Pediatric Plastic Surgery | Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

Our team features plastic surgeons, who have special expertise in craniofacial procedures, treat growing bodies that need repairs or reconstruction for a wide variety of reasons. Key parts of our program are the oral cleft clinic and our craniosynostosis clinic, which treat children with cleft lip and palate or craniosynostosis in one central location. To achieve the best results, we provide coordinated team solutions based on the individual needs of the child and his or her family, including making recommendations to parents, caregivers, medical providers and school staff.

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Conditions we treat

The very conditions that can be helped by plastic surgery often cause emotional discomfort and impair self-confidence, which is why we treat every patient with respect and warmth. Our comprehensive care specialties include, but are not limited to:

A cleft lip or palate impacts your little one's smile and functional priorities, too. The good news is world-recognized corrective techniques were pioneered by our plastic surgeons. Here, your child’s plan is one-of-a-kind. Because of this meticulous "only you" philosophy and our advanced skills, your child can enjoy greater success now, with fewer follow-up procedures later. We can restore your child's beautiful smile and speech for a confident future.

When the roof of the mouth (palate) and lip don’t fully develop in the womb, a gap may remain. This is called a cleft lip and/or palate. It affects every function of the face except sight. Eating, hearing, talking, smelling and tasting are all compromised when this condition isn’t treated well. Our unique approach makes it possible to have complete repair.

Your child's care begins here

We know that appearance and clear speech are important for your child’s self-esteem and interactions with others. Our multidisciplinary team will also provide support with aspects of breathing, feeding, hearing and oral care. We’ve helped thousands of children born with simple and complex forms of this condition.

Others use a single pattern to repair the problem for all children. Not us. We create a one-of-a-kind pattern to fit your child’s facial structure, for the best results in the fewest surgeries. Most babies begin the process at between nine and 12 months.

We lead in the field by developing new approaches for greater success in both cleft lip and cleft palate repair. It's our privilege to help your child put his or her best face forward, for life.

Bottle feeding with cleft lip/palate - English

Bottle feeding with cleft lip/palate - Spanish

Treatment options

Cleft lip repair

Feeding assistance

Speech therapy

Special surgery for cleft palate, buccal flap surgery

Traditional surgery

A cleft lip or palate impacts your little one's smile and functional priorities, too. The good news is world-recognized corrective techniques were pioneered by our plastic surgeons. Here, your child’s plan is one-of-a-kind. Because of this meticulous "only you" philosophy and our advanced skills, your child can enjoy greater success now, with fewer follow-up procedures later. We can restore your child's beautiful smile and speech for a confident future.

When the roof of the mouth (palate) and lip don’t fully develop in the womb, a gap may remain. This is called a cleft lip and/or palate. It affects every function of the face except sight. Eating, hearing, talking, smelling and tasting are all compromised when this condition isn’t treated well. Our unique approach makes it possible to have complete repair.

Your child's care begins here

We know that appearance and clear speech are important for your child’s self-esteem and interactions with others. Our multidisciplinary team will also provide support with aspects of breathing, feeding, hearing and oral care. We’ve helped thousands of children born with simple and complex forms of this condition.

Others use a single pattern to repair the problem for all children. Not us. We create a one-of-a-kind pattern to fit your child’s facial structure, for the best results in the fewest surgeries. Most babies begin the process at between nine and 12 months.

We lead in the field by developing new approaches for greater success in both cleft lip and cleft palate repair. It's our privilege to help your child put his or her best face forward, for life.

Bottle feeding with cleft lip/palate - English

Bottle feeding with cleft lip/palate - Spanish

Treatment options

Cleft lip repair

Feeding assistance

Speech therapy

Special surgery for cleft palate, buccal flap surgery

Traditional surgery

Additionally, we have expertise in the treatment of breast anomalies in boys and girls, and orthognathic jaw surgery.

Craniosynostosis means one or more skull bones have fused early. Unusual development of your baby’s head or alignment of facial features might signal this rare condition. While serious, the right experts can work wonders. And that's just what we have: nationally-recognized pediatric plastic and neurosurgeons who can help.

Craniosynostosis happens when the joints between the plates of the head close early, which results in a misshapen face or skull. It can cause delays in development or permanent brain damage. This condition often requires surgery in the first year of life, with follow-up as the baby grows. We offer several surgical treatments, including a less invasive “directed growth” technique for younger children. For complex cases, our surgeons use CT images and special software to develop a customized, virtual 3-D plan to achieve the best outcome.

Your child's care begins here

Treatment for craniosynostosis usually involves surgery to separate the fused bones in the skull. The key to treating it is early detection and treatment. Our team includes nationally recognized plastic surgeons, who are experts in advanced surgical treatments for all types of craniosynostosis. For complex cases, our surgeons develop a virtual 3-D model to plan each step as well as precise measurements, sometimes just millimeters, needed to achieve the best outcome.

We're leaders in a new directed growth technique that offer a less invasive option with even better results for skull reconstruction in younger children. We’ll work with you to determine the best path to successful reconstruction for your child.

Treatment options

Skull remodeling surgery

Directed growth technique

Distraction osteogenesis

Assymetrical development of your baby's face and ear could be a birth defect called hemifacial microsomia. While concerning, naturally, don't despair: our internationally-recognized plastic surgeons can help. Using 3-D surgical planning and the newest reconstructive techniques including titanium jaw joint replacement, we love to transform structural imbalance into beautiful confidence.

Hemifacial microsomia is a genetic birth defect that comes out of the blue. It becomes more pronounced as the child develops, as the lower half of one side of the face and ear are too small. The other side can be too large, or normal. It ranges in severity and is relatively common, second only to cleft palate. This condition affects 50 percent more boys than girls. Hemifacial microsomia is corrected by plastic surgery.

Your child's care begins here

No matter how minor or complex your child's facial reconstruction needs are, we're ready to bring success with our internationally-recognized plastic surgeons and their team. We bring our combined expertise, innovative approaches and advanced technology to the restoration of your child's facial function and appearance.

Our kid-friendly approach includes attending to your child's emotional needs too. Children whose bodies work or look differently than their peers’ often struggle with insecurity and self-esteem. We know that caring for your child’s needs includes more than physical concerns. We’re here to provide outstanding treatment with compassionate care.

Treatment options

Distraction osteogenesis

Ear reconstruction surgeries

Jaw joint replacement

Reconstructive surgery

When the lower jaw grows too much, it can cause a facial deformity called mandibular hyperplasia. Unlike many maxillofacial surgery programs, ours is led by plastic and craniofacial surgeons. This means we are able to address the full facial structure and use the latest technology and surgical techniques to deliver outstanding results.

Mandibular hyperplasia is excessive growth of the lower jawbone. As a result, the jaw protrudes or develops asymmetrically. Misaligned teeth and problems with facial function are the result. This excessive growth usually begins before puberty but does stop growing on its own. Surgery and orthodontic care are typically used to restore facial function and appearance.

Your child's care begins here

When it comes to your child's face, trust the leaders. Our pediatric craniofacial surgeons are experts in facial reconstruction for children. Through our supportive and advanced surgical care, your son or daughter will again have a perfect smile.

As specialists in pediatric care, our team of plastic surgeons is adept at working with still-growing bones. They are also leaders in advances like osteodistraction and virtual 3-D surgical planning, which are improving results for children needing facial reconstruction. It all adds up to bringing more complete and long-lasting solutions for your child.

Treatment options

Corrective jaw surgery

Distraction osteogenesis

Orthodontics

Multispecialty care

To help improve outcomes, our experts use virtual surgery planning and partner with other pediatric specialists to coordinate care, including otolaryngology (ENT), oral surgery, orthodontics, dentistry, neurosurgery, audiology, genetics, psychology and nutrition. We also work with postoperative specialties, including prosthetics and speech and language pathology. Together our work can play a significant role in a child’s journey.