What Is Head And Neck Reconstruction?
Any time the skin, muscle, bone or organs of the head and neck need to be repaired this is called “head and neck reconstruction”. This can be as simple as closing a cut on the head to a major surgery after a car accident. Such repairs are often required following cancer surgery, trauma, birth defects, or sometimes even for cosmetic purposes. The goal of such surgeries is to best recreate the appearance and function of the area as it would normally look and perform.
What Makes Head And Neck Reconstruction Challenging?
The head and neck region is one of the most complex areas of the body. The region contains your brain, eyes, ears, mouth, throat, and nose with which you need to breathe, eat, speak, hear and view the world. You also express many emotions with your facial muscles which is tremendously valuable for communication. There are complex nerves, muscles, bones, veins, and arteries that connect everything and keep things working together. Surgery that tries to recreate the working function of any of these structures is difficult. In addition, your face is what you show the world so it is important to reconstruct an appearance that looks as natural and normal as possible. For these reasons, the ability to find a balance between the form and function of the head and neck region presents a challenge to many surgeons. Head and neck reconstructive surgeons should be well versed in the broad range of surgical and advanced techniques available in order to better serve their patients.
You will meet with Dr. Mourad where he usually spends an hour going over everything related to your surgery. He will evaluate and make sure that he can specifically tailor a custom care plan to your exact needs. During the consultation, Dr. Mourad will determine the exact nature of your complaints and the exact causes. He may prescribe medications that will assist in your complaints. Once a tailored plan is made, Dr. Mourad and his staff will take you through all the necessary information needed to make sure that your surgery happens without issue. We take care of the details so that you can have the most enjoyable experience.
Dr. Mourad views treating his patients to be nothing short of a privilege and an honor and enjoys taking the time to get to know his patients and fully understand their issues. Dr. Mourad’s office provides a boutique experience that takes you out of the mindset of being at the doctor’s office. It is a warm, comfortable environment, providing a bespoke experience.
How Is Head And Neck Reconstruction Performed?
There are many techniques that can be used to reconstruct the head and neck. These include moving the sides of the defect together (primary closure), transfer of tissue from near the area of repair (local flaps), moving skin or cartilage from another area to the area to be repaired (free grafting), and taking bone or muscle from another area with its veins and arteries and using this tissue to replace the structures that have been removed from the reconstruction site (free flaps).
Depending on your work, Dr. Mourad typically recommends taking a minimum of 3 days off before returning to work. He also discourages his patients from any heavy lifting. If you wear glasses, you may require some alterations if applicable. Dr. Mourad will provide you with pain medications, ointments, nasal sprays, all to help maximize your results. Dr. Mourad will then see you in visitations two weeks later, and then one month after that. Dr. Mourad enjoys the continued visitation of his patients and will see them in follow up for many years thereafter.
Associated Risks
- Anesthesia: Depending on the type of anesthesia administered, patients may have a reaction. This is exceedingly rare, and it is important to discuss your personal risk with your anesthesiologist.
- Infection: In rare circumstances patients may develop an infection following reconstructive procedures. These are usually managed with intraoperative and postoperative antibiotics.
- Bleeding: Although rare, patients may have bleeding episodes following reconstructive surgery. Your surgeon will likely order blood work to make sure you are healthy enough to undergo the procedure, and minimize risk of bleeding. Your surgeon should also go over all medications and supplements to minimizing bleeding risk.
- Need for secondary surgeries: Depending on the complexity of the reconstruction, sometimes multiple surgeries are required to ensure the best aesthetic and functional outcomes.
- Scarring and Poor wound healing: Some patients with underlying medical conditions or more prone to poor wound healing and scarring. It is important to understand these risks prior to embarking on a treatment strategy.
Why You Should See Dr. Mourad With Regards To Your Head And Neck Reconstruction And Free Flap Needs?
Dr. Mourad has extensive training in the highly specialized field of free flap surgery, as well as head and neck reconstruction. He has pioneered many new techniques that have been featured and published in scientific and medical journals. He has more than 20 publications in the field of head and neck reconstruction, establishing him as a leader in the field. With his extensive knowledge and background, he can best tailor treatment to your specific needs.