Compassionate, Expert Treatment
People who have
undergone surgery to treat head and neck cancer – as well as those with deformities and those
who have suffered burns and trauma – might opt for reconstructive surgery of
the head and/or neck to improve their functional abilities and/or appearance.
UT Southwestern’s
head and neck reconstructive surgeons are specially trained in the most
sophisticated and precise techniques, including microsurgery,
tissue substitutes, and the latest in wound care. Our team includes surgeons
who are board certified by both the American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and
Neck Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
When treating cancer
patients, we partner with the head and neck cancer specialists at UT Southwestern’s Harold C.
Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center – the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer
center in North Texas – to help patients make the most informed decisions
for reconstruction.
Optimizing
Function and Appearance
As with all types of reconstructive
surgery, the goal of head and neck reconstruction is to restore and/or maximize
patients’ function and appearance. Because the head and neck are vital to
eating, breathing, blood flow, and communication – and due to the visibility of
these areas – reconstructive surgery has unique challenges and goals.
To ensure the best
outcomes, our head and neck reconstructive surgeons work closely with patients to
help them choose the most appropriate surgical options based on their individual
goals, preferences, and fitness for major surgery.
Types of Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgeries
There are a number of
advanced surgeries that can be used to reconstruct areas of the head and neck.
UT Southwestern offers procedures that include:
- Free tissue transfer and microvascular
anastomosis
- Local flap reconstruction
- Reanimation of the paralyzed face
- Reconstruction of the jaw and facial bones
- Reconstruction of the nose, mouth, and
ears
- Skull-base surgery
- Skin grafting
- Tissue replacement