Pediatric Plastic Surgery

These conditions involve breast tissue or chest muscles. They include:

Gynecomastia

Abnormal enlargement of breast tissue in males.

Macromastia

Excessively large, heavy breasts in females.

Poland syndrome

Chest wall muscles and breast tissue are completely missing on one side of the body. The hand on the same side of the body also typically has short, webbed fingers.

These conditions involve structural issues with bones or soft tissues in the head, including the skull, face, ears, and neck. They include:

Cleft lip and cleft palate

During fetal development, the upper lip, roof of the mouth (palate), or both don’t fully come together, leaving a gap or hole.

Craniosynostosis

Under normal circumstances, a baby’s skull isn’t a solid piece, but several smaller plates of bone held together by flexible connective tissue that gradually hardens over time. With this condition, skull bones fuse together too soon, which can cause an abnormal head shape or facial features.

Cryptotia

The upper part of the outer ear is partially buried beneath the scalp on the side of the head. In addition to an abnormal appearance, this may make it difficult or impossible for your child to wear glasses.

Hemifacial microsomia

One side of the face is underdeveloped relative to the other. This results in facial asymmetry that typically includes the lower jaw and often other facial features, including the cheekbones, eyes, and ears.

Microtia

Underdevelopment of the ear, usually on one side of the head only. The most common form (Type 3) results in a missing ear canal and only a small, peanut-shaped ear lobe on the outside of the head. However, it can range from an external ear that is slightly smaller than normal to one that is entirely absent.

Plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome)

A flat or misshapen spot on a baby’s head, usually due to excess weight and pressure on that spot (such as sleeping in the same position). While mild forms of this condition can be resolved simply by repositioning your baby to avoid the flat spot, others may require surgery.

Protruding ears

Ears that prominently stick out, usually defined as more than 2 cm (3/4 of an inch) from the side of the head.

Speech difficulties

Conditions that make it difficult to speak clearly with a normal tone or form certain sounds may be caused by structural problems with the roof of the mouth (palate), tongue, or throat.

These conditions prevent your child from moving facial muscles. They include:

Bell's palsy

This condition causes sudden muscle weakness and drooping on one side of the face. While it may gradually resolve on its own over a period of several months, plastic surgery is sometimes needed to repair any lasting nerve problems or paralysis.

Corneal anesthesia

Loss of sensation in the cornea of the eyes. This may prevent children from noticing eye injuries or infections that can contribute to ulcers, scarring, and potentially vision loss.

Facial numbness or paralysis

Numbness, weakness, or complete loss of ability to move facial muscles due to impaired or damaged nerves.

Contractures

Excessively tight muscles force joints (especially in the fingers or wrist) to curl into a bent position. It may be difficult, painful, or even impossible for your child to straighten them.

Polydactyly

Extra fingers on one or both hands.

Syndactyly (webbed hands)

Two or more fingers are fused together. Milder cases may only involve skin and soft tissues, while more severe cases feature fusion of bone or nail tissue.

Our pediatric plastic surgeons use a variety of reconstructive surgical techniques to treat complex injuries, such as repairing muscles and bones and minimizing the appearance of wounds or scars. This can help your child recover, cosmetically and functionally, to the greatest extent possible. Injuries we care for include:

• Bite wounds
• Bone fractures of the face
• Burn scars
• Contractures (joints that become stiff due to scarring)
• Cuts (lacerations)
• Lacerated nerves (which can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or paralysis)

Our surgeons may be involved in removing lesions, marks, or masses of soft tissue, as well as reconstructing the remaining body structures. Examples include:

Congenital tumors

Tumors detected in a child at or shortly after birth. Once they have been removed, a plastic surgeon may perform reconstructive surgery to restore normal function and appearance to the affected area of the body.

Pigmented skin lesions

Areas of skin with a different color or texture from the surrounding skin, such as moles or birthmarks. Removal of lesions may be recommended to treat or prevent skin cancer or preferred for cosmetic reasons.