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Reconstructive Procedures |
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Reconstructive surgery is performed on patients with birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma or injury, infection, tumors, or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive surgery helps patients of all ages and types - whether it's a child with a birth defect, a young adult injured in an accident, or a patient needing reconstruction after cancer surgery. Although no amount of surgery can achieve "perfection," modern treatment options allow plastic surgeons to achieve improvements in form and function thought to be impossible ten years ago. The following should give you a basic understanding of reconstructive surgery. Should you decide to go ahead with reconstructive surgery, we encourage you to ask for information that specifically details the procedure you are considering for yourself or your child. Who Needs
Reconstructive Surgery? Some common examples of congenital abnormalities are birthmarks, cleft-lip and palate deformities, hand deformities such as syndactyly (webbed fingers) or extra or absent fingers, and abnormal breast development. Burn wounds, lacerations, and tumors are considered acquired deformities. In some cases, patients may find that a procedure commonly thought to be aesthetic in nature may be performed to achieve a reconstructive goal. For example, some older adults with redundant or drooping eyelid skin blocking their field of vision might have eyelid surgery. Or an adult whose face has an asymmetrical look because of paralysis might have a balancing facelift. Although appearance is enhanced, the first objective is to restore function. Fees and Insurance Usually, health insurance policies will consider the cost of reconstructive surgery a covered expense. Check with your carrier to make sure you're covered and to see if there are any limitations on the type of surgery you're planning. You should work with Dr. Bolitho and his staff to get pre-authorization from the insurer for the procedure. Risks and Uncertainties When reconstructive surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. However, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy and healing ability and the outcome is never completely predictable. There are a number of factors that may increase the risk of complications in healing. In general, a patient is considered to be a higher risk if he or she has a history or smoking, a connective-tissue disease, areas of damaged skin from radiation therapy, decreased circulation to the surgical area, an impaired immune system, or poor nutrition. If you regularly take aspirin or some other medication that affects blood clotting, it's likely that you will be asked to stop usage a week or two before surgery. Planning Your Surgery In evaluating your condition, Dr. Bolitho is guided by a set of rules known as the reconstructive ladder. The least-complex types of treatments, such as simple wound closure, are at the lower part of the ladder. Any highly complex procedure like micro-surgery to reattach severed limbs occupies one of the ladder's highest rungs. A plastic surgeon will almost always begin at the bottom of the reconstructive ladder in deciding how to approach a patient's treatment, favoring the most direct, least-complex way of achieving the desired result. The size, nature and extent of the injury or deformity will determine what treatment option is chosen and how quickly the surgery will be performed. Reconstructive surgery frequently demands complex planning and may require a number of procedures done in stages. Because it's not always possible to predict how growth will affect outcome, a growing child may have to plan for regular follow-up visits on a long-term basis to allow additional surgery as the child matures. Because everyone heals at a different rate, plastic surgeons cannot pinpoint an exact "back-to-normal" date following surgery. They can, however, give you a general idea of when you can expect to notice improvement. Information
for Out of Town Patients All of the following hotels are located in La Jolla, in close proximity to Dr. Bolitho's office:
All of the following luxury resorts and inns are located in communities surrounding La Jolla:
Aftercare Facilities:
After Your Surgery Dr. Bolitho and his staff will give you instructions for showering and changing your dressings and support garments. You will also receive specific instructions regarding medication, diet, exercise, and return visits.
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