Plastic Surgery

Our plastic surgery team offers a full range of cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.

Why choose UCLA Health for plastic surgery?

Our plastic surgeons provide the highest level of care. We perform cosmetic operations, as well as reconstructive surgery.

Our state-of-the-art facilities allow us to conduct inpatient and outpatient plastic surgery operations with an emphasis on quality and safety. Additional highlights of our division include:

Advanced techniques: We use the latest techniques and tools to operate precisely. For example, we have a renowned reputation for microsurgery, procedures that involve using a microscope while operating. These techniques are particularly useful in providing excellent outcomes for hand surgery and breast surgery patients.

Research and clinical trials: In addition to caring for patients, we also research new and better ways to operate. We continue to research new techniques for treating children with facial deformities and traumatic injuries.

Commitment to education: For more than 60 years, we have trained residents in the art and science of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Because we regularly train others, we must stay on top of the latest techniques and technology. Graduates from our programs have gone on to hold top academic positions at prestigious academic medical centers around the country.

Our specialties

Our plastic surgeons perform many different types of procedures. We divide our services into six subspecialties:

Breast reconstruction: If you need a mastectomy and want a breast reconstruction, our cosmetic surgeons are part of your treatment team. We incorporate immediate reconstruction into your treatment plan, which often allows for optimal cosmetic outcomes. Our plastic surgeons perform more microsurgical breast reconstructions than any other facility in the Western United States, making us a premier location for these procedures.

Cosmetic surgery: We provide personalized treatment plans for all types of cosmetic procedures, such as a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or facelift. Our plastic surgeons are all board-certified, meaning we have the training and technical skills to perform aesthetic procedures with excellent judgment.

Craniofacial surgery: The Craniofacial Clinic uses a team approach that brings together plastic surgeons, oral surgeons, head and neck surgeons and orthodontists. These experts work together to create a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan for each child. Board-certified plastic surgeons have extra training in craniofacial surgery to treat pediatric conditions such as cleft lip or palate.

General reconstruction: Our plastic surgeons perform all types of reconstructive surgeries. You may need reconstructive surgery to correct post-surgical deformities, treat wounds or revise scars. We also perform an innovative new procedure to repair phrenic nerve injury, an injury that can impair your ability to breathe.

Hand surgery: We collaborate with the orthopaedic surgery team to treat hand injuries and disorders. The national reputation of our microsurgeons (surgeons who specialize in operating under a microscope) sets us apart as a premier institution for hand surgery.

Scar treatment: We treat all types of scars, including caring for burn injuries. We offer personalized care in an outpatient setting and use the latest technologies, including laser surgery and steroid treatment.

Treatments offered by our plastic and reconstructive surgeons

Our plastic surgeons offer a range of surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Our treatment areas include cosmetic and reconstructive services. Treatments we offer include:

Cosmetic surgery

We regularly perform plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes. Cosmetic services include:

Body procedures

Plastic surgery procedures to reshape or tone your body include:

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): Removing excess abdominal fat and skin to create a smoother, more toned appearance.

Arm lift: Reshaping and removing skin and fat from the upper portion of the arm between your elbow and armpit.

Liposuction (body contouring): A fat-removal procedure targeting specific areas of your body, such as the stomach, thighs, or arms.

Breast surgeries

Elective breast surgeries include:

Breast augmentation: Surgery to increase breast size by placing breast implants under the chest muscles or breast tissue.

Male breast reduction: Surgery to treat gynecomastia, benign (noncancerous) breast tissue swelling in men.

Mastopexy (breast lift): Removing excess skin and tightening the tissue around the breast to create a lifted, more youthful appearance.

Reduction mammaplasty (breast reduction): Surgery to reduce breast size by removing excess fat, skin, and tissue from your breasts.

Facial procedures

Elective plastic surgery procedures to the face include:

Blepharoplasty: Surgery to repair drooping eyelids or enhance eyelid appearance by removing excess skin, muscle, or fat.

Brow lift: Raising the eyebrows to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, or frown lines.

Chin augmentation: Placing chin implants (devices made of safe, pliable material) to restructure the appearance of your chin.

Fat injections: Transferring fat from one part of your body, such as your thigh, to an area that lacks fat, such as the contours of the cheeks.

Otoplasty (ear surgery): Improving the shape, position, or proportion of your ear to bring balance to your face and ears.

Rhinoplasty (nose surgery): Surgery to alter or reshape the appearance of the nose.

Rhytidectomy (facelift): A procedure to give your face a more youthful appearance by smoothing wrinkles, lifting facial tissue, and removing excess skin.

Z-plasty (neck lift): Removing excess skin below the chin through Z-shaped incisions that help camouflage scars.

Nonsurgical procedures

Nonsurgical aesthetic treatments include:

Botulinum toxin (Botox®): Prescription injections that temporarily improve the appearance of frown lines between your eyebrows.

Chemical peels: Topical solutions that exfoliate your outer, damaged layers of skin to reveal a smoother, more youthful-looking complexion.

Dermal fillers: Injections to fill in wrinkles and fine lines, restoring collagen and hyaluronic acid to your skin.

Kybella: An injection that improves unwanted fullness beneath your chin by physically destroying fat cells.

Laser skin resurfacing: Using short, concentrated beams of light to reduce wrinkles, age spots, acne scars or other blemishes.

Reconstructive surgery

Our plastic surgeons are also experts in reconstructive procedures. These surgeries include:

Breast reconstruction: Using silicone implants, saline implants, or your own tissue to reconstruct your breast after mastectomy.

Craniofacial surgery: Procedures that treat craniofacial conditions, such as cleft lip, cleft palate or craniosynostosis (a birth defect that causes a misshapen skull).

Gender-affirming surgery: Operations to give patients a more masculine or feminine appearance that matches their gender identity.

Hand surgery: Surgeries that restore hand movement, reduce pain, or treat hand injuries such as torn tendons or damaged nerves.

Phrenic nerve repair: Procedure to treat phrenic nerve injury, an injury to the nerves that control breathing.

Scar revision: Treatments to change a scar’s appearance or reduce symptoms such as itching, tightness or discomfort.

Our expert team

Our plastic surgeons and the rest of our plastic surgery team offer the full range of cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. We collaborate with multiple specialty teams to provide comprehensive services.