If you or someone you know would like to learn more about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
When most people hear the words “plastic surgery,” they automatically think of cosmetic procedures. That’s no surprise given the amount of media attention devoted to those who want to upgrade their appearance, but many patients undergo plastic surgery due to needs, not “wants.” That’s the case with plastic surgery and kids. Pediatric plastic surgery aids children with facial defects, either those they are born with or occur via an accident.
Plastic surgeons working on kids are specialists. Since a child’s body is still growing, future growth is taken into account when a procedure is performed. Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common pediatric plastic surgeries. While such conditions are often seen in developing countries, in the United States most children born with cleft lips or palates are operated on at an early age, and with the possible exception of a small scar on the upper lip, they can grow up with no visible reminders of this facial deformity. Children with craniofacial defects also benefit from pediatric plastic surgery. When a child’s face requires reconstruction, it may involve not only soft tissue repair, but bone grafts. Many times, the child needs several plastic surgeries to correct the facial deformity. In addition to surgical skill, plastic surgeons must develop a bedside manner suitable for their small patients. Kids don’t always want to cooperate, and they often can’t answer medical questions put to them. A plastic surgeon treating children must know how to make them feel comfortable and safe while they are examined and treated.
Besides cleft lips and palates, the most common pediatric plastic surgeries include hand surgery, which may feature the transfer of toes to the hands if fingers are missing; treatment of ear and jaw deformities; misshapen skull repair; facial fracture repair and eradication of skin lesions. Pediatric surgeons correct various birth defects, such as webbing of fingers and toes.
Just as minimally invasive plastic surgery procedures help patients undergoing standard cosmetic surgery, they are also important in the world of pediatric plastic surgery. Kids undergoing such operations spend less time in the hospital, recover more quickly and experience less pain and, crucially, have less scarring. The bottom line is that pediatric plastic surgery allows kid to look “normal” and greatly improves not only their appearance, but their quality of life as they grow up.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
Home | Find a Plastic Surgeon | Research Procedures | News & Resources | About Us | Contact Us | Join Our Network | Newsletters | Privacy
©2022 Plastic Surgery Portal