Reconstructive Surgery

Patients are cared for by a team of doctors, nurses and staff from plastic and reconstructive surgery, anesthesia and critical care. In addition to providing acute, life saving burn care, our unique multidisciplinary team has expertise in both reconstructive and critical care disciplines. Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons provide state-of-the-art surgical care to treat burns and complex wounds as well as burn scars and deformities.

Reconstructive surgery can alleviate facial deformities caused by paralysis by replacing affected muscles with tissue or other muscles. UChicago Medicine is a major center in the Chicago area that offers facial reanimation for patients after brain surgery, stroke, or for those who suffer from Bell's palsy.

Birth defects, problems with development, trauma or cancer surgery can create the need for construction or repair of the genital and urinary organs. When such a procedure is necessary, our plastic surgeons work with a team of doctors including urologists, gynecologists, endocrinologists and psychiatrists to ensure the complete recovery of the patient.

Our hand surgeons include plastic surgeons as well as orthopaedic surgeons. They all have obtained Certificates of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery and are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. The multidisciplinary team works together every step of the way — from diagnosis to surgery and through rehabilitation.

We are one of the few centers in the world that provide high volume of microsurgical treatment of lymphedema, a disorder in which lymph fluid accumulates that can lead to chronic swelling. Many of our faculty are pioneers and leaders in the field of lymphedema surgery. 

Our plastic surgeons can correct birth defects such as cleft lip or palate, bone abnormalities and ear deformities. We also use revolutionary microsurgery to repair the throat, mouth, jaw and cheek area after cancer has been removed.

Our surgeons offer total and subtotal nasal reconstruction that combines techniques used in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

There are a wide variety of options available to people who have had breast tissue removed because of cancer. These include breast prosthesis, using the patient's own tissue or a combination of both these methods to reconstruct the breast.

Advances in microsurgical tissue transfer have brought us to the leading edge of reconstructive surgery. Microsurgery is the joining of extremely small blood vessels and nerves together. Many of our faculty members are internationally renowned leaders in reconstructive microsurgery. We offer state-of-the-art microsurgical techniques for breast, facial, head/neck, lymphedema and extremities reconstruction. Microsurgical techniques allow for more precise and detailed reconstruction, as well as for quicker recovery times.

We focus on treating large scars and scars resulting from trauma or surgery. We also offer specialized techniques in scar removal, halting a scar's development and the treatment of keloid scars.

Once a skin tumor has been surgically removed, our reconstructive surgeons can repair the remaining area. They will consider both the need to fill and close the wound as well as the final appearance of the reconstruction.