Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
Our plastic surgeons work with minimally invasive surgeons, trauma, and critical care surgeons to provide high-quality care to people challenging abdominal wall defects.  Our team meets twice a month to determine treatment plans and ensure the best possible outcome for people with complicated conditions.

Body Contouring After Massive Weight Loss
People who have excess skin and tissue after successfully achieving weight loss may undergo plastic surgery to complete the final step in their weight loss journey. Removing excess skin and tissue can result in improved hygiene, less rashes, and chafing, improved ability to exercise, and a better quality of life overall. 

Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Our surgeons work closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgical oncologists to develop personalized treatment plans. We offer implant-based reconstruction as well as advanced microsurgical reconstruction. 

Personalized Cosmetic Recommendations
We work closely with men and women who are considering cosmetic surgery to enhance their faces, breasts, and body. Our skilled surgical techniques minimize scarring and your recovery time.  We help you understand your options through informative seminars and personal consultations that start with your first visit and continue through your recovery.

Gender Affirming Surgery
We offer several top surgery options to transgender, gender-diverse, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming adults who want their appearance to align with their internal identity.  Our providers spend time meeting with you, evaluating your anatomy, answering your questions, and determining if surgery will help you achieve your goals.

Facial Reanimation Surgery and Facial Paralysis Treatment
We are among the few in the country skilled in highly technical and complex surgical and non-surgical options for facial paralysis and reanimation procedures. We successfully help people of all ages regain the ability to express emotion, even when they have been told by other doctors that nothing can be done. 

Specialists in Oral Health
Our team of oral/maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and dentists coordinate the complex care required to treat many facial reconstructive and cosmetic conditions. We use specialized orthodontics, dental implants, and surgical approaches to correct skeletal and dental concerns, including painful jaw conditions such as TMJ, and jaw and teeth misalignment. Our comprehensive approach can help improve your chewing, speaking, and breathing.

Surgical Treatment of Lymphedema
Our super-microsurgical techniques help people manage lymphedema, a painful condition that may result from surgery for cancer. The procedures include lymphaticovenous bypass and lymph node transplant to relocate lymph nodes to the affected area. We also offer other surgical interventions such as excision of excess skin and liposuction. We tailor our approach to your condition and goals.

Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
We offer a range of pediatric plastic surgery services to babies born with conditions, including deformities of the head, face, or hands, as well as babies who develop problems following an injury, illness, or surgery.  Our pediatric plastic surgeons have developed advanced surgical techniques for cleft lip and palate surgery, and innovative surgical devices that have transformed jaw surgery and advanced other surgeries. Our team includes specialists in pediatric plastic surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, and craniofacial orthodonture, as well as care coordinators and therapists.

Leaders in Hand Transplantation
The head of our hand transplant program helped establish the first hand transplant program in the U.S., where the first hand transplant in the U.S. was performed.  She leads research that guides the application of this investigational procedure.

Respected Surgeons
Our surgeons share their expertise by teaching the latest plastic and reconstructive surgery techniques to doctors who travel to Duke for our courses from across the country and around the world. Our combined skill and leadership mean you work with some of the most knowledgeable and experienced plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the U.S.

Sophisticated Reconstruction Options
We use advanced surgical skills to offer the full gamut of reconstruction options to repair damage from trauma, cancer, and congenital or acquired deformities on all parts of the body, including the head, neck, abdomen, chest, and extremities.   

Advanced Microsurgical Techniques
Microsurgical reconstruction is often required to repair defects after cancer or trauma.  Operating on tiny, delicate tissues under a microscope requires advanced specialty training and years of experience. Our surgeons pioneered some of the microsurgical techniques used today to reattach tissue from one area of the body to another. We are also one of the few centers in the U.S. with surgeons trained in the highly specialized technique of super microsurgery. This technique uses ultra-high magnification to repair blood vessels and lymphatic defects.

Regional Experts for Trauma Care
We provide care for trauma patients who are flown here from several states. When a serious injury occurs, we are the regional experts in reattaching hands and other extremities. When necessary, we use a range of therapies, including skin grafts and flaps to treat burns, skin tears, and ulcers and to heal wounds that cannot be closed surgically.