Facial Reconstructive Surgery Cincinnati, OH
Reconstructive surgery refers to plastic surgery procedures performed on abnormal body structures in order to correct or improve function or approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive plastic surgery may be used to treat congenital defects and developmental deformities. Alexander Donath M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and reconstructive surgeon practicing in Cincinnati, OH, who specializes in facial reconstruction surgery for patients looking to improve their appearance.
Types of Facial Deformities
A variety of reasons can cause facial deformities and can vary greatly in terms of severity.
Congenital Deformity
A congenital deformity is one which is present at birth—basically a birth defect. Examples of birth defects include cleft lip, cleft palate, birthmarks, webbed fingers, and abnormal breast development.
Developmental Deformity
A developmental deformity is one which occurs as a result of an accident, injury, disease, infection, or sometimes aging. Examples of developmental deformities include burn wounds, growth, and lacerations.
Types of Facial Reconstruction Surgery
There are many different types of facial reconstructive procedures for several issues a patient may be facing. The varying types include the following.
Cancer Reconstruction
A variety of techniques can repair facial cancer defects, including the use of adjacent healthy skin flaps or grafts and free tissue transfer.
Reconstructive options range from using adjacent healthy skin flaps or grafts to free tissue transfer, depending on the type of cancer and the extent of the damage.
Cleft Lip Repair
With cosmetic surgery, cleft lip birth defects may correct in order to repair nostril asymmetry and lip deformity. Surgeons can perform this procedure on kids at the early age of three to six months.
Cleft Palate Repair
Through surgery, cleft palate birth defects may correct, repairing the cleft and the roof of the mouth. Specialists can perform this procedure on children around the age of nine to twelve months.
Facial Reconstructive Surgery Before and After
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Facial Paralysis
Facial deformities caused by facial paralysis may be improved through a variety of surgical means, with the ultimate goal of improving facial symmetry and restoring facial animation.
To restore facial animation in patients with facial nerve paralysis, the reconstruction surgery technique plastic surgeons often use is tissue. They use tissue rearrangement techniques such as skin grafting, free-tissue transfer, or muscle transposition to help correct deformities caused by facial paralysis.
Facial Trauma Reconstruction
Facial trauma reconstruction is performed to correct facial fractures and/or facial lacerations that may have occurred from motor vehicle accidents, fights, domestic violence, animal bites, and the like. Surgery can correct fractures of the jawbone, cheekbone, eye socket, and brow, as well as lacerations resulting in scarring, facial nerve damage, tear duct injury, and loss of body part.
Nose Surgery
Depending on the individual case, a patient may be able to look forward to a functional outcome with reconstructive nose surgery. This type of surgery can help correct nasal deformities caused by birth defects, trauma, and cancer. The goal is to restore breathing normalcy and improve aesthetic appearance.
Microtia Repair
Microtia repair is the surgical correction of a missing ear. Creating an ear with rib cartilage and molding an ear lobe and crease treats his congenital defect.
To balance facial features and improve symmetry, specialists perform reconstructive ear surgeries. Such surgeries may include constructing artificial ears using rib cartilage or restoring symmetry with tissue flaps or grafts. Modern techniques and materials produce a very natural-appearing result that helps to boost self-confidence and enhance facial appearance.
Scar Revision
Scar revision involves a variety of techniques designed to camouflage facial scars resulting from accidents, surgery, burns, or acne. Techniques may include surgery like surgical removal of scar tissue, skin flap surgery, skin grafts, and Z-plasty, as well as skin resurfacing procedures like dermabrasion and laser resurfacing.
Facial Reconstruction Consultation
Dr. Alexander Donath has extensive experience and expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery for faces, utilizing the latest diagnostic tests and medical treatments to provide the best possible results for his patients. He dedicates to providing personalized care for each patient’s unique needs, taking into account factors such as age, lifestyle, and health history. During a consultation with Dr. Donath, he explains the intended procedure including the technique, the anesthesia, the surgical facility, the risks, and the costs. The doctor makes sure to also answer any questions or concerns that you may have.
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Recovery from Facial Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
After reconstructive facial surgery, patients should expect to have some swelling and bruising that gradually subsides over several weeks. Dr. Alexander Donath gives patients detailed instructions on how to care for their surgical site and ensure optimal healing. He also offers post-operative follow-up visits to ensure the achievement of aesthetic goals and that the patient is progressing during their recovery period. Patients should follow all aftercare instructions closely to reduce any potential risks or side effects from the surgery.
Reconstructive surgery FAQs
Different from regular cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation, breast reduction, or tummy tuck, reconstruction surgery refers to plastic surgery procedures that are designed to improve function and sometimes approximate a normal appearance of abnormal structures of the body. There are many different types of reconstructive plastic surgery, and they may be used to treat both congenital defects and developmental deformities.
If you are looking to improve the function or appearance of a congenital or developmental defect, then reconstruction plastic surgery may be right for you. As with all surgery, patients should be physically healthy and realistic in their expectations. Dr. Donath is happy to meet with you for a consultation to help you decide if reconstructive plastic surgery can best address your needs.
Cleft lip repair is a reconstructive procedure that corrects cleft lip birth defects. This surgery repairs both nostril asymmetry and lip deformity.
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Cleft palate repair is a plastic surgery procedure that corrects cleft palate birth defects. This surgery repairs both the cleft and the roof of the mouth.
Facial paralysis repair is a reconstruction surgery that can improve facial deformities caused by facial paralysis. A variety of surgical means may be used to improve facial symmetry and restore facial animation.
Facial trauma reconstruction can correct facial fractures and/or facial lacerations occurring through accidents, injury, animal bites, and the like.
Microtia repair is a facial reconstructive plastic surgery that can replace a missing ear. The surgery creates a new ear with the use of rib cartilage.
Scar revision involves a variety of reconstructive techniques intended to camouflage and improve the appearance of facial scars. Many different techniques can be used, including surgery and skin resurfacing.
If you live in the states of Ohio or Kentucky, Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery offers facial reconstructive among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Why choose Dr. Donath — Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
- Graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University where he was a scholarship recipient and was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa national honor society.
- He then completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati, widely recognized as one of the top medical centers in the country, where he was President of the school’s American Medical Student Association.
- Completing a rigorous five-year residency training program in all aspects of Head and Neck Surgery at St. Louis University.
- He additionally spent time studying at Harvard Medical School with the Director of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
- Has been nominated as a Top Doctor in Cincinnati Magazine and by Castle Connolly for many consecutive years.
- Is a national trainer of other physicians for both Galderma and Allergan, and is a frequent guest on multiple media outlets to present the public with the most recent facial aesthetic techniques.
