Reconstructive surgery of the head and neck

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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:

Cancer care at Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine’s Cancer System is led by the Abramson Cancer Center with locations at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, and outpatient locations in the Philadelphia and NJ suburbs. Beyond the greater Philadelphia region, the system includes programs at both the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute at Lancaster General Health and Princeton Medical Center.
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Our doctors

Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.

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Locations

Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.

Patient stories

Finding triple-negative breast cancer at 33, she chose ‘Team Penn’

Shocked to learn she had stage III breast cancer, Kate Korson knew just where to go. She flew home to Penn Medicine, where a clinical trial saved her life.

CNN anchor Kasie Hunt had brain surgery at Penn

Before starting her own daily news show, journalist Kasie Hunt came to Penn Medicine for a growing brain tumor that was causing painful headaches.

In the face of skin cancer, proton made all the difference

A Lancaster man and father of two reveals how proton therapy helped him beat skin cancer and reclaim his life.

From a bone-on-bone jaw to living the life she planned

Penn Medicine’s expert team helped Kristina navigate a complex diagnosis and nickel allergy to alleviate her jaw pain and improve her bite.

The art of cancer recovery

A breast cancer survivor shares how art and a compassionate care team helped her through the challenges of cancer treatment.

Embracing life’s rhythm: Kathleen’s robotic surgery journey

Kathleen Tierney talks about her journey having robotic mitral valve surgery performed at Penn Medicine.

Epilepsy surgery gives patient a new lease on life

Minimally invasive laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) surgery reduced the epilepsy symptoms a patient had experienced for more than 30 years.

A journey from battlefield to beating cancer

Andrew Camponelli was a young Army helicopter pilot in Kuwait when he was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma.

Essential tremor patient finds relief

When his essential tremor symptoms became severe, Jim McDevitt turned to Dr. Iahn Cajigas and the team at Penn Medicine for help.

Living kidney donor shares her experience

Living kidney donor Joanie Shappell details her experience at the Penn Transplant Institute to help others considering living donation.

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