Plastic Surgery within the Head & Neck in California, Santa Cruz

The plastic surgeon can perform structural cosmetic surgery for aesthetic reasons to change the shape of features in the head and neck area, or can perform reconstructive surgery to correct deformities of the head and neck caused by injury, disease or birth defects.

Doctors engaged in corrective surgery of the head and neck after:
• removal of tumors;
• wounds;
• injuries.

Also, in the department is carried out a correction of birth defects. Specialists work in constant cooperation with otolaryngologists, oncology, neurosurgery and plastic surgeons of other areas.

Treatment

Any surgical action in the field of head and neck surgeon require special care and skill, using the most modern techniques and latest developments of medical technology, a wide range of microsurgical techniques, including transplantation and joining segments of bones and tissues to the blood circulation system using the specially sensitive microscope.

Microsurgery may be used to reconnect tiny blood vessels to provide adequate circulation to insure proper healing.

Most frequently, head and neck cancer is on the skin surface, and relatively simple surgical removal and closure is possible.  If the tumor is larger, or involves the eye-orbit, ears, nasal or oral cavity or upper digestive tract, more extensive surgical reconstruction by specialized techniques may be necessary.  Every effort is made to restore form as well as function.

Larger and deeper defects may require the transfer of muscle, bone, or skin flaps to close complex wounds of the nasal and oral passages, particularly when the cancer surgery has removed bone from the cheek or jaw.

Transplanting fragments of soft tissue is widely used in cases of necessity to cover the artificial graft to prevent the occurrence of infections and damage.

The department performs the following Recovery Operations:

• Reconstruction of tongue;
• Reconstruction of the oral mucosa;
• Reconstruction of the mandible;
• Reconstruction of the palate and the maxillary bone;
• Reconstruction of the cheeks;
• Reconstruction of the skull base;
• Reconstruction of the skull.

 The structural deformity will be obvious, in that it will alter the shape of the nose, lips, or other structures about the face.  Functional disturbance will manifest as difficulty in breathing, chewing, swallowing, or problems of other structures about the face or neck.