UCHealth Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic - Colorado Springs

Plastic surgery of the breast addresses congenital deformities, cosmetic concerns and reconstructive surgery after breast cancer.

Common breast procedures and conditions include:

• Breast augmentation
• Breast lift.
• Breast reduction for women.
• Breast reduction for men.
• Chest wall reconstruction after excision of tumors of the breast and/or chest wall.
• DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) free flap reconstruction of the breast.
• Gynecomastia surgery in children or adults.
• Latissimus flap reconstruction.
• Microvascular reconstruction.
• Oncoplastic breast surgery.
• Reconstruction after breast cancer.
• Tissue expander and implant reconstruction of the breast.

We understand that breast reconstruction is a deeply personal decision. Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy helps restore the shape, size and appearance of the breast. Studies and testimonials of breast cancer patients have shown that breast reconstruction improves self-image, self-confidence and quality of life.

We are highly qualified to treat even the most complicated breast reconstruction cases. Our group is dedicated to helping women feel whole after breast cancer. We work closely with UCHealth breast cancer surgeons, so that reconstruction can be incorporated into a patient’s treatment process.

Weight loss, pregnancy, and aging can bring undesirable effects on the body. Plastic surgeons can help restore a proportional body shape and contour by offering “body contouring” procedures to reduce excess fat and skin.

Your doctor will help you understand your options and recommend the technique to best achieve the cosmetic result you desire.

Common body contouring procedures include:

• Body lift. A body lift can circumferentially improve the shape and tone of the abdomen, buttocks and thighs. For people who have lost a significant amount of weight, especially after bariatric surgery, a body lift can dramatically improve one’s appearance by lifting and removing excess skin.
• Breast augmentation. This popular, cosmetic procedure enlarges your breasts to create a more desirable shape and volume.
• Breast lift (mastoplexy). A breast lift can help lift and restore sagging breasts to achieve a more youthful look.
• Liposuction. Liposuction slims and reshapes stubborn bulges of fat on the abdomen, thighs, arms, back or neck. Multiple areas can be treated at one time with consistent and proven results.
• “Mommy Makeover.” These procedures restore the shape and appearance of a woman’s body after childbearing.
• Thigh lift (thighplasty). Thigh lift surgery treats the sagging and fullness caused by excessive skin and fat of the thigh. This procedure creates a slimmer, more proportional upper leg.
• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Tummy tuck surgery creates a smoother, firmer abdomen for both women and men. Abdominal muscles are also restored by tightening and decreasing any separation.
• Upper arm lift (brachioplasty). Arm lift procedures create a slimmer, more proportional arm shape. In most cases, liposuction is performed at the same time.

Facial plastic surgery addresses deformities of the whole face, lips, mouth, jaws, nose, ears, scalp and/or neck. These deformities can be the result of birth deformities, cancer, accidents, trauma, burns or previous surgery.

Cosmetic facial plastic surgery is surgery performed to enhance the visual appearance of the facial structures and features. Most surgical procedures focus on reducing the signs of aging, while others are designed to enhance proportion, like the nose or ears.

Our plastic surgeons are board-certified in multiple surgical subspecialties, making them uniquely qualified to provide optimal care to patients with problems of the face.

Our service specialties include:

• Ear surgery: protruding ears. Ears that protrude away from the side of the head can lead to teasing and embarrassment, especially for primary school-age children. Corrective surgery is often done around the age of six, but it can be done at any age, even adulthood.
• Ear surgery: absent ears (microtia). Microtia is a congenital condition in which a child is born without a fully-formed external ear. Adults can present with acquired ear defects caused by cancer or trauma. Reconstruction typically involves fashioning cartilage of the patient’s ribs into the shape of the missing ear cartilage.
• Eyelift surgery (blepharoplasty). As we age, the laxity of the skin increases, and the muscles around the eyes often weaken. Fat can protrude through these weakened muscles, resulting in commonly-seen bags or pouches. Eyelift surgery is designed to eliminate excess skin and fat in your upper and lower eyelids.
• Facelift surgery. It is natural that we want to look as youthful as we feel. A facelift is designed to remove or reduce wrinkling caused by loose skin, and to lift and tighten sagging tissues of the lower face and neck.
• Facial fractures. Fractures of the orbit, jaw and cheek bones can affect vision, occlusion (or “bite”), and facial shape. Our expert plastic surgeons perform the majority of facial trauma procedures at UCHealth Memorial Hospital, the only Level I trauma hospital in Colorado Springs.
• Facial liposculpture. We perform liposculpture to provide or remove fat in order to improve the appearance and contours of the face and neck.
• Facial paralysis. A facial palsy can be present since birth or caused by tumors, trauma or viral illness. Gold weights to the upper eyelid, sling procedures to support the face and nerve grafts can help restore function. We specialize in microvascular surgery, so we can offer a “gracilis free flap” surgery to both children and adult patients. In this surgery, we move the small gracilis muscle in the thigh to the face to restore the ability to smile.
• Facial tumors. Tumors of the skin, mouth, jaw or throat can cause severe, functional deficits that can affect speech, swallowing and appearance. Optimal reconstruction can often only be achieved with microvascular surgery – at which we excel. Our expert surgeons will select the type of reconstruction to ensure the best functional and cosmetic outcome.
• Nose redesign (rhinoplasty). Rhinoplasty is the surgical procedure to correct unwanted characteristics of the nose. It involves redesigning the nose to improve overall nasal contour and function. Your surgeon can reduce a wide tip, straighten a crooked nose or reduce a visible hump.
• Scar revision. Different types of scars can be improved by using a variety of techniques including, excision of scar and dermabrasion. The overall goal of improvement is to minimize the appearance of the scars.

Reconstructive surgery is done to not only restore function but also appearance. The size, nature and extent of the injury or deformity will determine what treatment options are best.

Reconstructive surgery frequently demands focused analysis and complex planning. To select the best treatment option, your plastic surgeon should be able to routinely perform even the most complex options. Our specialists meet that threshold.

Pediatric plastic surgery addresses deformities of the face, body and extremities that are caused by birth defects, trauma and tumors. Our specialists perform craniofacial surgery for deformities caused by clefts, facial fractures, dog bites and other traumatic injuries so that children can be restored both in form and function.

In particular for trauma and tumor surgery, we perform many procedures in tandem with other pediatric surgical specialists.

Among our service specialties:

• Burn scars.
• Cleft lip and palate.
• Congenital facial paralysis, Bell’s palsy, and Moebius syndrome.
• Ear abnormalities.
• Facial fractures.
• Gynecomastia (enlargement of the male breast).
• Limb salvation after fractures and tissue loss.
• Microvascular reconstruction of the face.
• Nasal surgery.