RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Entrust your reconstructive needs to the skillful, experienced, and caring hands of Dr Dufresne.
Redefining Reconstructive Surgery, One Patient, One Problem at a Time
Internationally renowned for his innovative approaches to complex and difficult problems, he helps patients of all ages. A pioneer of reconstructive surgery, especially in the treatment of fibrous dysplasia, McCune-Albright syndrome, Freeman-Burian (formerly Freeman-Sheldon) syndrome, facial and eye socket fractures, and other challenges, Dr Dufresne provides surgical and non-surgical care for a wide range of problems, including: after treatment for cancer, for wounds sustained in war or acts of terrorism, injuries or deformities from previous surgery, and especially, reconstruction for congenital deformities (birth defects).
Selected Areas of Reconstructive Surgery
Facial Injuries, Fractures, and Burns
Whether the result of accident, disease, war, or terrorism, facial burns, lacerations, fractures, and other injuries can be complex and involve significant complications and recovery. More severe or emotionally traumatic injuries require ongoing care and support for the patient and family unit to prevent or limit the psychological toll these events can have.
For decades, Dr Dufresne has been a leader in developing creative solutions to help patients heal from physically and emotionally devastating injuries. He is the referral of choice for several major university hospitals, who ask him to care for their most severe patients.
Congenital Deformities (Birth Defects)
Whether an isolated incomplete cleft lip, fibrous dysplasia / McCune-Albright syndrome, Freeman-Burian syndrome (formerly, Freeman-Sheldon syndrome), or another condition, birth defects have unique treatment implications that involve so much more than surgery and require great depth of understanding into the condition, need for on-going evaluation and treatment, and the importance of care and support for the patient and family unit to prevent or limit the emotional toll birth defects can have on the patient’s development and the family’s relationships.
Dr Dufresne is an international pioneer and leader in the treatment of birth defects and the emotional care of patients and their families. Among other firsts, he was the first to have a psychologist as a permanent member of a craniofacial team, a now common practice world-wide. He is the referral of choice for several major university hospitals, who ask him to care for their most severely affected patients. Some of the conditions he treats include:
- Amniotic deformity and mutilation sequence (Embryonic bands)
- Apert syndrome
- Binder syndrome
- Carpenter syndrome
- Cleft lip
- Cleft palate
- Congenital nevi
- Craniofacial tumors
- Crouzon syndrome
- Cysts
- Deformities of the areas around the eye
- Distal arthrogryposis type 3
- Down syndrome
- Ear deformities
- Encephalocele
- Facial clefts
- Facioauriculovertebral spectrum
- Fibrous dysplasia / McCune-Albright syndrome
- Freeman-Burian syndrome (formerly Freeman-Sheldon syndrome)
- Frontonasal dysplasia sequence
- Hemangiomas
- Klippel-Feil anomaly
- Melnick–Needles syndrome
- Meningocele
- Microtia
- Moebius syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Nose deformities
- Pfeiffer syndrome
- Pierre Robin sequence
- Plagiocephaly
- Saethre-Chotzen syndrome
- Sheldon-Hall syndrome
- Stickler syndrome
- Teratoma
- Treacher Collins syndrome
- Van der Woude syndrome
- Velocardiofacial syndrome
- Waardenburg syndrome
- Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome
Diagnosis, treatment, and reconstruction of skin cancers can range from straightforward to multi-disciplinary and highly complex matters.
Keenly aware of patients’ concern for achieving an acceptable cosmetic outcome and appreciating the anxiety many patients experience while awaiting or after a diagnosis, Dr Dufresne provides biopsies, surgical treatment, and reconstruction. Dr Dufresne also collaborates with many dermatologists to close or reconstruct defects after patients undergo a Mohs procedure. He is the referral of choice for biopsy, surgery, and reconstruction for skin cancer and areas of concern. READ MORE.
Breast cancer is a uniquely emotional experience that each patient experiences differently. Loss or planned loss of a breast to treat or prevent breast cancer is an equally difficult reality for many.
Keenly aware of patients’ concern for achieving an acceptable cosmetic outcome and appreciating the anxiety patients experience, Dr Dufresne provides patients support and care they need. Whether reconstruction is done at the time of mastectomy, soon after, or years later, Dr Dufresne helps patients understand their options and navigate their journey with strength and healing. He is the choice of many who appreciate his commitment to caring and concern for his patients’ well-being, safety, and comfort before, during, and after surgery. READ MORE.
Breast Implant Replacement or Removal After Breast Reconstruction
Medically necessary replacement or removal of breast implants used for breast reconstruction is a reconstructive procedure billable to insurance. According to manufacturers’ instructions and clinical evidence, breast implants should be replaced after a period of time that varies according to the implant type, model, level of placement, and individual patient findings.
Deformities or Infection Associated with Previous Surgery
Each year, millions of people undergo surgery around the globe, and sadly, some of these surgeries may result in functional defects or infection. Common usage terms these “botched surgeries”, but many times less than favorable outcomes can happen even under the best circumstances. Functional defects or infection that is the consequence of prior unsuccessful surgery, whether the initial surgery was for medical or cosmetic purposes, is considered a reconstructive and is potentially billable to insurance. (Revision of previous surgery done by Dr Dufresne is handled on a case-by-case according to practice policy.)
Eyelid Problems
An eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) is a surgical procedure to treat a documented vision problem caused by droopy upper eyelids. It may also be done to protect eyes from exposure caused by droopy lower eyelids. Provided the procedure is exclusively for medical treatment and not cosmetic, it may be considered a reconstructive procedure by some insurances and potentially billable. It is a common procedure done for patients with muscle disorders (such as Freeman-Burian syndrome) or severe burns or other facial injuries. A therapeutic blepharoplasty also is typically a more extensive procedure than one done for cosmetic purposes.
Nasal Deformities
Functional correction of nasal airflow problems is a reconstructive surgical procedure that may involve work on the nasal septum (septoplasty) and removal of one or more nasal turbinates (turbinectomy) to open the nasal cavity and allow better airflow. Provided the procedure is exclusively for medical treatment and not cosmetic, it may be considered a reconstructive procedure by some insurances and potentially billable. It is a frequent procedure for patients who have had nasal fractures or abnormalities in the development of the nasal cavity that limits airflow. Reconstructive surgery of the nose is typically a much more extensive procedure than cosmetic surgery.
General Reconstruction
Dr Dufresne has extensive experience and expertise in a wide array of other areas of reconstructive plastic surgery, including treatment of diabetic and other types of skin ulcers and reconstruction of lower limb injuries and deformities.
For additional reliable consumer information about reconstructive surgery, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
