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Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago

Craniosynostosis Repair
How Are Facial Differences Surgically Treated?

 

Craniosynostosis Repair Chicago

Every person’s skull is comprised of several plates of bone; when we are born, these plates are softer and are not yet fused together. As our brains grow, the skull is able to grow as well, due to the separate plates of bone the make up the skull. As adults, the plates of bone fuse together, but if the fusion occurs too early or in an abnormal way, it is known as craniosynostosis.

One of the biggest risks with craniosynostosis is pressure on a child’s growing brain. It can also affect eyesight, have neurological impacts, and result in skull and facial asymmetries. The surgeons at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are board-certified to perform this complex pediatric procedure, and they perform the surgery using the most innovative and safest techniques possible.

Craniosynostosis Repair

CANDIDATES FOR CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS REPAIR

Craniosynostosis repair is usually performed on children between nine and twelve months of age. In certain situations, treatment can be performed earlier at three months of age using less invasive techniques. Since craniosynostosis can affect a child’s development and growth, early detection and treatment is paramount.

Your pediatrician will be able to identify the symptoms and, through medical evaluation, the severity of the craniosynostosis. You should always consult with a pediatric neurosurgeon and a board-certified plastic surgeon before making the decision for your child to undergo craniosynostosis repair.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CONSULTATION

When you consult with a plastic surgeon, you will want to confirm that they have craniofacial surgical training and are experienced in treating pediatric patients with skull deformities caused by craniosynostosis. The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago is comprised of expert plastic surgeons and staff that have years of expertise treating children and adults alike.

During the consultation, the plastic surgeon will give you an extensive overview of the procedure, the potential risks associated with it, and the recovery period. Our surgeons will create a personalized treatment plan that best fits your child’s needs.

HOW CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS REPAIR IS PERFORMED

The particular process of a craniosynostosis repair is largely dependent on the severity of the case. Sometimes a fairly simple endoscopic surgery is enough to correct the problem; in other cases, an approach known as an “open repair” must be performed.

The child is first put under general anesthesia. The surgeon then makes incisions, usually along the top of the scalp. The specific placement of the incisions depends on the location of the problem area. Bones in the skull are shifted, or in some cases, removed and reshaped. They are fastened together using resorbable plates and screws that allow the skull to expand as the brain grows; the body eventually absorbs the plates and screws over a period of one to two years after surgery.

Lastly, once the necessary corrections are made, the incisions are closed and sutured.

RECOVERY AFTER CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS REPAIR

Children that undergo craniosynostosis repair recover in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Further treatment may sometimes be necessary in the form of “helmet therapy,” a type of treatment in which a child is fitted with a customized helmet to make gentle, subtle corrections to the shape of the skull. The duration of helmet therapy is typically around three to six months, on average.

POTENTIAL RISKS OF CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS REPAIR

Every surgical procedure carries with it some potential risks. Those associated with craniosynostosis repair may include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Hematoma (blood clot)

The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago takes every precaution to mitigate any complications. Our surgical procedures are always performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.

WHAT DOES CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS REPAIR COST?

It is difficult to provide an approximate cost for craniosynostosis repair because the procedure varies greatly between patients. Be sure to discuss all costs with your plastic surgeon during your consultation. Your medical insurance may cover some or all of the cost associated with craniosynostosis repair. Contact your health insurance provider before undergoing the procedure.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

Our top priority at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago is the wellbeing and safety of all of our patients, no matter the age. We specialize in pediatric procedures that very few other plastic surgery centers offer, and we never perform a procedure unless we are certain that it is the best treatment plan for your child. If you have questions about craniosynostosis repair or would like to talk to a surgeon about treatment options, contact us by calling our office or using the form on the Contact Us page.

BEFORE & AFTER

Craniosynostosis Repair Before and After
Craniosynostosis Repair Before and After

 

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Happy for this patient and her transformation. This patient is transfemale who underwent facial feminization. Can you tell what surgeries were performed? Still have to perform the tracheal shave. Posted with permission.

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6 month follow-up on a mastopexy augmentation case. The patient’s goals were to have her breasts lifted and the volume restored after pregnancy. No patient has perfectly symmetric breasts, which is normal. This case was challenging because of the asymmetries of the nipples; trying to lift, augment, and level the nipples all at the same time is difficult. Many variables to control but the post-operative photos demonstrate improved symmetry with all of the patient’s goals achieved. Posted with permission.

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6 month follow-up on a challenging revision rhinoplasty case. The patient had 3 prior rhinoplasty surgeries by another surgeon and was not happy with the aesthetics of the dorsum or tip. In the pre-operative profile views, you can see a dorsal hump, under-projected tip, and abnormal alar-columellar relationship. On frontal view, there are asymmetries of the dorsal aesthetic lines and C-shape deviation of the nose. The goal of the surgery was to make the nose straighter, improve the dorsum and tip proportions, increase tip projection, and improve the alar-columellar relationship. Look closely at the post-operative profile views and how the tip, nostril and columella appear. Posted with permission.

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Many ways to do a breast augmentation but the periareolar incision is a great option because the scar becomes imperceptible as the scar matures. This patient is 6 months out from a breast augmentation and the access incision we made was at the bottom border of the nipple areolar complex. It’s hard to see the scar at this point and the scar gets even better at the 12-18 month mark. Also, nipple sensation is unaffected after surgery. The other incisions that plastic surgeons use include an incision underneath the breast, at the breast fold, or the armpit. Each incision has their pros and cons but the periareolar is my preferred approach.

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Challenging #gynecomastia case where the patient had grade 2/3 gynecomastia or male breasts with excess skin and significant asymmetries. The challenging part of this case relates to how to manage the excess skin and achieve a symmetric result. Do you remove the excess skin which will leave scars or try to contract the skin with minimally invasive techniques? In this case I performed liposuction, removed the breast tissue through a nipple incision, and performed #Renuvion to facilitate contraction of the skin. Posted with permission.

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3 month follow-up on this patient who wanted improvement in the projection of her chin and definition of the jawline. The patient has retrogenia or a small chin and underwent #chinaugmentation with a #genioplasty. In the pre-operative photos, you can see the chin is short and recessed and therefore I moved the chin forward and down. In the post-operative photos you can see improvement in the projection of the chin, a more defined jawline and neck, and a more balanced lower 1/3 of the face. This case highlights the advantages of a genioplasty versus a chin implant, a chin implant cannot lengthen and advance the chin to the same extent that a genioplasty can. Posted with permission.

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A 1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted a rhinoplasty to remove the dorsal hump and improve the aesthetics of her tip. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the nose made straighter, the tip refined, and the tip rotated and projected more. Her new nose fits her face without overtly changing the ethnic features of her face. Posted with permission.



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Proud of our research team for getting this important manuscript published in the #1 plastic surgery journal in the world. In this study, we looked at the published literature to develop guidelines on how to treat visual impairments related to droopy eyelids and excess skin of the eyelids.

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Amazing transformation for this lovely patient who wanted to have fuller, more symmetric, youthful, and natural breasts. The patient underwent a #breastaugmentation with gel implants. Posted with permission.

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One year follow-up on a #BBL or Brazilian butt lift. As you can see from the post-operative photos, the fat that is transferred stays and is permanent. Posted with permission.

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Male patient in his late 60’s who was able to turn back the clock after undergoing a #facelift, #neck lift, #blepharoplasty, and #fattransfer. Pay close attention to the “bags” underneath the eyes, the jawline, and neck. The scars have healed nicely and are inconspicuous even with short hair. In the post-operative photos, the patient has maintained his natural facial features and anatomy, but just looks like a more youthful version of himself. Posted with permission.

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