Patients who have undergone surgery for facial skin cancers, those who have experienced facial trauma, and those with facial scars or skin lesions may require reconstructive surgery to restore their appearance. Our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Emily Hrisomalos, is passionate about reconstructing faces and restoring confidence. During dedicated consultations, treatment plans are customized to fit each patient’s reconstructive needs and goals.
Mohs Reconstruction
Mohs surgery is a state-of-the-art treatment for removing skin cancers on the face, head, and neck. The procedure is designed to completely remove cancerous cells while minimizing removal of the healthy surrounding non-cancerous tissue. This is extremely important when dealing with skin cancers of sensitive areas of the face. Dr. Hrisomalos works closely with specialized dermatologists who perform Mohs micrographic surgery when cancers are large or in sensitive areas. These are often same-day combination surgeries where patients will see the dermatologist in the morning for Mohs surgery, and then come to Dr. Hrisomalos for reconstruction. Reconstruction may involve skin grafting or rearranging local tissue as a “flap.” Dr. Hrisomalos can determine the best technique for rehabilitating the affected area(s) during the consultation and/or at the time of surgery to ensure optimal functional and aesthetic results. For the procedure, she uses specialized techniques to ensure incisions are as inconspicuous as possible, minimizing the appearance of scars and maximizing camouflage.
“Dr Hrisomalos did a facial reconstruction on my husband’s nose after a Mohs procedure. It has now been 5 months since the operation. He is beyond pleased with the results. I can hardly tell that anything was done. #skilled#talented#caring”
Scar Revision
Trauma, surgery, burns, acne, and other conditions can result in facial scarring. Scar revision can be performed to minimize the appearance of scars, making them blend in better with the surrounding tissue. In some cases, treatment can also optimize the function of a part of the face that was impacted by the scar. The goal of treatment is not to eliminate scars completely, but to disguise and minimize their appearance as much as possible via non-surgical and surgical modalities. Some treatments are guided towards correcting the color or pigmentation of a scar, while others are aimed at improving texture, orientation, or thickness. Sometimes, multimodality treatment is indicated for optimal results and may begin with surgical revision and followed with non-surgical intervention. All interventions for scarring are enhanced with proper wound care, including topical treatments during healing.
Facial Trauma
Facial trauma often dramatically impacts a person’s appearance and self-esteem. It often results from falls, sports injuries, auto accidents, dog bites, or altercations. It is important for patients with facial fractures to consult a surgeon immediately for early evaluation and treatment planning as there are often “windows” of time for optimal intervention. This goes for soft tissue and bony injuries, with some injuries possibly requiring multiple procedures to correct in a staged fashion. Sometimes interventions are performed in conjunction with oral surgeons, dentists, and other specialists such as ophthalmologists for a comprehensive subspecialty approach to all facial injuries. As always, with surgeries for facial trauma, Dr. Hrisomalos uses evidence-based structural techniques to restore facial appearance and improve both self-confidence and quality of life.
Facial Lesion Removal
Dr. Hrisomalos can perform skin lesion removal for patients who want to remove moles, cysts, lipomas, or other facial lesions for cosmetic or medical indications. Skin lesions can form on any part of the body or face and either go unnoticed or become a source of insecurity among patients. Some people may even experience soreness and discomfort, which may indicate infection or other concerns, such as malignancy, for which they should seek treatment immediately. There are a variety of techniques that can be used for these procedures, and Dr. Hrisomalos will choose the best course of action based on the location, size, and type of skin lesion the patient has. Some of these procedures may be performed in the office with local-anesthesia (numbing) while others may require a trip to the operating room. This will all be discussed at the time of consultation with consideration of patient-specific factors.