Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery has developed into a well-recognized Division of the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. At UNC “facial plastic surgery” means many things. It includes not only the patients undergoing cosmetic procedures but also those requiring reconstructive surgery.

Over the past decade there has been a steady rise in the demand for facial cosmetic surgery. In response to this phenomenon, UNC has put together a “package pricing” system designed to keep patient costs competitive with those in the private sector. At UNC a broad range of facial plastic procedures are available including rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, facelift surgery, forehead and brow surgery, as well as facial skin re-surfacing.

In the University setting, patients are often referred for surgical reconstruction. In fact, facial reconstructive surgery is Dr. William Shockley’s major area of interest. “Patients may come in with a particular defect or deformity and improving or restoring the patient’s function and appearance is especially gratifying”. His special interests include reconstruction of facial cutaneous (Mohs) defects, surgery for facial paralysis, rhinoplasty, scar revision, and the correction of post-traumatic deformities.

The Facial Surgery Clinic sees patients with a broad range of disorders, including: facial skin lesions, skin cancer, congenital or acquired deformities, facial paralysis, nasal deformities and vascular lesions. In addition, consultations are available for those seeking cosmetic facial surgery. Appointments can be made by calling 919-966-6483.

What's New in Facial Surgery?

The advances in bio-technology have led to the introduction of several new materials which have found uses in facial surgical procedures. Dermabond has recently been introduced as an alternative to skin sutures. This tissue glue can be applied to appropriate incisions and lacerations, thus avoiding stitches. It is particularly applicable for superficial facial wounds and in children, where taking out the sutures can also be troublesome. Gore-Tex is a synthetic material which has been found to be very compatible with host tissues and is useful for filling in soft tissue deficiencies. In addition, it can be used to provide structure and contour to the cheeks, chin and the bridge of the nose. In addition, Gore-Tex is now being used to restore facial symmetry in patients with long-standing facial paralysis. Alloderm, a type of artificial skin, has also found many new uses. It is particularly useful as a soft tissue “fillers” cover bony irregularities, or fill in deficits in the subcutaneous tissues of the face. It has recently been used to minimize the post-parotidectomy deformity that often occurs following this procedure. There also continue to be advances in the miniature plates and screws used to fix facial fractures. The newest idea is that of the absorbable plates which are designed to hold bones in position during the healing phase and then dissolve over the next several months after the fractures have fully healed.

As with all new technologies and techniques there are always advantages, disadvantages and potential risks. The surgeons at UNC are always happy to discuss these new advances and as well as the applications to patients who may benefit from this new technology.