PLASTIC SURGERY PROVIDES RENEWAL
More specialized procedures for kids in area
As Southwest Florida’s population grows, so does the need for specialized medical care for the many families and children moving into the region. Among the specialties advancing here now is pediatric plastic surgery. David C. Lobb, MBCHB (Hons), a fellowship-trained pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Pediatrix Medical Group, is focusing on expanding this specialty in Southwest Florida. “Through my partnerships with local hospitals, we are now able to offer treatments that would have previously required extensive travel to other centers,” he says.
Procedures offered locally range from the relatively straightforward—such as skin tag and skin lesion removal, treatment of hemangiomas with laser and/or steroids, removal of dermoids and cysts on the face—to the more complex such as orthognathic surgery to correct the jaw, free tissue transfers and grafts, trauma reconstruction, and ear reconstructions.
A mainstay of pediatric plastic surgery, cleft care is also offered by Dr. Lobb, from birth through adulthood. All the procedures required to obtain the best results are available, as well as access to a comprehensive multidisciplinary cleft team, the standard of care in the United States.
“This is an exciting time for pediatric patients in the Southwest Florida region,” says Dr. Lobb. He brings with him advanced surgical planning techniques including three-dimensional modeling and implant manufacture for patient-specific surgery. Other previously unavailable procedures commonly found at big academic centers include mandibular distraction for airway problems, cranial vault surgery for synostosis, and ear reconstruction for microtia, using either the patient’s own cartilage or an implant.
“Most procedures are well tolerated by our young patients who frequently display a degree of resilience that is astounding and delightful to see,” explains Dr. Lobb. “Indeed, our young patients bounce back so quickly that oftentimes the bigger challenge is in trying to ensure they don’t overexert themselves in the immediate post-operative period.”
About two-thirds of pediatric plastic surgery procedures can be done as an outpatient with low downtime and few restrictions. With more complex surgeries, says Dr. Lobb, “the risk-benefit ratios are carefully discussed with the parents beforehand, and a great deal of time is spent ensuring that my patients are well cared for throughout their surgical journey.”
Parents and young patients may worry about scars. Plastic surgeons are experts at thoughtful placement of incisions and management of healing and treatment of unfavorable scarring. “We are always advancing our understanding of scar biology and maturation and have techniques to help avoid poor scars
such as massage and silicone therapies, and injection of medications, and lasers,” explains Dr. Lobb. Sometimes the best approach is surgical reconstruction of scars, such as those caused by trauma or burns, which is now available locally.
Since arriving in the area, Dr. Lobb has completed several new-to-the-region surgeries, including mandibular distractions for airway concerns for children between 6 months and a few years, microtia ear reconstruction for a 5-year-old, and a multi-surgery lip switch reconstruction for a 20-year-old following a severe dog bite. These patients are all doing well, and their families are thankful for the opportunity to have the surgery done locally.
Since arriving in the area, Dr. Lobb has completed several new-to-the-region surgeries.