READ TESTIMONIALS FROM REAL PATIENTS OF DR. BALAKHANI

Deciding on a plastic surgeon to perform your procedure is an important decision. It is essential that you feel confident that you are making the right choice. We have provided testimonials of plastic surgery patients that have placed their trust in Dr. Balakhani to perform their procedures.

“Dear Dr. Balakhani,
It’s difficult to adequately express my gratitude to you for all that you have done for me. I am delighted with the results of my surgery. I cannot thank you enough.

Sincerely,
Valerie”

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MEET MEHDI BALAKHANI, D.D.S., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Mehdi Balakhani, D.D.S., M.D., F.A.C.S. is Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Christiana Care Systems and Director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware. He has been selected by nurses and his peers as a top doctor in Delaware since 1992. Dr. Balakhani is Board Certified in both Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery since 1983. He has contributed more than 20 cosmetic surgery instructional exhibits to the Medical Society of Delaware over the past 20 years. He has provided more than 200 educational seminars for public education in the field of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

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Burn Reconstruction

Conveniently located to serve Delaware

Burn reconstruction in Delaware gives the skin a more natural-looking appearance after it has been affected by a burn. Following severe burn damage, urgent surgery is required. In the following weeks or months, the healing process will likely create the need for cosmetic burn reconstruction (often due to new scar-tissue formation).

Why Undergo Burn Reconstruction?

For the burn patient, the goals of burn reconstruction are to first rehabilitate function, then to restore aesthetic appearance. Scars will consequently be less visible and noticeable, which is a crucial aspect in addressing the psychological effects that burn wounds can have on a person.

Through burn reconstruction, the injured skin will have more flexibility and movement capability, which may increase joint flexibility depending on the location of the burned area.

What Are the Different Methods of Burn Reconstruction?

One commonly used burn reconstruction technique is skin flap reconstruction. This approach uses a section of skin and underlying tissue that is surgically removed from one part of the body and transferred to the affected area.

Skin grafting is another method of burn reconstruction. Skin grafts are the transfer of skin (without underlying tissue) from one part of the body to another. A graft is a section of skin that is disconnected from its own blood supply and requires a highly vascularized recipient area to be successful.

Another form of burn reconstruction is known as secondary intention. This is when the skin borders of the incision are not sutured together. The incision is left “open,” with dressings changed on a regular basis to manage any seepage and keep the site clean. The wound closes and heals on its own over time.

Primary closure is also a common technique for burn reconstruction. Primary wound closure facilitates the biological event of healing by joining the wound edges using sutures or staples. The risk of infection is lower with primary closure, and new blood vessels and keratinocytes only have to move a short distance.

Your doctor may recommend tissue expansion for your burn reconstruction. This specialized use of local flaps involves gradual expansion of the neighboring skin surrounding the wounded area. When the expander is taken out, the extra skin is used to replace lost tissue. This provides wound coverage using tissue that has comparable color and texture to the donor location.

Our Procedures

There are a wide variety of plastic surgery procedures, such as Burn Reconstruction, that our practice performs. Please contact us if you are interested in receiving more information on this particular procedure.

Plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective.

Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve functions, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly.

There are a number of “gray areas” in coverage for plastic surgery that sometimes require special consideration by an insurance carrier. These areas usually involve surgical operations which may be reconstructive or cosmetic, depending on each patient’s situation. For example, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) — a procedure normally performed to achieve cosmetic improvement — may be covered by insurance if the eyelids are drooping severely and obscuring a patient’s vision.

Contact Us to Learn More

For more information on plastic surgery and the procedures we offer, please schedule a consultation and visit our practice.

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