Have A Child That Needs Reconstructive Surgery? A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Offers 4 Tips for Success
Dr. Sharline Aboutanos is a highly experienced pediatric plastic surgeon, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a member of the accredited Cleft and Craniofacial Team at St. Mary’s Hospital—so it’s fair to say she has a lot of intel when it comes to pediatric reconstructive surgery! We asked her for some of her top tips for helping the reconstructive surgery process go as smoothly as possible for your child and you. Here’s what she had to say.
1. Choose a board certified plastic surgeon with a proven track record helping children with the same issue.
When scheduling any plastic or reconstructive surgery, no matter the age of the patient, it’s important to choose a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. That said, I encourage you to go a step further and ask how many pediatric patients with the same condition as your child the doctor has treated.
A surgeon who has successfully treated numerous children with the same issue will have gained valuable insights and experience. The rarity of your child’s concern can make it more likely you will have to travel to get specialized expertise, but it will be worth the effort for optimal results.
2. Consider details of recovery well ahead of time.
Parents typically research their child’s planned procedures in great detail but may ignore recovery particulars until the surgical date is nearly upon them. This is bound to increase last-minute stress as you hurry to shop for needed support products in time. In addition to medical specifics provided by your surgeon and staff, you will likely need to consider:
Your child’s sleeping arrangement/position.
Safe ways to keep your child occupied during the initial recovery
Tactics for protecting healing tissues once your child becomes more active
Nutrition in the weeks leading up to surgery and continuing through recovery.
Your provider should be able to provide personalized recovery instructions early in the process to help guide you further in your preparations.
3. Be open to questions and provide detailed yet age-appropriate answers
If your child is old enough to form a sentence, they are going to have questions—and it is best to answer them as truthfully and completely as possible depending on their age. While you may naturally feel some squeamishness about your child’s upcoming procedure, many children find the idea of repairing the body via surgery fascinating. It’s important to take cues from them as you determine how best to talk about the process.
If your child is interested in learning about sutures, one excellent option is to show your child how a doctor sutures skin using a banana. Activities like this can help them feel like a participant in the process and approach their upcoming surgery with confidence. (See more ideas in my post about preparing your child for pediatric plastic surgery.)
4. Plan ahead with your child’s caregivers.
Phasing your child back into a normal routine usually often requires planning with people beyond the immediate family. As soon as you are sure your child is going to have surgery, start a conversation with their caregiver, daycare, or school. This will help you understand where you might need to fill in with alternative care and avoid surprises. For example, you will want to know if your child’s daycare isn’t equipped to provide special care during certain phases of recovery and when they can safely welcome your child back to their facility.
Consider timing as well. While many pediatric surgeries are scheduled by the developmental stage, you may have some choice in the matter. Summer break can be a great time to schedule surgery for school-age children if missing classes will be detrimental to your child’s education. It also means your child’s classmates will be less likely to remark on your child’s changed appearance.
If your child has not yet started school, the winter holiday season may be a better fit—you and your family may have additional time off work you can take advantage of rather than using up all of your PTO. Kiddos may also find it easier to rest during recovery when the weather is dreary and the days are shorter.
In the Richmond, VA area? Dr. Aboutanos would love to help.
If you are seeking cleft palate repair or another pediatric reconstructive surgery procedure for your child, we welcome you to contact our Richmond office. Dr. Aboutanos has over [10 years] of experience in pediatric plastic surgery and was voted by the Richmond medical community as a Richmond Magazine Top Doctor in both Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.