Tissue deficits, which arise from various causes in the human body, and their restoration in a way that is both fully functional and aesthetically acceptable, is one of the main reasons that led to the advancement of Reconstructive Surgery and the need to explore new methods and techniques.
These deficits can occur in the head, trunk, or limbs. They can cause both functional and aesthetic problems for the patient and may affect the patient’s psychology, impacting their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Main Causes of Tissue Deficits
- Injuries/Burns
- Tumor Excision/Surgery
- Congenital or Developmental Anomalies (e.g., Poland syndrome)
How Are Tissue Deficits Repaired?
Tissue restoration depends on the size of the defect and its location. These two main factors will determine how the restoration will be approached, both in the face and body of the patient. After a clinical assessment of each individual case, a decision is made about whether an invasive or non-invasive method will be followed. Usually, this is determined by the size and nature of the defect. In other words, we consider a “reconstruction scale” that takes multiple factors into account. This allows us to decide which technique or methodology is best suited for the patient’s needs.
In practice, a simple suture may be enough for a small wound. In other instances, a combination of treatments may be required, or even a complex surgical procedure might be necessary for restoration.
How We Treat Small or Large Deficits
In Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, we use both simple and complex techniques as needed to achieve the best possible result. Small tissue deficits can be treated with simple interventions, such as the use of hyaluronic acid, autologous techniques (e.g., lipoinjection), or liposuction and liposculpture, primarily for body areas.
More complex and larger deficits require advanced techniques, ranging from the use of local flaps and silicone implants or tissue expanders, to the free transplantation of autologous tissue.
Free Autologous Tissue Transfer
In this technique, a portion of tissue is taken from one part of the body (the donor site). Its blood supply and innervation are kept intact (if desired for a functional or sensory flap), and it is transplanted to the area of the defect (the recipient site). Through microsurgery, the blood supply and innervation of the free flap are connected to the vessels and nerves of the recipient area.
A free flap can be simple or complex. A complex flap may consist of skin, fat, muscle, fascia, bone, joint, tendon, or nerves. For example, an entire finger can be transferred to restore lost hand function. This is an advanced surgical technique that can only be performed by plastic surgeons specialized in microsurgery techniques.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment to learn in detail about tissue defect treatments and every available option offered by reconstructive plastic surgery. Whatever the approach, the primary goal of any intervention is to restore the defect in the best possible way, both functionally and aesthetically. We evaluate your issue, assess your case, and discuss thoroughly with you all available options and approaches for recovery.
