Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

The need for plastic or reconstructive surgery may result from many factors, including serious illness, traumatic injury, congenital differences, scarring, previous procedures and more.

Expert Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Close to Home

Choose the highly trained specialists at OU Health in Oklahoma City for the advanced plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures that can help you gain or regain as much function as possible while enhancing your confidence and quality of life.

If you live in Oklahoma and the surrounding region, you can rely on OU Health for top-quality cosmetic procedures and surgical repair or reconstruction to improve a wide range of conditions resulting from:

• Burns
• Cancer, such as breast, skin, head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis
• Cleft and craniofacial concerns, including craniosynostosis (skull growth issues)
• Complex conditions or previous procedures that need to be revised
• Congenital and non-congenital differences
• Maxillofacial issues relating to the jaws and face
• Pediatric and vascular tumors
• Pigmented lesions
• Traumatic injury

Reconstructive Surgery

The art and science of reconstructive surgery sits at the heart of plastic surgery and grew from efforts of wartime surgeons to rebuild the faces of severely injured soldiers. Since World War I, new generations of surgeons continuously developed and improved the innovative skills and techniques you benefit from today.

At OU Health, you’ll find the experts and specialists who perform a variety of reconstructive surgery procedures, including:

• Pediatric / congenital reconstructive surgery – Care from birth through adulthood for the entire spectrum of congenital and non-congenital differences
• Trauma reconstructive surgery – Care for survivors of complex injuries to hard and soft tissues of the body, ranging from dog attacks to high-speed motor vehicle accidents or previous procedures requiring revision and more
• Trunk reconstructive surgery – Multidisciplinary collaboration for complex situations involving tissue removal in the chest, abdomen and pelvic area, as well as management of these complicated conditions
• Oncologic surgery – Multidisciplinary collaboration and care for the primary cancer condition, with surgical reconstruction of surrounding hard and soft tissues to return as much function as possible in each situation
• Burn reconstructive surgery – Specialized procedures, including microsurgery, for complicated burn injuries and scarring that can distort typical tissues and structures, such as the mouth and hands, to achieve the best possible outcome

Cosmetic Procedures – Surgical & Non-Surgical

In addition to reconstructive procedures at OU Health, you can take advantage of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic services to increase function and your quality of life. You’ll work with our board-certified and board-eligible specialists, who offer an extensive array of cosmetic procedures.

Surgical Options

• Facelift – Reduces signs of aging on the face and neck
• Neck lift – Removes excess fat or loose skin
• Mid facelift – Augments cheekbones, nose, “laugh lines”
• Endoscopic browlift – Repositions muscles and tissues under the forehead
• Rhinoplasty – Enhances the contour of the nose
• Eyelid surgery – Corrects loose skin of the upper or lower eyelids
• Liposuction – Removes excess fat deposits throughout the body
• Scar revision – Improves or reduces appearance of scars
• Breast augmentation – Increases breast size or reconstructs breast after cancer
• Breast reduction – Reduces breast size
• Post-cancer breast reconstruction – Reconstructs breasts after mastectomy
• Tummy tuck – Tightens abdominal muscles and removes excess skin

Non-Surgical Options

• Botox® and fillers – Rejuvenates the face with injections under the skin
• Chemical peel – Uses a chemical solution to provide newly regenerated skin
• Dermabrasion – Uses a tiny instrument to remove damaged outer layers of skin

Pre-Operative Assessment

As part of your pre-operative preparation, you’ll complete an assessment at OU Medical Center Presbyterian Tower. During this appointment, you’ll have labs drawn and an EKG test, as well as a chest X-ray, if necessary. You’ll also meet with an anesthesiologist and review your current medications.

You will be notified about required appointments, because you may not need all of them. For these procedures, go to the following locations:

• Labs – Floor 1, last desk on right side – Suite 1B; no appointment needed
• Chest X-ray – Floor 1, first desk on left side – Suite 1D; no appointment needed
• EKG – Floor 2, last desk – Suite 2F behind glass door; appointment required

You will be contacted by our office ONLY if we find issues with your results. Otherwise, your results will go directly to the hospital or OU Surgery Center. If you want copies of your results, we can provide them at the time of your post-operative appointment.

Preparing for Surgery

Review information about surgery services at OU Health to learn what you can expect, how to prepare for surgery, how to handle medications you currently take—including herbs, vitamins and supplements, as well as those you may receive following the procedure—and other valuable information.

Before Surgery

Do not smoke or drink for at least three weeks before your scheduled surgery and get plenty of rest. Make arrangements for someone to drive you home after surgery and for a relative or friend to stay with you and assist you in the first few days following your procedure.

Day of Surgery

Do not eat or drink (including water) from midnight the night immediately before surgery, unless otherwise instructed. Do not wear makeup, jewelry, contact lenses or body piercing items. Be sure your responsible adult companion accompanies you to the surgery location.

Research & Clinical Trials

Ask your physician about participating in a research-focused clinical trial if your situation relates to ongoing plastic surgery-related projects at OU Health. Topics include congenital anomalies, cancer reconstruction, cosmetic surgery, cleft and craniosynostosis conditions, virtual surgery, augmented reality, advanced imaging and 3D printing.

Your Expert Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Team

When you choose OU Health for your care, you’ll collaborate with our skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeons who also serve as members of the University of Oklahoma faculty and bring their hands-on fellowship specialty training and plastic surgery residency experience to your care.

That means you benefit from their extensive expertise, which translates into the highest level of plastic and reconstructive surgery services and treatments in Oklahoma and the surrounding region.

• The Cleft and Craniofacial Center, busiest in the region and led by of one of the most experienced surgeons in the country for management of pediatric cleft and craniofacial issues, includes the only comprehensive multidisciplinary group of specialized physicians in Oklahoma.
• Our plastic surgery team interacts with every health service at OU Health to aid reconstruction of the most complex situations.
• Physicians across Oklahoma refer their patients to our skilled and experienced team, especially to manage complicated abdominal wall hernias with multiple techniques such as muscle flaps and the use of prosthetic materials.
• Every member of the OU Health plastic surgery team has worked in burn units and managed acute and chronic burn wounds. You’ll work with surgeons who hold specialized training beyond plastic surgery—in hand, cranio-maxillofacial and micro-surgery techniques.