Reconstruction Procedures

Artificial joints (i.e. arthroplasty) of the knees, hips, and shoulder can become exposed or infected.  Our team works closely with Orthopedic surgeons to cover exposed hardware to minimize the risk of amputation.  We perform more joint salvage procedures than any other reconstruction team in the Valley.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that control motion and sensation of the arm and hand.  Nerve transfers, nerve grafts, and nerve decompression can improve these symptoms.

Breast implants are removed for a variety of reasons including infection, capsular contracture, and implant sickness syndrome.  Depending on the clinical scenario the breast implant may be replaced.

Breast Implant Illness, also known as Breast Implant Sickness Syndrome, is a complex phenomenon that some individuals may experience. It involves a range of symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, memory issues, and more. Treatment requires breast implant removal.

Breast augmentation is when a silicone or saline implant is placed beneath the breast tissue or the pectoral muscle to improve the size and shape of a breast.  Breast implants are also used for breast reconstruction.

After lumpectomy (i.e. partial breast removal) or mastectomy (total breast removal) for the treatment of breast cancer there are many options available for reconstruction.  These options include breast implants, local muscle flap (i.e. latissimus muscle), and free tissue transfer (i.e. microsurgery/DIEP).  Please click the specific procedures to learn about each of these options.

Breast surgeries can be complicated by infection, capsular contracture, and unwanted cosmetic results.  Our surgical team specializes in correcting these deformities to restore the breast size and shape you desire.

Burns can be severe injuries causing significant deformities, contractures, and limiting mobility.  A variety of options including skin grafts, tissue expanders, and flap reconstruction can be used to improve these injuries.

Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness of the hand, pain, and weakness.  Surgical decompression of the median nerve improves these symptoms.

Cubital tunnel syndrome causes numbness of the hand, pain, and weakness.  Surgical decompression of the ulnar nerve improves these symptoms.

A DIEP (i.e. deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap reconstruction uses the patient’s own abdominal tissue to reconstruct the breast.  The skin and fat is lifted off of the abdominal muscle and transferred to the breast.  With this advanced technique, which is performed by only a few surgeons in the Valley, the patient’s breasts are reconstructed without implants using her own abdominal tissue.  As an added bonus since the transferred tissue is from the belly the patient gets a tummy tuck! Also, unlike a TRAM (i.e. transverse rectus adipomyocutaneous) flap reconstruction, the abdominal muscles are not removed decreasing hernias and bulges.

Otoplasty is a surgical tool used to correct prominent ears and improve the appearance of other common ear deformities.   Tears or large holes from ear piercings can also be corrected.

Fractures of the face often require surgery to return the bones to their normal position.  Plates and screws are often applied to keep the bones in the correct position.  Treatable fractures include injuries to the mandible, orbit, cheek (i.e. zygoma), and nose.

Fat grafting is a safe and permanent alternative to synthetic fillers that uses liposuction to harvest your excess body fat and transfer it to areas needing soft tissue augmentation.  This powerful technique can be used to reduce wrinkles, correct dark eyes, and large fat transfers can also be used for breast surgery.

Dislocations of the joints of the hand often require surgery to return the bones to their normal position.  Wires and screws may be need to keep the joints in their normal position.

Fractures of the hand often require surgery to return the bones to their normal position.  Plates and screws are often applied to keep the bones in the correct position.  Treatable fractures include injuries to the fingers, wrist, and forearm.

Hernias occur when there is an opening or weakness in the muscle or tissues of your abdomen creating abnormal bulges, pain, and possible GI symptoms.  Commonly treated hernias include umbilical and ventral hernias.  Mesh is often used to restore integrity to the abdominal wall and to eliminate bulging that cannot be improved with exercise alone.

The latissimus muscle is a back muscle and one of the largest muscles of the body.  The muscle can be transferred for reconstruction of the breast or torso.  The latissimus can also be transferred as a free flap for reconstruction of extremity wounds.

Traumatic injuries and cancer may require that a limb be amputated.  Our team is one of the most experienced groups in the Valley with a high success rate for limb salvage.  Advanced surgical techniques are routinely offered to preserve functional limbs whenever possible.

Lumps and bumps are due to a variety of abnormal growths including lipomas (i.e. benign growths of fat) and cysts.  They can cause disfigurement, pain, and infections. Only removal by a skilled surgeon that completely excises the abnormal tissue can ensure these lesions do not recur.

During a mastopexy (i.e. breast lift) procedure droopy nipples (i.e. breast ptosis) and deflated breasts are reshaped to create a more perky appearance.  This procedure is similar to a breast reduction although minimal breast tissue is removed.  A mastopexy is also commonly performed after breast implant removal to remove excess skin.

Microsurgery is an advanced surgical technique where a microscope is used to repair nerves and blood vessels.  It is also a powerful tool for transferring tissue from one part of the body to another (i.e. free flap) and reattachment of severed parts (i.e. replantation).  Microsurgery reconstruction is typically reserved for complex problems where skin grafting and local muscle flaps are not an option.

Migraine surgery can reduce headache frequency, duration, and pain by decompressing the sensory nerves and vessels that may be causing your symptoms.  Trigger points can be surgically released.  Botox may also be effective.

Morel Lavallee are a closed degloving soft tissue injury that is caused by abrupt separation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the underlying fascia. These often lead to recurrent fluid collections and are very commonly misdiagnosed.

Muscle flaps are a powerful tool for reconstructive procedures. By transferring muscle to different parts of the body soft tissue defects can be corrected to cover bone, nerves, vessels, artificial joints, and other hardware.

Nerve injuries can cause permanent disability.  Using advanced surgical techniques including microsurgery, nerve grafts, and nerve transfers function can be restored.

Prominent ears are ears that stick out from the head more than is considered normal. During an otoplasty procedure the ear is reshaped and repositioned by correcting the cartilage and skin deformity.  The surgery takes about an hour to complete and the results are permanent.

Peroneal nerve compression causes numbness of the foot, pain, and weakness with ankle extension.  Surgical decompression of the peroneal nerve improves these symptoms.

Sarcomas are a type of cancer  of the bones and soft tissue.  Surgical removal often creates large defects that require extensive reconstruction.  Our team performs more sarcoma reconstructions than any other medical team in the Valley.

Injuries to the scalp from trauma, chronic wounds, or defects from cancer can be reconstructed using a variety of surgical techniques including skin grafts, tissue expanders, and local tissue rearrangement.

Scars from injuries or prior surgeries can be improved with non-surgical options such as skin resurfacing or with surgery to create a finer scar.  Contractures, contour deformities, discoloration, and wide scars can often be significantly improved.

Cancers of the skin include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.  Our team specializes in removing these cancers and reconstructing the affected area to minimize scarring.

A skin graft procedure takes healthy skin from a donor area and moves it to cover lost or damaged skin.  They can be used for a variety of wounds, burns, and cancer reconstructions whenever skin is missing.

Spine surgeries including decompressions and fusions can become exposed or infected.  Our team works closely with Spine surgeons to cover exposed hardware and reconstruct surgical wounds.  We perform more spine salvage procedures than any other reconstruction team in the Valley.

A sural flap is an adipofascial flap used to reconstruct wounds of the ankle and leg. It provides thin pliable skin without the need for a skin graft.

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (i.e. TMR) is a surgical procedure that prevents neuroma formation by transferring an injured nerve to a recipient nerve. The recipient nerve provides a "pathway" for the injured nerve to regenerate decreasing pain allowing an amputee to more comfortably wear their prosthesis.

Posterior tibial nerve compression causes numbness of the foot, pain, and weakness of the ankle.  Surgical decompression of the tibial nerve improves these symptoms.

Tendon injuries result in loss of flexion or extension of the fingers and/or wrist.  Surgery is often needed to repair the tendon to restore function.

A tissue expander is an empty implant that is placed beneath skin or muscle to stretch tissue.  Expanders are used commonly in breast reconstruction, burn injuries, and anywhere else where additional skin is needed to fix an injury.

Vascular malformations are abnormal growths of the blood vessels.  These malformations can create painful "lumps and bumps" and resection often requires reconstruction using local tissue advancement techniques.

Acute and chronic wounds can be debilitating.  Reconstruction options include skin grafts, local tissue rearrangement, muscle flap, and free flap surgery.  Non-surgical options also include the use of the newest wound healing products and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Wrist, hand, and finger fractures are common injuries that can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Surgical treatment is often required.