Cosmetic and plastic surgery

Plastic surgery in Idaho Falls, Idaho

Plastic surgery is the correction of physical appearance and function in facial and bodily tissues, including musculoskeletal systems, cranial structures, extremities, skin deformities, and genitalia. Whether an issue is caused by birth abnormality, trauma or illness, our plastic surgeons and accompanying support team at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) are expertly capable of addressing most cosmetic or reconstructive surgical needs.

For more information about our plastic surgery services, or to schedule a consult, please call (208) 227-2778.

Reconstructive surgeries we offer

While cosmetic plastic surgery can be geared towards more elective aesthetic concerns, reconstructive surgery is typically utilized for patients recovering from a trauma or severe disease. One of the most troubling aspects of that recovery can be facing the world with an altered appearance, whether through new scarring or the absence of a standard physical feature. However, the skilled, compassionate plastic surgeons at EIRMC ease that burden by helping to restore your appearance with every surgery expertly.

No matter the complexity of the procedure, our surgical team possesses the skills and technology to restore the form and function of your body to its most normal state possible. Some of the reconstructive procedures we offer include:

Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction surgery seeks to restore normal appearance, shape, size and overall symmetry to the breast. The surgery is typically performed following a mastectomy or lumpectomy, though it is also used to address potential birth abnormalities. If used following a mastectomy or lumpectomy, the reconstruction can be performed simultaneously at the same time or at a later date.

Burn reconstruction

The goal of a burn reconstruction is to improve both form and function of burn scars. This involves altering scar tissue with both nonoperative and operative treatment, as well as preventing deformities. The size and severity of muscular, skeletal and nerve damage are all heavily considered before determining a proper course of treatment.

Minor wounds can typically be repaired through direct closure. More complex treatments include skin and bone grafting, tissue expansion, free flaps and microvascular surgery.

Free flaps

Free flaps are harvested tissues from parts of the body used to cover significant wounds following surgery. In some instances, free flaps are used as a form of breast reconstruction, harvesting vessels, skin, fat and muscle from one area of the body and then forming a new breast. In other cases, free flaps are used to ensure that patients with head or neck cancer can actively speak and eat following removal of tumors or bone in the mouth, head or neck areas.

Additionally, free flaps preserve nerves and vessels following burn injuries and scarring when local tissue is unavailable.

Primary closures

Primary closure refers to the surgical closure of any wound edges to avoid scarring. It is often performed to protect underlying tissues such as bones, nerves or cartilage from infection and is the fastest type of wound closure. Examples of wounds that would benefit from a primary closure include surgical incisions and minor flesh wounds.

Skin grafts

Skin grafts include the surgical repurposing of skin from one bodily area to another to heal illness or wounds and burns brought on by injury. There are two types of skin grafts: split-thickness — removing the top layer and a portion of the bottom layer of skin to cover a large area — and full-thickness — removing all of the top and bottom layers of skin from a donor site to cover a small, concentrated area.

Tissue expansions

Tissue expansion is a versatile reconstructive procedure that helps promote healthy supplementary skin growth when replacing damaged skin. While often used for breast reconstruction, it is a viable option for any part of the body. Our surgical team can repair congenital or recent scarring, as well as skin reconstruction before burn surgery.

Cosmetic surgeries we offer

Cosmetic surgery seeks to enhance appearance—no matter which part of the body, cosmetic surgery improves proportion, symmetry or aesthetic appeal. Our surgeons can improve virtually any aspect of your appearance. Sometimes you can't feel your best unless you look your best, and our team is here for you in your journey of self-improvement. Our cosmetic surgical specialties include the following:

Abdominoplasty

Also known as a tummy tuck, this procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen while tightening the abdominal wall muscles. However, abdominoplasties are not substitutes for weight loss. Patients with plans of substantial weight loss would be advised to delay this procedure until after their weight loss goals have been achieved.

Blepharoplasty

Typically a simple in-office procedure, blepharoplasty is an eyelid surgery that improves "tired" appearances, freshening the look around the eyes. To further assist in aesthetic eye improvements, we also offer topical treatments for patients with hypotrichosis, or inadequate eyelashes, resulting in longer, fuller eyelashes.

Body contouring

Body contouring is sometimes a needed step after significant weight loss. Positive results include smoother skin contours and an overall better-proportioned appearance to improve the shape and tone of underlying tissue by removing excess fat and skin.

Botulinum toxin injections

Our nonsurgical botulinum toxin injections temporarily paralyze the muscles causing wrinkles, giving the skin a smooth, refreshed appearance. Additionally, they can temporarily reduce or eliminate frown lines, forehead creases, crow’s feet and thick neckbands.

Breast augmentation/reduction

Breast augmentation enhances body contours for women who feel their breasts are too small. The procedure can also be used as a reconstructive technique following breast removal, as a means to correct post-pregnancy breast volume reductions and to balance breast size generally.

Breast reduction surgery makes the breasts smaller, lifts and reshapes them, giving the patient more well-proportioned breasts for her body. Our first-class breast reduction surgeons can also assure patients that any accompanying back, neck or shoulder pain should be relieved following the procedure.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a popular surgical option for patients with specific body areas that have not flattened through diet and exercise. Typically performed on a patient's midsection, arms, legs or buttocks, liposuction is proven to be a safe and effective way to remove unwanted fat with minimal scarring. However, it will not get rid of cellulite.

Mastopexy

A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a surgical procedure designed to raise and reshape sagging breasts by repositioning the nipple higher on the chest wall. It can also be used to reduce the size of the areola. The procedure usually lasts around three hours and is performed with general anesthesia.

Rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty procedure can be indicative of either cosmetic or reconstructive surgery. Rhinoplasty is designed to bring about greater facial harmony and change the nose's size, shape, or proportions. In doing so, it can change bone, cartilage, skin or a combination of the three.

The cosmetic and plastic surgery team at EIRMC is renowned for providing rhinoplasty services to Idaho patients for various causes. These include correction of visible humps or depressions, enlarged nasal tips or nostrils and nose width.

One of the primary alternative causes for rhinoplasty is to correct deviated septums or impaired breathing caused by inherent defects, otherwise known as a functional rhinoplasty. Functional rhinoplasties may be employed because of birth abnormalities, injuries or acquired breathing difficulties, improving obstructed airways with meticulous care and evaluation.