Physicians within the Division of Plastic Surgery are experts in such current techniques as free-tissue transfer and microsurgical procedures. In addition to clinical work, our faculty conducts vital research, including tissue engineering designed to recreate missing nerves and, in the future, other organs such as the breast and skin. The Division of Plastic Surgery currently sees patients at UCI Medical Center in Orange and Gottschalk Medical Plaza on the Irvine campus. A part of the Division of Plastic Surgery, the UCI Regional Burn Center is the only facility in Orange County dedicated to evaluation and treatment of all types of moderate and severe burns caused by heat, cold, radiation, electrical current and chemicals, as well as pulmonary damage from smoke inhalation. Specialized treatment methods are available for burn reconstruction.
Special consultation is also available for pediatric and chemical injury recovery.
Image Enhancement and Support Center Consultants are available to assist patients undergoing cancer treatment and burn reconstruction. Information is available on prostheses, wigs and use of color and clothing for enhancement during treatment recovery. The laboratory for tissue restoration is located within the UCI Health Sciences Laboratories on the medical center campus. Our goal is to look for alternative tissue replacement strategies to prevent harvesting donor tissues during reconstruction. Areas of interest include the development of nerve conduits for peripheral nerve surgery.