Other Reconstructive Surgeries

Skin cancer diagnoses are increasing. The three main forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Dr. Bidic performs a full cancer excision and a cosmetic closure when these cancers are diagnosed on the body. When the cancer is on certain portion of the face, Dr. Bidic consults a Mohs surgeon (a dermatologic surgeon with advanced training) to remove the cancer to minimize the amount of non-cancerous skin removed. Mohs reconstruction is a delicate procedure designed to reconstruct the face after a defect is created by Mohs surgery.

There are many factors that need to be considered when repairing a defect caused by the removal of a skin cancer. They include the size, location, depth, and extent of the defect. In addition to his expertise in cosmetic surgery, Dr. Bidic has extensive experience repairing skin defects created by Mohs surgery and has been performing this procedure throughout the course of his career.

Injury to or loss of the penis can have a devastating effect on lives of the sufferers with significant psychological implications. But in fact, over 10,000 penectomies for cancer are performed each year. Dr. Bidic is one of a select few plastic surgeons who have successfully created a functioning new penis.

Today it may be possible to reconstruct the entire penis after a penectomy by using tissue from elsewhere in the body. Complete scrotal reconstruction can also be performed after loss due to disease or trauma. If you have need for such a procedure, please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Bidic for a confidential consultation.

A ventral, or abdominal hernia is caused by a large hole in the layer of the abdomen wall through which the intestines protrude. This situation most often occurs following previous abdominal surgery or trauma. The deeper layers of the incision may have come apart, allowing the intestines or surrounding fat around them to protrude through the abdominal wall and reside just under the skin. In some extreme cases, the resulting hernia can be massive or complicated by factors such as infection, obesity, fistula (bowel contents seeping through the skin), failure of previous repair, or a problem with the overlapping skin.

In these cases, a more complex approach to reconstructing the hernia, a separation of components, is required. Dr. Bidic has the knowledge and experience needed to repair just such complex abdominal wall or ventral hernias. He has performed several during the course of his career and is available to assist you if the need would ever arise.

For many people, wound healing is a natural, uneventful process. However, traumatic and complex wounds continue to be a serious problem for nearly five million Americans every year. Whether it is caused during recovery from traumatic or orthopedic injuries, burns, radiation, or post-surgical complications, Dr. Bidic has the knowledge and experience required to achieve complete healing of many complex and traumatic wound problems.

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are both forms of excessive scar healing. Hypertrophic scars occur as the result of excessive healing that remains within the borders of the original area of scarring. Keloid scars, however, extend beyond the original scar margins and sometimes will grow outward as fungating masses. Both keloids and hypertrophic scars can be treated with steroid injections.

However, when scars become painful, disfiguring or itchy, excision of the scars and reconstruction utilizing techniques to prevent recurrence and worsening of the scar may be warranted. Although recurrence rates for keloids can be very high, recent studies performed by Dr. Bidic have shown that post-operative treatment with excision, dermal substitutes, steroid and 5-FU injections, and low-dose radiation can reduce recurrence.

Microsurgery involves the use of an operating microscope to assist in a variety of reconstructive procedures. It is a delicate and exacting skill. The high magnification available to the surgeon makes it possible to precisely sew tiny nerve and blood vessels with needles and sutures finer than human hair. In addition to repairing damaged nerves and arteries, microsurgery allows the surgeon to also perform complex reconstructive procedures by actually moving nerves, muscle, skin, and bone from one part of the body to the other.

This technique is particularly helpful when a large wound is present that cannot be closed with nearby tissues or simple skin grafting. This technique is also employed for certain forms of breast cancer reconstruction. Dr. Bidic is knowledgeable and experienced in the use of microsurgery for post traumatic and post burn reconstruction, chronic wounds, muscle paralysis, and reconstruction following cancer surgery.