Reconstructive plastic surgery is the “art of medicine”
that restores form and function to patients young and old
Treatment for a disfiguring scar, a traumatic injury, a congenital defect or disease
often requires the expertise of a board-certified specialist in plastic surgery. The
talented team at Scott & White Healthcare see thousands of patients each year at
locations in Temple, Round Rock and College Station, TX. They offer innovative care to
help patients get back to good health and feel better about their appearance.
“P
lastic surgery is the only medical
art form because it combines
creativity and artistry with
precise surgical procedures,” says Charles
Verheyden, MD, PhD, director of the
Division of Plastic Surgery at Scott &
White Healthcare. “No two patients are
alike and no surgery is standard, so the
nuances in our technique make plastic
surgery a fascinating, challenging and
rewarding specialty.”
Extensive resources coupled with an
increased number of surgeons in the
division help patients achieve their goals at
health system locations close to home. The
team incorporates traditional surgery,
minimally invasive or unique “tissue
transfer” and microsurgery procedures.
On any given day, plastic surgeons at
Scott & White may restore a cleft lip and
palate, perform breast reconstruction for a
mastectomy patient and do a skin graft to
aid a burn victim. They also might
perform hand surgery on an injured
patient and body contouring for someone
who has lost a significant amount of
weight after bariatric surgery. Very often,
reconstructive surgery has an aesthetic or
cosmetic component as well. As Dr.
Verheyden and his team restore function to
patients, every effort is made to improve
appearance at the same time.
The wide range of patient cases presents
challenges to caregivers, and it also fuels the
passion they have for their work. “One
such patient had a leg wound for more than
30 years. I was able to move a muscle from
the back of the leg to the front, promoting
healing for the first time,” says Dr.
Verheyden. For another patient, who had
suffered a gunshot injury to the face, he
rebuilt part of the facial structure with keen
attention to restoring loo