Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Children’s Hospital is committed to providing the highest standard of plastic and reconstructive care to neonates, infants, children and adolescents up to 16 years of age. It is the only pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery program in the state of Colorado and receives referrals from all over the Rocky Mountain region.
Why choose Children’s for plastic and reconstructive surgery?
Our experienced care team has been treating patients for more than 25 years. They are dedicated to providing acute and long-term care for children with craniofacial, cleft lip and palate, vascular malformations and other reconstructive traumatic and surgical problems.
Treatment is provided in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The program integrates the multidisciplinary efforts of neurosurgery, dental surgery, otolaryngology, radiology, dermatology and the burn program.
Colorado insurance coverage for plastic and reconstructive surgery
Colorado law requires insurers offering health care policies within the state to provide coverage for medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities. For more information, or to ensure that you qualify, please contact your health-care provider. Read more about insurance accepted at The Children's Hospital.
Conditions we treat
Our experienced care team provides specialized care for a variety of conditions, ranging from common cysts and moles, to the most complex congenital defects and birth abnormalities.
Acquired and congenital facial deformities
- Cleft lip and cleft palate deformities, including alveolar bone grafts, maxillo-facial deformities, rhinoplasty and velopharyngeal insufficiency
- Congenital deformities of the ear and eyelids
- Craniosynostosis – a birth defect caused by premature fusion of bones in the skull, resulting in abnormal skull shape (saggital, cornonal, metopic, lambdoid)
- Crouzon disease – abnormal skull shape and facial features
- Apert disease – abnormal skull shape and facial features and anomalies of the hands and feet
- Other rare craniofacial syndromes
Facial clefts
- Hemifacial microsomia – one sideof the jaw and face is underdeveloped and does not grow normally
- Hemifacial atrophy – a slowly progressive wasting of tissue on one side
of the face
- Hypertelorism – an abnormally increased distance between the eyes; wide-
set eyes
- Post-traumatic facial injuries – acquired soft tissue and skeletal facial deformities
- Tumors of the jaw or scalp
Hand anomalies
- Constriction ring syndrome
- Polydactaly – extra digits or duplicated digits
- Syndactaly – webbed digits
- Thumb abnormalities
Skin conditions
- Benign skin lesions
- Burn scar reconstruction
- Complex wound management
- Congenital scalp defects
- Cysts
- Moles
- Keloids and hypertrophic scars – raised red scars
- Congenital pigmented lesions (congenital hairy nevus)
Vascular malformations (birth marks)
- Arteriovenous malformations
- Cutaneous vascular lesions
- Hemangioma – skin lesions caused by blood vessel irregularities
- Lymphatic malformations (cystic hygroma) – progressive dilation of capillaries, veins and lymphatics
Other conditions
- Facial paralysis
- Neurofibromatosis – a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue, producing skin and bone abnormalities
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Care Team
Our care team includes skilled and experienced healthcare professionals working together to provide your child and your family with the most advanced plastic and reconstructive surgical care. The team includes a plastic surgeon and a clinical nurse specialist.
Our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Care team consults with other specialties when necessary, including ear, nose and throat; speech pathology; dentistry; ophthalmology and genetics to ensure your child receives the best possible treatment.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Children’s has one plastic surgeon, who is board certified and specially trained to provide the highest level of plastic and reconstructive surgical care to your child.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A CNS is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed an advanced degree as a clinical specialist, and has specialized training in the care of children. The CNS is licensed to see patients for assessment, treatment and follow up. The CNS in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery provides patient/family teaching and support, telephone triage, Emergency Department triage (during daytime), coordination of patient care (inpatient/outpatient), consultation for wound care issues, and coordination of services for the plastics and burn program.
Plastic and reconstructive clinic
The Plastic and Reconstructive Clinic meets one to two times per week. A plastic surgeon and clinical nurse specialist evaluate patients with congenital facial deformities, facial clefts, hand anomalies, skin conditions, acquired soft tissue and skeletal facial deformities, vascular malformations and other conditions. An individual operative plan is established based on this evaluation. When necessary, referrals may be made to one of several multidisciplinary clinics, including:
The Craniofacial Clinic specializes in the treatment of congenital and acquired deformities of the craniofacial skeleton and soft tissues, crouzon and apert syndromes, craniosynostosis, and other complex craniofacial conditions. Meets twice per month, in collaboration with Neurosurgery.
The Cleft Palate Clinic is held two to three times per month. A multidisciplinary team evaluates patients with cleft lip and palates, and those with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). The team develops and individualized treatment plan with a summary of the recommendations, which is sent to the family.
A multidisciplinary team, consisting of specialists from Ear, Nose and Throat, Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, Hematology, Pediatric General Surgery and Interventional Radiology, evaluates and treats vascular anomalies in children, ranging from simple skin discoloration to large malformations that require specialized treatment. The clinic is held monthly. Read more about the Vascular Malformation Clinic.
