Surgical Specialties

Plastic Surgery

Plastic and reconstructive surgery involves the repair or reconstruction of human tissue due to injury, congenital defect, disease, or aesthetic preference. Other medical specialists employ the plastic surgeon's skills in cases of complicated infection, or to treat tissue problems where traditional treatments have failed.

Various surgical techniques are used to repair facial injuries due to trauma or congenital deformities and to do reconstruction following surgery for facial and oral cancers. At CMMC, plastic surgery plays a role in the Trauma Program.

Plastic surgeons also perform breast reconstruction surgery, an option available to women who have had a breast removed for treatment of breast cancer.

Cosmetic surgical procedures also address a number of body image issues.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery involves the repair or reconstruction of human tissue – muscle, bone, tendons, nerves, and skin – due to injury, congenital defect, disease, or aesthetic preference. Plastic surgeons' expertise in complicated wound management is often utilized by other medical specialists in cases of complicated infection, or to treat tissue problems where traditional treatments have failed.

Removal of skin tumors is the most common procedure performed by plastic surgeons. Dermatologists often remove small skin lesions, but plastic surgeons are usually called upon for larger tumors and those whose location or nature requires broader surgical expertise.

High incidences of skin cancer are not found just among people living in warmer climates. Maine has a relatively sunny climate, even if the weather is not always warm. The sun's reflection off of water in the summer and snow in the winter exposes people in the outdoors to ultraviolet radiation, which contributes to cancer.

Plastic surgeons also perform breast reconstruction surgery, an option available to women who have had a breast removed for treatment of breast cancer. Though newer treatments for breast cancer emphasize “breast conservation,” there are many cases where removal of the entire breast is recommended.

For those women who choose breast reconstruction, surgery immediately after the mastectomy may offer the smoothest emotional transition. But dealing with cancer and the loss of a breast are sizable emotional hurdles that many women choose to face first before considering reconstruction.

Various surgical techniques can be utilized to repair facial injuries due to trauma or congenital deformities and to do reconstruction following surgery for facial and oral cancers. A CMMC, plastic surgery plays a role in the Trauma Program.

Cosmetic surgery to improve body image is another plastic surgery specialty. Plastic surgeons do elective cosmetic surgical procedures such as liposuction, face lifts, nose reconstructions, and breast augmentations or reductions. Advances in laser technology have led to the development of various skin rejuvenation techniques that may be performed for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes.

The field of plastic surgery is now drawing on new research, in areas such as tissue transfer and reimplantation, that will continue to broaden its applications.