Departments

We offer compassionate, technologically advanced care for women affected by breast cancer who would like to restore the shape, size, and appearance of their breasts after a lumpectomy or mastectomy. In caring for our patients, we harness the latest in breast reconstruction surgical techniques. Our surgeons are experts in implant reconstruction, nipple and areola reconstruction, and autologous tissue reconstruction, which uses their own tissue to reconstruct the breast. Our expertise ensures that, whenever possible, our patients experience shorter hospital stays and less postoperative discomfort. Decisions about breast reconstruction are extremely personal and different for each woman. We understand that living with changes in the appearance of breasts after breast cancer treatment is a sensitive issue for many women, and our team is here to help guide women through this process.

Yale’s Department of Surgery is a premier center for adult and pediatric surgical treatment, providing comprehensive care for a full range of conditions and diseases. To ensure that our patients experience shorter hospital stays and less postoperative discomfort, we employ the latest technologies and surgical techniques, and perform minimally invasive surgery whenever possible. Our renowned surgeons and faculty continue to push the frontiers of surgical science through innovative treatment and leading-edge research, with the ability to offer treatment options that can be difficult to find elsewhere. More state-of-the-art surgical suites at Yale New Haven Hospital than in any other hospital in the region Collaboration with the Yale Department of Biomedical Engineering and with industry to develop 3-D bioprinting for the regeneration, repair, and replacement of human tissue and vessels Nationally recognized Center of Excellence and designated training center for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Yale’s Endocrine Neoplasia Laboratory is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary research group in which surgeons work with endocrine geneticists to decipher the molecular genetics of endocrine tumor disease First program in Connecticut to offer three different minimally invasive bariatric surgical techniques: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, LAP-Band® surgery, and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Our surgeons and clinical specialists are dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children affected by cancer treatments, congenital defects, degenerative diseases, and traumatic injuries. Providers offer patients the most effective, safest, and current surgical techniques, paired with individualized, compassionate care. In caring for our patients, we harness the latest in medical care and technologies, as well as the safest, most effective cosmetic surgical procedures. Our expertise ensures that, whenever possible, our patients experience shorter hospital stays and less postoperative discomfort. Our surgeons are also experts in enhancing the aesthetic balance of the face and contours of the body, creating a more youthful appearance and improving symmetry. Our team includes leading plastic surgeons, clinical specialists, and nurse practitioners who work together to address each patient’s needs in managing adult and pediatric conditions that require plastic and reconstructive surgery. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Airway and sleep disorders Breast reconstruction Cosmetic surgery Craniofacial conditions Hand and microsurgery Maxillofacial and orthognathic surgery Melanoma and skin cancer Developed procedures, such as the barrel stave osteotomy, for novel comprehensive skull care for children born with skull deformities Developed important data defining neuropsychological outcomes for children with such craniofacial disorders as craniofacial and plagiocephaly Active participants and leaders in such humanitarian care organizations as Operation Smile and Hand Help

The Yale Face Transplant Program focuses on reconstructive surgeries for patients who have a serious disfigurement or trauma to the face, head, and neck. This includes patients who have significant facial deformities they were born with, or those who have suffered devastating traumatic injuries, such as a burn, ballistic trauma, or an animal attack. Facial reconstruction is a field that demands detailed planning and highly specialized surgical skills, as well as complex team logistics. We know that each person’s facial tissue is unique, so we reconstruct and restore the appearance and function of the face, and that includes its abilities for movement and sensation. Our goal is to restore appearance and function in a way that can impact both physical and mental health, and improve quality of life even in the most difficult situations. Yale’s Face Transplant Program is led by a pioneer who performed the first three full-face transplants in the United States. Because face transplantation is a relatively new procedure, we are currently one of only a handful of programs in the U.S. that provides this type of surgery. Facial transplantation surgery is, by necessity, multidisciplinary, involving collaboration among a variety of specialized surgeons and other providers. Each operation must be carefully orchestrated. Timing is critical, since transplant tissue must be procured from a donor who has died, and additional consent obtained from the family. And a successful transplantation requires a four-hour window from the time the facial tissue is detached from the donor to the time blood flow is re-established with the transplant recipient. While each case is different—requiring its own unique approach—we perform facial transplantation conservatively, identifying and replacing only those areas of the face that are missing, if possible, and avoiding any part that is currently functioning. Each operation takes at least 16 hours and typically more, usually with multiple microsurgical procedures to connect nerves and blood vessels. The use of computer 3-D simulation of the facial skeleton allows surgeons to design how the bone recovered from the donor will match the recipient, as much as possible. In addition to greater precision in planning of such a complex procedure, it also saves time during the surgery, which often translates into fewer complications. Face transplantation often results in the patient regaining normal functions—it involves opening the airway to restore smell and providing lips for better eating and speech. These surgeries are major life events for patients, who already may have experienced a major trauma and lived with a difficult disfigurement while waiting for treatment to become available. We provide a variety of support, including psychiatric care, a social worker, and nursing coordinators who are ready to assist patients and families with whatever support they may need. Our surgeries are carefully orchestrated endeavors that req

Through laser surgery and other cutting-edge techniques, our board-certified dermatologists can help brighten and rejuvenate our patients’ skin. Our range of expertise includes removal of benign growths such as skin tags and cysts; laser treatment of facial telangiectasias; and the precise placement of fillers to enhance appearance. Laser Treatments For the treatment of broken capillaries on the face due to sun damage, aging, and rosacea, we use a pulsed dye laser to specifically target and destroy these blood vessels. This laser is also used for the treatment of port-wine stains and hemangiomas. For unwanted hair growth, we offer two types of lasers that work either in light or dark skin tones with medium- to dark-colored hair. Over a series of treatments, depending on the site, a significant reduction in hair growth is achieved. Fillers There are a variety of injectable materials that can be placed in the skin to replace volume loss that leads to an aged appearance, or to fill in crevices caused by wrinkles. Common places to use fillers include the lips, smile lines, smoker’s lines, and in the cheeks. We currently offer a range of hyaluronic acid fillers, including Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and Perlane®, which each lasts up to six months. More permanent fillers, such as Sculptra™ and Radiesse®, are also available. Prior to injection of any filler, we perform a cosmetic consultation to assess patients’ expectations and areas of concern to provide the best correction possible. Botulinum Toxin A (Botox) Our physicians are experts in facial anatomy, and perform Botulinum Toxin A injections to minimize the appearance of wrinkles that naturally occur through facial expression. The result is a softening of creases and an overall more “relaxed” appearance. These injections can also be placed on the neck and used to decrease excessive sweating in the armpits, hands, or feet.

We offer comprehensive state-of-the-art care for adults and children with disproportions of the upper and lower jaws and related facial structures. Yale has one of the most respected maxillofacial and orthognathic surgery programs in the nation. Our team helps patients maximize the ability to speak, eat, and chew; alleviate breathing problems; and minimize temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and the potential for sleep apnea. We also focus on improving facial symmetry by balancing jaw-to-face ratio. In caring for our patients, we harness the latest in medical care and technologies, as well as the most effective reconstructive surgical procedures. During the planning stage, we use the most sophisticated 3-D imaging tools available. With 3-D photo imaging, 3-D CT scan imaging and special software programs, we can simulate proposed outcomes so that patients can see the results before surgery. Our team includes leading surgeons, nurse practitioners, and care coordinators who work together to address our patients’ needs in managing disproportions of the upper and lower jaws.

We offer state-of-the-art body contouring for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, and now have extra skin and fat. Body contouring may include arm lift, breast lift/reshaping or reduction, tummy tuck, thigh lifts, and liposuction. We collaborate with the Yale Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery Program to manage all aspects of treatment. Our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, and exercise specialists all help to ensure successful long-term results. Support programs are also available to help patients achieve their personal weight-loss, dietary, and stress management goals. Our team understands that living with the extra skin or fat after significant weight loss can present challenges, and we want to help patients meet those challenges by exploring what they mean in their daily life. We focus on education and making patients their own best advocate, and work closely with them so they can choose the contouring procedures that will help them feel confident about their body.

We cover all of the components critical to successfully managing patients with brain tumors. This includes comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis, genomic profiling of the tumor, leading-edge treatment options, follow-up, and psychosocial support. We welcome newly diagnosed patients as well as those who have already received extensive treatment elsewhere, along with patients in need of second surgeries or follow-up biopsies. We work closely with other Yale Medicine brain tumor doctors to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that is patient-focused. Using advanced microsurgical techniques, including intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and awake craniotomy (when appropriate), our brain tumor surgeons strive to achieve the maximum extent of tumor removal while preserving neurological function. Often, what is often deemed "inoperable" by some surgeons is considered operable at Yale with successful outcomes. We are the only hospital in the region to have MRI and angiography capabilities in our operating room. Yale New Haven Hospital also banks all tumor samples and performs genomic profiling to better understand tumor mutations. We use this information to help direct postsurgical therapy. Our state-of-the-art neurosurgical operating rooms in Smilow Cancer Hospital are the only in the regionto offer intraoperative MRI, intraoperative angiography, stereotactic surgical guidance, and operative brain mapping to precisely pinpoint brain tumors during surgery.These technologies, combined with our surgical expertise allow for the best in surgical care for patients. A team of experts dedicated to caring for patients with brain tumors, including specialized brain tumor surgeons, radiation oncologists, neuroradiologists, medical neuro-oncologists, neuropathologists, and other specialists meets weekly to arrive at the most advanced and appropriate treatment plan for each individual. Yale is one of the few centers capable of offering even more personalized and precise oncologic care, when appropriate, based on the genetic makeup of the individual’s tumor. Inquiries from referring physicians or directly from patients or their families are welcome. All inquiries are handled expeditiously by our team of experienced patient coordinators. Their role includes ensuring that appropriate appointments are made in a timely fashion, and coordinating with the various medical specialists involved in each treatment plan. New patients with brain tumors are usually seen within two or three days. Our patient coordinators also act as patient advocates, communicating with the various medical specialists contributing to the treatment plan. Through Yale’s strong tradition of and commitment to research, practitioners are well acquainted with the most advanced treatment methods and have access to clinical trials. Patients also benefit from the specialized resources at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital, such as an advance

Our focus is on helping patients feel better about the way they look. We offer plastic and reconstructive services for patients who want to regain or retain a youthful appearance, enhance the contours of their body, or have a more symmetrical facial structure. We provide the most current cosmetic surgical procedures for facial rejuvenation, body contouring, and aesthetic breast surgery. We also offer nonsurgical services, such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers, and facial rejuvenation and resurfacing.We have pioneered and developed some of the most effective treatments available for body contouring and aesthetic facial surgery. We provide consultations in our office where our team provides individualized care and attention to each patient. During the planning stage, we use the most sophisticated 3-D imaging tools available. With 3-D photo imaging, 3-D CT scan imaging, and special software programs, we can simulate proposed outcomes so that patients can see the results before surgery. We discuss aesthetic goals and educate patients about the best possible solutions to achieve the outcome they want, so that they can feel comfortable and confident about their decision.

The Head and Neck Cancers Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital provides total care, as well as innovative and organ-sparing treatment options to patients with cancers of the head and neck. Our team sets the tone nationally and internationally for clinical trials and state-of-the-art cancer care. By carefully balancing treatment efficacy with quality-of-life, our collaborative approach to care personalizes treatment for tumors affecting the neck, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), oral cavity (mouth), ear, sinuses, tonsils, and salivary glands, as well as cervical (neck) lymph nodes or neck structures. Our multidisciplinary team includes head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, a smoking cessation specialist, dentists, a physical/lymphedema therapist, advanced practice nurses, and social workers. Functional outcome is an important element in deciding which treatment approach is recommended. Our program offers a promising new surgical technique, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), that can be used to remove certain throat cancers while avoiding skin and bone incisions. This approach speeds healing and shortens a patient’s hospital stay. Likewise, patients with certain laryngeal cancers, who a few years ago would have lost their vocal cords and their voices, can often be treated with less invasive surgeries. Patients who undergo these treatments maintain their ability to speak, although they may need to alter their diet or learn new swallowing techniques. At Yale, rehabilitative specialists work with patients to help them adjust to and overcome some of these swallowing impairments. In many cases, radical neck dissections have been replaced by less radical surgeries that preserve the nerves, arteries, and muscles in the neck. Patients continue to move, speak, breathe, and eat normally after less radical surgeries, without sacrificing cure rates. Additionally, in recent years, the field of reconstructive surgery has achieved many breakthroughs, yielding previously unattainable cosmetic and functional outcomes. Medical Oncology Our medical oncologists have unique expertise in head and neck cancers and dedicate their practice entirely to cancers of the head and neck. The integration of chemotherapy with radiation has become very important for patients with head and neck cancers that involve the lymph nodes or is locally extensive, and this approach can lead to organ preservation and increase the chance of cure for many patients. Breakthroughs in targeted therapy and biomarkers allow a personalized approach that can avoid the toxicities of conventional chemotherapy in some cases, and new treatments to prevent recurrence in high-risk situations are also being studied. For patients with recurrent disease, new anti-cancer drugs and immunotherapies are also available. A study led by Yale Cancer Center revealed that the checkpoint inhibitor pembroli

Pediatric Otolaryngology is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of care to children with ear, nose, and throat disorders. Our care team comprises board-certified pediatric otolaryngologists, nurses, audiologists, and speech/swallow pathologists, all specially trained to care for the development and special needs of children. We treat children from birth to 21 years of age with a wide range of ear, nose, and throat conditions. Working with the child and family, our physicians collaborate with other pediatric specialists such as pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, plastic surgeons, general surgeons, oncologists, and oral surgeons to develop an individualized care plan to offer the most effective treatment options. We understand that children need to feel safe during any testing procedure, including those of a routine nature. Our team is highly experienced in working with children. We take extra measures to ensure that the child’s needs are met. We make each child feel safe and comfortable and offer toys for younger children with shorter attention spans. Parents are allowed and encouraged to accompany their child during all testing procedures. Our team includes nationally recognized, board-certified pediatric ear, nose, and throat surgeons. They work with licensed audiologists and nurse practitioners to address each child’s needs as they treat and manage their ear, nose, and throat condition, hearing impairment, or hearing loss. Nurse Coordinators Our ENT Nurse Coordinators are available to support our coordination of all care needs from initial contact with first appointment and throughout the continuum of care. As the main point of contact, the nurse coordinators are the liaison between patient and physician, and coordinates multiple care needs from answering questions and concerns, to planning for diagnostic tests and procedures. Multidisciplinary programs We collaborate with primary care providers and other specialists to optimize each child’s health and provide a comprehensive network for his or her care. By working with multiple multidisciplinary programs, we can ensure that children are receiving the care they need per their specific treatment plan. The programs that we work closely with include: Pediatric Audiology : Our audiologists are pediatric-trained and dedicated to improving the lives of children with hearing difficulties. Highly experienced, they collaborate with otolaryngologists to provide appropriate options and interventions for hearing loss using the latest technology. These options include hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing aids, and cochlear implants. Aerodigestive Program : Pediatric specialists provide comprehensive care for airway breathing, feeding, and swallowing disorders caused by problems of the aerodigestive tract. The team comprises otolaryngologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, nurses, nutritionists and speech language pathologists. Speech & Swallow Program : The Speech and Swallow Progr