Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

What Is Reconstructive Plastic Surgery ?

The purpose and goal of reconstructive plastic surgery is to restore form and function and preserve life and limb due to wounds that have resulted from various medical conditions.  Some common medical conditions that require  reconstructive surgery are as follows: injury or acute trauma, tumor resections- SKIN CANCER and BREAST CANCER, radiation, unstable scars, infection, lymphedema and ulcers: arterial; venous, and neuropathic.

Is Reconstructive Surgery Covered By Insurance ?

Reconstructive surgery is NOT cosmetic surgery and is commonly covered by insurance.

What can I expect at my consultation ?

Dr. Small will sit down with you and review your medical history and examine your problem and then discuss the options that are available to you to help you make an informed decision as to the type of reconstruction that best meets your situation as well as meets your desire and needs.

What are the different types of reconstruction ?

There are many options to treating wounds and there are many factors  that need to be considered such as the size of the wound, the location on the body, other treatments that might need to be performed such as radiation treatment, and a patient’s overall medical condition.
One option of reconstructive surgery is to allow a wound to heal without surgery and with various methods of wound care whereas other times the surgeon is able to suture the  the wound closed  Wounds that are more complicated might need to be repaired by advancing tissue or skin nearby to cover the wound. This is called flap reconstruction. Another option for these complicated wounds are skin grafts. A skin graft is where a portion of the top layer of skin is taken from another part of the body to cover a wound. Some wounds are even more complicated or best closed with a method that requires microvascular surgery. This is a procedure where tissue is take from another area of the body  and used to cover a wound. The blood vessels of this tissue are then connected to blood vessels close the wound.