Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Sydney C. Butts, MD, Chief

The Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is based at several clinical sites, with services provided at University Hospital Downstate, Kings County Hospital Center, Maimonides Medical Center and Lenox Hill/MEETH. Exposure to facial plastic surgery cases is broad, including trauma surgery, congenital craniofacial reconstruction, rhinoplasty, flap reconstruction after Mohs surgery, facial re-animation and facial rejuvenation/aging face procedures. Dr. Lee Kaplowitz at Maimonides and Dr. Richard Westreich at MEETH add to the well-rounded clinical experience.

Academic activity from the division included presentations at national meetings, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and textbook chapter submissions.

The otolaryngology service is involved in the management of congenital craniofacial anomalies, serving as consultants for the NICUs at University Hospital Downstate and Kings County Hospital Center. Through collaboration with the NICU, general pediatrics and the pediatric subspecialties, as well as local speech/language pathologists and geneticists, comprehensive and multidisciplinary care is brought to these patients.

During the Downstate/Kings County rotation, the otolaryngology service provides coverage of facial trauma in a rotation schedule with oral surgery and ophthalmology services. Residents participate in formalized didactic activities relating to maxillofacial trauma during this rotation. Another area of service collaboration at Downsate and Kings County is the multidisciplinary facial nerve team created by Dr. Azoulay in 2019. Every six weeks, the team convenes to present cases and discuss management plans, patient outcomes and current evidence. Participating departments include neurology, ophthalmology and physical therapy/rehabilitation

Several educational opportunities are provided for residents, including enrollment in the principles of maxillofacial trauma course by AO-CMF. The facial plastics faculty led an injectables workshop in September 2023 that was a joint effort with oculoplastics surgery for residents from both departments.

In summary, the division of facial plastic surgery continues to provide residents and medical students with significant exposure to reconstructive and aesthetic procedures of the face. The ability to collaborate with colleagues in the departments of dermatology and oculoplastic surgery at Downstate and oral maxillofacial surgery at Kings County Hospital allows the ability to manage cases of high complexity and in a multidisciplinary fashion.

Ear Molding in Infants

Misshapen ears in infants can be treated by molding with tapes and splints. Early treatment beginning soon after birth can correct folding problems as seen in these cases.

Case 1

Before

Case 1 Before