Reconstructive surgery of the head and neck
Penn Medicine expertise in reconstructive head and neck surgery
Conditions requiring reconstructive head and neck surgery affect your life profoundly. Changes to the appearance or function of your head, face, and neck can alter how you eat, speak, and express yourself. The reconstructive head and neck surgeons at Penn Medicine offer personalized, advanced care to help restore your quality of life and self-confidence.
Congenital (present-at-birth) conditions, traumatic injuries, and head and neck cancer can all lead to pain, impairment, or aesthetic changes. As one of the most experienced surgical teams in the nation, we treat patients from across the country with needs that vary from common to complex. Our surgeons have the resources, innovative treatments, and technology to address even the rarest or most challenging cases.
Our multispecialty team includes:
- Head and neck reconstructive surgeons
- Anaplastologists (specialists who design and fit prosthetics)
- Facial plastic surgeons
- Functional rehabilitation specialists
- Maxillofacial prosthodontists (doctors specializing in replacing bone or tissue in the jaw or face)
- Microvascular surgeons
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Virtual surgical planning
We use advanced techniques like virtual surgical planning (VSP) for head and neck reconstruction. This process enables us to prepare for your procedure using high-resolution imaging, 3D models of your head and neck anatomy, and sophisticated computer software. By simulating your surgery on the 3D models and computer, we can create an individualized surgical plan and design customized implants and hardware.
VSP allows us to show you the treatment plan before surgery so you can feel confident about it. VSP also results in a shorter surgical time with increased precision and excellent outcomes.
Comprehensive head and neck reconstructive surgery
Our team works together to find the most effective treatment for you, including new groundbreaking options. We collaborate with specialists in head and neck cancer, head and neck surgery, facial plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, skull base surgery, and others. We are experts in a wide array of complex reconstructive head and neck surgeries, including:
Mohs surgery is a precise technique for removing cancerous skin layers until only healthy, non-cancerous tissue remains. However, some people have more complex needs and require advanced reconstructive Mohs techniques. You may need reconstructive Mohs surgery if you have skin cancer that:
- Covers a large surface area
- Goes deep into your tissues or bone
- Has invaded a cranial nerve affecting the eyes and face
- Has spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes
- Involves the lips or nose
- Requires microvascular surgery
Penn reconstructive head and neck surgeons partner with you, your Mohs surgeon, and the rest of your cancer team to address skin cancer complexities. We offer advanced surgical techniques to restore your function and appearance after removing the cancer.
Facial and skull implants can improve your bone structure, decrease skin sagging, and reshape or resize your facial features. We routinely use 3D technology to create customized facial and skull implants. Implants enable us to address any malformations after facial trauma or cancer surgery with extreme precision and optimal outcomes.
Our surgeons use the latest advanced procedures to treat damaged facial nerves, minimizing or even reversing facial paralysis. Our goal is to restore your facial function, symmetry, and appearance. We also work closely with head and neck cancer surgeons to avoid nerve damage that could cause paralysis during cancer surgery.
Microvascular surgery is a highly specialized technique used in head and neck reconstruction. Surgeons transfer tissue to repair areas affected by tumor removal. They use tiny surgical instruments and a microscope to:
- Graft tissue, bone, and muscle
- Reconnect or replace major blood vessels
- Repair damaged nerves
Our microvascular surgeons find safe, innovative ways to improve your appearance and function. For example, they may repair an area with donor tissue or living tissue from another part of your body.
Post-cancer head and neck reconstruction
Head and neck tumors often grow near your brain, skull base, major blood vessels, and nerves. Depending on the tumor size and invasiveness, it may harm your tissues, muscles, or nerves. This damage can affect your speech, ability to swallow, and sense of taste, smell, or sight.
Our reconstructive head and neck surgeons work with your cancer care team to make your treatment as seamless as possible. Microvascular surgery and other reconstructive techniques can restore your function and appearance after tumor removal. We create individualized treatment plans to address your unique needs and deliver optimal outcomes.