Plastic Surgery

The Section of Pediatric Plastic Surgery offers a full range of services for infants and children, which includes treatment of birth defects, birthmarks, ear abnormalities, cleft palate and lips, deformities of the face and skull (craniofacial abnormalities), treatment for injuries and scars, abnormalities of the hands, and many other problems.

Special Programs

The Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic
Cleft lip and palate is a more common deformity and has serious consequences interfering with eating, speech and appearance. Management of these children at Scott and White involves not only the plastic surgeons, but also an entire team of specialists, including speech pathologists, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, social workers and others as needed.

Craniofacial Surgery
Craniofacial surgery encompasses the management of deformities of the head - both the skull and face. These may be birth defects or related to tumor or trauma. Skull deformities most commonly seen at birth are caused by premature closure of one or more of the sutures (open areas between the skull bones needed for brain growth) of the skull. A variety of deformities may result from tumor growth or trauma to the face and skull. Craniofacial surgery utilizes many different approaches – many of them highly complex – depending upon the nature of the problem. Some procedures are performed with a neurosurgeon as part of the multidisciplinary team treatment.

Birthmarks and Laser Surgery
Blood vessel abnormalities constitute the most common birth problem in Caucasian children. Hemangiomas, which are blood vessel tumors, represent the most common of these abnormalities. Though the tumors are benign, they can grow to create significant deformities. The tumors can often be treated in the first weeks of life with a laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) device. Surgery or steroid treatment can also prove effective, depending on the size, location and growth characteristics of the lesion. Some of the abnormalities are actually malformations of arteries, veins, capillaries or lymph vessels. These can also create functional, as well as cosmetic problems for the growing child.

Hand Surgery for Children
The hands of a child are different from the hands of an adult. Some children are born with congenital differences that require attention; some diseases don't show up until later in childhood. A hand surgeon understands a wide variety of surgical and non-surgical options, and can tailor a treatment plan specific to each individual. In the unfortunate event that a child injures a hand, a hand surgeon is able to repair the damage to bones and joints, muscles and tendons, nerves and arteries, while always respecting the special requirements of a growing body.

Repair of tiny bloods and nerves (Micro vascular Surgery) Microsurgery is a highly specialized surgical technique in which surgery is performed with the use of the microscope to repair nerves or blood vessels. Utilizing the most advanced techniques in microsurgery, tissues can be transplanted from one part of the body to another part to repair and reconstruct complex defects that previously had been untreatable. These defects may occur after removal of tumors, traumatic injuries or congenital malformations. Any area of the body can be affected by these conditions and may be successfully repaired with microsurgery, including the head and neck, trunk, extremities, abdomen, genitalia, lower extremities, breast and other areas.

Birth Defects of the Ear
Ear deformities are relatively common and can range in severity from minor shape problems to complete absence of the ear. Some of these can be managed shortly after birth by non-surgical means.

Our Specialists

Cleft Lips, Palates, Birthmarks and Laser Surgery

Charles Verheyden, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Scott & White. After graduation from the University of Texas Medical Branch, he completed training in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery, as well as a fellowship in Craniofacial Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He has a particular interest in children with clefts and has more than 15 years of experience with the use of lasers in treatment of vascular deformities. He has been at Scott & White since 1981.
Dr. Verheyden at a glance

Craniofacial Surgery

Peter Grothaus, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Surgery, and Chief of the Section of Craniofacial Surgery. He completed his medical degree at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and his Plastic Surgery at the University of Calgary, Canada. He then completed 18 months of further Craniofacial Surgery training at UCLA, Mayo Clinic and Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
Dr. Grothaus at a glance

Hand Surgery

Robert A. Weber, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Surgery and the Chief of the Section of Hand Surgery at Scott & White. He obtained his medical degree from Texas A&M University and completed his Plastic Surgery residency at Scott & White. Dr. Weber completed an advanced fellowship in hand surgery at the University of Texas in San Antonio with David P. Green. In addition to Dr. Weber's clinical expertise, he has won multiple awards for his research in hand surgery.
Dr. Weber at a glance

Physician Referrals

Pediatric patients requiring a hospital stay must be referred to Scott & White by a referring physician.

Physician Referral Contact

Phone: 800-792-3368 or 254-724-2218

Fax: 724-2896

Online: Physician Referral Online Request

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