Plastic Surgery
The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery provides complete evaluation and treatment of problems or conditions encompassing all aspects of our surgical specialty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a specialized field of surgery that focuses on the enhancement or restoration of form and function for active duty, dependents, and retirees in this order. We perform state of the art reconstructive surgeries for: traumatic wounds of the head, neck, trunk, limbs and hand, deformities caused by cancer, burns, and congenital anomalies such as cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis and cosmetic surgeries.
Cosmetic surgery is elective and is not a covered Tri-care Benefit. The scope of cosmetic surgery procedures include:
- Breast: Augmentation, Mastopexy (Lift),
- Facial: Facelift, Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty), Neck Lift, Brow Lift, Rhinoplasty, Mentoplasty (Chin), or Cheek Enhancement
- Body Contouring: Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck to include Tightening of rectus abdominis muscle), Liposuction, Brachioplasty, Thigh Lift, Excessive Skin removal (following weight loss)
- Skin Rejuvenation: Laser Resurfacing, Botox®, Filler Treatments, Dermabrasion
Patients seeking care in the Plastic Surgery Clinic must be referred by their primary care manager (PCM) or another Specialty Clinic provider.
Consults for Plastic Surgery must include:
- BMI (body mass index), computed using height and weight measured at the time of consultation,
- comorbidities and/or health problems, and
- Smoking status
- For Male Gynecomastectomy- treatable causes for gynecomastia (i.e. Medication/Illicit drug use, endocrine issues, testicular or breast cancer)
- Pannus (skin only)- Pt record must show well documented skin issues with at least 3 months of non-surgical treatment, indicate hanging level of pannus, the level of functional impairment (defined as complete or partial loss of function of a body part); note: diastasis recti repair is considered cosmetic for all indications
Consults for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery must include:
- BMI (body mass index) Criteria- (computed using height and weight measured at the time of consultation)- Active Duty must be in Height and weight standards (does not include taped standards), DOD beneficiaries must have BMI less than 30%
- Comorbidities and/or health problems
- Smoking status- Must be nicotine free (to include smoking, vaping, nicotine patches and gum) for 6 months
- Gastric Bypass patients – Must be 18 months post gastric bypass with documented stable weight for 6 months with BMI less than 30%, and recent nutrition lab work completed
- Females – Must be 12 months post-partum, must be 12 months free of breast feeding to include pumping
Plastic Surgery Clinic Appointments
A referral or consult can take up to 72hrs to be approved. Once your referral or consult has been approved, you may make your appointment by calling our clinic directly at 757-953-2883. Follow-up appointments are scheduled by our clinic staff. Patients should check in at our clinic's front desk 15 minutes prior to their appointment. Patients who are not on time for their appointment should expect that they will need to reschedule their appointment for a later date.
Criteria to NOT appoint referral for Care to the Plastic Surgery Clinic:
If patient does not meet the above consult criteria. If Plastic Surgery has a surgical back log that is over a year, referral may not be appointed.
Further Cosmetic Information:
Cosmetic Surgery
IS NOT a Tri-Care covered benefit. All cosmetic surgeries and related complications are paid by the individual patient not Tri-Care. Cosmetic surgery referrals are accepted on a space available basis or will be denied. Patients seeking cosmetic surgery have the choice to be seen in the private sector for care without a deferred referral.
Active-Duty patients must have their commands approval prior to any elective/cosmetic surgery and such patients should be advised to get command approval prior to seeking care in private sector for all cosmetic surgery.
Plastic Surgery Waiting List Information:
We currently have Board Certified Surgeons, a Physician Assistant and support staff that service all the Hampton Roads area. Due to the nature of our patients, we have 4 priority levels, and our wait list is very large. Unfortunately, this makes it very difficult to accurately predict waiting times. We recognize that most applicants are very anxious to have surgery, but we cannot provide accurate individual estimates of waiting times do to mission requirements, and priority level of individual patients.
Please feel free to contact us for status updates if it has been longer than a 6 month wait. We are doing everything possible to expedite the process.
Wound Care Clinic Information
The Wound Care Center ensures readiness by providing comprehensive, quality healthcare services to our armed forces and their families by offering our entire spectrum of consultative and therapeutic services within our nursing specialty. We perform state of the art wound, ostomy, and incontinence care for patients of all ages who present themselves with all varieties of wounds such as: ostomies, fistulas, skin impairment and percutaneous tubes.
Wound Care Clinic Appointments
A referral or consult can take up to 72hrs to be approved. Once yours has been approved, you may make your appointment by calling our clinic directly at 757-953-2849. Follow-up appointments are scheduled by our clinic staff. Patients should check in at our clinic's front desk 15 minutes prior to their appointment. Patients who are not on time for their appointment should expect that they will need to reschedule their appointment for a later date.
External Links
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Board of Plastic Surgery
American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association
Cleft Palate Foundation
The American Society for Aesthetic