a number of factors and may include nonoperative treatments or surgery.
Our plastic surgeons are experienced in treating all types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Often people come to plastic surgeons for skin cancer treatment to achieve a better aesthetic outcome and less visible scarring.
When indicated, our surgeons collaborate with dermatologists at University Health, who perform Mohs surgery, which can minimize the amount of skin removed. The plastic surgeon is often requested to close the wound after removal of the cancer with a flap or graft to preserve function and improve the aesthetic outcome.
Learn more
To schedule a consultation or receive educational information about reconstructive plastic surgery, call 816.876.2919 or complete and submit this short form.