Recovery for Kids

Helping Your Child Recover from a Surgical Procedure

While most people don’t typically associate children with plastic surgery, there are certain reconstructive procedures that are frequently performed for kids. Otoplasty (ear reshaping), mole removal, scar reduction, vascular malformation removal, and rhinoplasty (nose surgery) are all surgeries that are indicated for children.

Otoplasty for children

It’s best to perform an otoplasty when the ears are mature but pliable. By five years old, a child’s ears can be safely operated on. While it is a big decision to choose when this procedure is best for your child, early otoplasty can often be the best choice. Corrected ears can help prevent bullying, and the procedure will be done at a young enough age that your child may not even remember it well later on in their life.

Mole removal for children

While moles on your child’s skin are generally nothing to worry about, if your child has a mole that is very large, disfiguring, changing in appearance, irritated, or interfering with normal function or development, the mole may be removed surgically.

Rhinoplasty for children

There are several reasons why rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, may be indicated for your child. For some, rhinoplasty may be done to restore your child’s nasal form and function, including their ability to breathe through both nostrils. In other cases, your child may have had a traumatic injury, such as a broken nose or animal bite, or may be suffering from nose malformations related to a cleft lip or other craniofacial concerns.

Scar revision

Burns, deep cuts or previous surgery are some of the ways a significant scar can be caused on a child. A scar can be disfiguring, especially if it’s on the face or neck. When a child has a disfiguring or large visible scar, it may need to be addressed. In particular facial scars can disfiguring for children and, in some cases, they can distort the face or disturb normal facial movement. Scar revision can reduce the appearance of scars, and can also improve the flexibility and movement of scarred skin and tissue.

Treatment of vascular malformations (birthmarks that are growing)

A vascular malformation appears at birth, just as any birthmark does. However, it increases in size proportionately with the child, often worsening or becoming more apparent as the child grows. Vascular malformations can distort normal features of the face and neck. They can also draw unwanted attention. Outside of physical health concerns, vascular malformations can be embarrassing for children and cause bullying, impacting a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Vascular malformations, in many cases, can be addressed with LASER treatments such as the V Beam/ Pulsed Dye LASER. In other cases, vascular malformations can be removed or reduced surgically. Because vascular malformations have a large component of blood vessels, Dr. Weber will work in concert with an Interventional Radiologist prior to treating large vascular malformations with surgery. This can increase the chances of successful treatment as well as reduce the risk of the procedure.

Helping your child recover

If you’re thinking about any type of surgical procedure for your child, you might also be concerned about the recovery period and how you can help your child get through what may be a difficult time.

Children are active and love to be on the move. Even though children generally heal very quickly, they do need to rest and sit still while their body is recovering. How to get them to relax and rest--something most children don’t usually want to do?

Follow the medication plan as directed by Dr. Weber

Depending on which procedure is done, the discomfort afterward may not be too intense. You can use over-the-counter pain medications unless the pain is more severe. Dr. Weber will help you decide before surgery which method of pain management will work best for your child.

Pick out some old favorites and some new books

Go to the library or bookstore before the procedure with them and let them pick a big stack of books that they can’t wait to read with you and save them until after the procedure.

Read aloud as much as you can during this time. Depending on their age, look-and-find books or activity and maze books they can fill out can be very engaging. If they are learning to read or can read already, sitting with them to keep them company while they engage in this activity can be a good idea, too.

Go outside for walks

Dr. Weber will tell you when your child can do light activities again. Taking walks together gives your child a chance to enjoy the fresh air and a different environment than home. Your child can stretch their legs and get some energy spent in a nice walk outside. Just be sure to take it easy at first and consult with Dr. Weber about when and for how long you should be walking.

Let them watch movies or be on their tablet

Usually, it’s not a good idea for children to spend too much time on a screen, but during the recovery period, you may consider relaxing these rules. This helps your child sit still and heal, propped up with their pillows and blankets. The screen time treat can make the recovery period more positive for them. And it can take a load off of you, too.

Set up projects to do together

This is a great time to bake cookies, craft, or do simple art or science activities together. Legos, building toys, or other activities like this are a good idea, especially a new craft kit, play dough kit, or other fun things they might not have played with before. There are several great blogs online for easy, low-impact, or non-active things to do at home with kids.

Watch the progress of their recovery carefully

This goes without saying for parents, but Dr. Weber will also cover what to expect and what to watch out for. Be sure to follow Dr. Weber’s instructions for aftercare during the recovery period.

Be on the lookout for any issues, but at the same time, try not to worry about every little thing. Complications are rare, and most children will heal very well and quickly. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. We are here for you during this time.

Why choose Weber Facial Plastic Surgery?

Dr. Stephen Weber is a double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with a reputation of trust and personal commitment to his patients.

In addition to running his practice, Dr. Weber travels with Outreach International, a charity devoted to providing medical care to indigent, medically isolated people worldwide. Most recently in Tanzania, Dr. Weber and the outreach team performed 59 surgical procedures and treated over 350 children and adults in the clinic setting. Dr. Weber repaired facial cleft deformities and many traumatic facial injuries, revised disabling burn scars, and removed numerous head and neck tumors.

The most memorable surgery for Dr. Weber was the repair of a four-year-old girl’s cleft lip deformity. Watching the mother look at her daughter’s repaired lip for the first time and seeing tears of joy stream down her cheeks was something he will never forget.

Dr. Weber is a doctor who can be trusted to have your child’s best interests at heart, and in whose expert, experienced hands you can place your child’s important procedure.

Weber Facial Plastic Surgery

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720-738-4443

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10463 Park Meadows Dr STE 110, Lone Tree, CO 80124