Many people often think of plastic surgeons in terms of the cosmetic surgery they perform. While cosmetic surgery is certainly a part of plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery is the foundation upon which everything else is formed.

Dr. Arslanian has received excellent training in all aspects of reconstructive surgery, and enjoys the rewards of truly being able to take a complex problem and fix it. These can be some of the most rewarding procedures for a plastic surgeon, as you can really change someone’s life. Many plastic surgeons often shy away from these types of procedures and prefer to focus on an exclusive cosmetic practice. Dr. Arslanian embraces the reconstructive aspect of plastic surgery because of its complexity, its rewards, and the fact that it really makes you a better doctor and a better person.

Whether its a scar you have been bothered with your whole life, or a skin cancer that needs to be removed and then repaired, or a child born with a cleft lip, or a patient that needs reconstruction after surgery for breast cancer, Dr. Arslanian has the tools and the drive to do whatever it takes to get you the best result possible.

Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Arslanian to learn more about how reconstructive surgery will restore comfort and confidence in your body today.

Reconstructive Surgery at Arslanian Plastic Surgery

Has injury, genetics, or illness impacted the way you or your child looks and feels about their appearance? Reconstructive surgery is about more than improving your appearance: the goal is to enable every patient to live their lives fully, comfortably and with confidence. When you come to Arslanian Plastic Surgery for reconstructive surgery, we will focus on achieving outcomes that are right for you and your unique case.

Reconstructive Surgery Options

Dr. Arslanian performs a variety of Reconstructive Surgeries, including:

Birth Defects

Reconstructive surgery can help improve a child’s development by correcting birth defects.

Cleft Lift & Cleft Palates

Cleft lips or palates are the fourth most common birth defect in the United States.

If you or your child was born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, reconstructive surgery can restore a normal lip appearance and healthy palate function. During reconstructive surgery for a cleft lip, incisions will be made in the upper lip tissue. This will allow Dr. Arslanian to suture together the tissue to close the gap above the mouth and below the nose.

Cleft palates can make eating and speaking difficult. Reconstructive surgery will close the gap in the palate to restore healthy, comfortable function of the mouth. Once the surgery has healed and enough time has passed, patients may receive another procedure to put the finishing touches on their surgery, especially if the first surgery is performed when the patient is a child. Cleft lip and palate reconstructive surgery is performed under general anesthesia.

EarWell & Otoplasty

While newborn ear deformities are on the decline, roughly one in four infants are born every year with ear irregularities. Possible ear deformities can include:

  • Helical Rim: The upper, outside portion of the ear may be in a folded position.
  • Microtia: The external ear is not properly formed and possibly underdeveloped.
  • Anotia: The external ear structure is completely missing.
  • Prominent Ear: The ears stick out from the head.
  • Conchal Crus: A division of the concha that appears as a folded separation between the top and bottom of the ear.
  • Cup Ear: The upper ear has tissue that folds over and create a longer than normal upper ear rim.
  • Stahl’s Ear: The upper ear is flat and does not have a rim. Can also be called an “elf ear.”
  • Lidding: The upper part of the ear is folded over.

In order to help the ear to develop properly, we offer the EarWell System. The EarWell device is a posterior shell that will fit around your child’s ear. EarWell is made of four components, each designed to encourage the ear to develop into the desired shape.

EarWell should be worn as early as possible, preferably within the first week or two of life. The mold will be worn for two weeks and be applied with an adhesive. Infants will receive another mold every two weeks for a total of three molds worn over six weeks. Within this six week period, the ear will develop into proper shape.

As your child develops, the ear may still show signs of deformity. These children are good candidates for an otoplasty, a surgery that can reshape the upper ear and bring the ears closer to the head. EarWell is covered by insurance. If patients receive Otoplasty, this may not be covered by insurance.

Skin Cancer Repair

Millions of Americans each year are diagnosed with skin cancer. Thankfully, with the help of regular medical check-ups, skin cancer can be caught and removed while it is still at an early stage. The removal of malignant skin cancer, benign skin cancer, or tissue for oncological testing frequently leave behind significant scarring and/or indentations in the skin.

For patients whose skin cancer occurs on their face, the prominence of post-removal scars can become even more problematic. We are proud to help these patients restore their skin to a clear, healthy appearance so that they can move forward from their diagnosis and return to their lives with confidence.

The details of a post-skin-cancer repair treatment will vary based on the unique needs of the patient. If a significant amount of skin has been excised, a divot may be left in the patient’s skin. These divots can be filled for the long-term with an autologous fat transfer, or improved with a regimen of Sculptra or Dermal Fillers.

Based on the size and type of scarring your skin cancer removal has left behind, Dr. Arslanian will be able to make a recommendation of what skin healing and resurfacing treatments will best address your scars.

Breast Reconstruction

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer survivors who have undergone a lumpectomy, mastectomy, or double mastectomy can restore their positive self-image and fall in love with their bodies again with the help of a breast reconstruction. Breast reconstructions are highly customizable and will be tailored to achieve your specific goals for your appearance. Patients can choose to have their breast reconstructed with tissue from elsewhere on the body, to restore breast volume with an implant, or both.

Breast Reconstruction with Implant

Patients who are interested in receiving their breast reconstruction with an implant may need to receive a tissue expander to create room in the breast before the implant can be placed. After two to three weeks, the expander will have more air or fluid added. This will be repeated until enough space has been created in the breast cavity for the patient’s desired implant.

Dr. Arslanian will discuss the merits of silicone versus saline implants during your private consultation. Implants can be smooth or textured to help them better adhere within the breast tissue.

  • Saline Implants. Saline Implants are a silicone shell filled with a sterile salt and water solution. Saline Implants are placed in the breast unfilled and then are filled in the chest cavity. Saline implants have a firm but natural feel.
  • Silicone Implants. Silicone Implants are filled with silicone gel. These implants most closely match the feel of real breast tissue. Your implant can be round or tear-shaped.

Depending on the needs of the patient’s case, your implant will be placed above or below your pectoral muscles.

Flap Breast Reconstruction

Patients may need to have tissue transferred from elsewhere on their bodies to achieve their desired breast reconstruction outcomes.

  • Tram Flap. A Tram Flap Breast Reconstruction will take skin, tissue, and muscle from the patient’s abdomen to create the new breast tissue.
  • Latissimus Flap. This type of breast reconstruction will take skin, tissue, and muscle from the large muscle on the patient’s back, beneath the shoulder muscle.
  • Diep Flap. A Diep Flap takes skin and tissue from the abdomen, but not muscle, to create the new breast tissue.

Breast Reconstruction may need to be performed in phases to prepare the body for treatment and enable the best results. Once you complete your private consultation with Dr. Arslanian, you will get a sense of what your Breast Reconstruction timeline will look like.

Facial Reconstruction

If you have experienced damage to your brow, eyes, nose, mouth, jaw, neck, or ears, reconstructive surgery can help you return to the person you were before your injuries.

Accidents and injury can happen at any time. If you have experienced facial trauma that changed your facial appearance, you are a good candidate for facial reconstruction surgery. If you underwent a medical procedure that impacted your facial appearance and structure, facial reconstruction surgery will have you back to feeling like yourself. Patients who were born with a facial scar or a differently-formed facial feature may also be candidates for facial reconstruction surgery.

Dr. Arslanian performs facial reconstructions to restore a balanced, natural facial appearance. Every facial reconstruction surgery will address the unique needs of the patient. Facial reconstruction surgery may involve a combination of surgeries, including but not limited to rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, brow lift, facelift, earlobe repair, or fat transfer. Finishing cosmetic touches may include facial sculpting and tightening with dermal fillers or Profound RF.

Revision Surgery

Have you had previous plastic surgery work that negatively impacted your appearance, daily comfort, or healthy function? Receive your revision plastic surgery from an artful surgeon like Dr. Arslanian. Dr. Arslanian takes great care to achieve elegant results that subject the body to as little strain as possible, guaranteeing optimum healing and results.

If you received a rhinoplasty surgery that left your airways impeded, or is a distracting change to your face, Dr. Arslanian is here to help. Women who have experienced issues or discomfort from their breast augmentation can find relief with breast implant revision surgery at Arslanian Plastic Surgery.

Unhappy with scars from a previous procedure? Dr. Arslanian has a variety of scar revision methods up his sleeve that deliver a smoother, more subtle scar appearance. Have you unhappy with the results of a previous surgery? We invite you to schedule an informative consultation to learn more about your revision surgery options today.

Candidates

If you or someone in your family has a deformity, injury, scar, or surgical outcome that impacts their comfort and confidence, they are candidates for reconstructive surgery at Arslanian Plastic Surgery.

Best candidates for reconstructive surgery are those who are at a stable weight and are free of health conditions that can interfere with their ability to heal. Patients will be asked to discontinue smoking for three weeks before and three weeks after their reconstructive surgery.

Consultation

Dr. Arslanian will meet with you during a private consultation to answer any questions you may have about reconstructive surgery. He will discuss your medical history and medication use with you to make sure any treatment or surgery will be the best for your case. Once Dr. Arslanian has examined the concerns that you would like to address, he will work alongside you to custom-tailor a treatment plan to achieve your desired outcomes.

We want you to look and feel your best: Dr. Arslanian is here to help you get back to normal. Schedule an informative consultation at Arslanian Plastic Surgery to get started on your journey back to You today.

FAQ

What does reconstructive surgery mean?

Reconstructive surgery is surgery performed to restore normal appearance and function to the face or body. Reconstructive surgery corrects issues caused by birth defects, injury, medical procedures, or previous surgery.

How is reconstructive surgery done?

The details of a reconstructive surgery will depend on the patient’s unique case. Most reconstructive surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. Some patients may need a day to recover before they are released home, while other patients will be able to go home same-day after their surgery. Depending on the steps and number of procedures a patient will receive, reconstructive surgery can be performed in one to six hours. Once you receive a private consultation with Dr. Arslanian, he will go over the steps of your individualized treatment plan with you.

What is the difference between plastic and reconstructive surgery?

Plastic surgery is surgery performed to correct cosmetic concerns. Reconstructive surgery refers to surgeries performed to restore an attractive, natural appearance to parts of the body or face that have been damaged due to illness, injury, birth defects, or previous surgery.

How much does reconstructive surgery cost?

Reconstructive surgery pricing will vary based on a number of factors. The type of surgery you will receive, the reason for the surgery, and your health insurance coverage will impact procedure pricing. Breast reconstruction surgery, cleft lip and palate correction, and ear deformities usually all qualify for at least partial coverage with health insurance.

Have any more questions about reconstructive surgery? Dr. Arslanian and his helpful staff will be happy to help you schedule your informative consultation today!