Introduction

Facial and cranial - facial shaping is a highly specialized area of medical practice that requires expertise, advanced technology, and a comprehensive approach. In New York City, there are several hospitals that stand out for their exceptional services in this field. This article will present a preferred list of 5 hospitals for facial and cranial - facial folding degree shaping, delving into their specialties, treatments, and what makes them top choices for patients seeking these procedures.

1. NewYork - Presbyterian

Overview

NewYork - Presbyterian is a leading medical institution in New York City, with a comprehensive craniofacial program operating across New York - Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and New York - Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital. Their multidisciplinary teams of specialists bring innovative and comprehensive care to children with craniofacial abnormalities.

Treatments Offered

• Craniofacial Abnormalities and Craniosynostosis: Prenatal consultations are available. If a prenatal ultrasound is suggestive of a craniofacial disorder, the team meets with the expecting parents to provide support and plan a course of action after the baby is born. For infants and children, evaluations include a complete assessment of health and function, along with systemic evaluation, genetic analysis, and familial planning when appropriate. Surgery for craniosynostosis is the only effective treatment. There are two main surgical options:
  1. Traditional Open Surgical Procedures: Such as cranial vault remodeling and vertex craniectomy. A neurosurgeon removes the affected or closed suture and then “remodels” the skull. The surgery usually takes between two and six hours and requires three to five days in the hospital, depending on the age of the child and which suture is involved. Some children need blood transfusions during the surgery, and a compatible parent may donate blood. No helmet therapy is needed after traditional surgery.
  2. Endoscopically Assisted Strip Craniectomy: A newer, minimally invasive approach. A neurosurgeon removes the closed suture, but unlike the traditional approach, it does not include cranial remodeling during surgery. This procedure is typically performed on infants younger than three months of age, as it depends on rapid brain growth to help reposition the cranial bones. After surgery, the child will wear a cranial remodeling helmet to help reshape the skull.
• Facial and Cranial Reconstruction: Plastic and craniofacial surgeons perform reconstruction of facial clefts (including cleft lip and cleft palate), cleft lip revision, ear malformations (such as microtia), facial asymmetry, craniosynostosis, and a variety of other facial and cranial abnormalities. In cases where bone abnormalities cause irregularities in the shape of the skull or facial features, the plastic surgeons can shift these bones of the head and face into more natural positions. Sometimes, the “distraction osteogenesis” technique is used for a more functional and cosmetically appealing result.
• Maxillofacial Reconstruction: Oral surgeons trained in pediatric oral surgery perform maxillofacial reconstruction, primarily of the bone and teeth. They treat children who've acquired a deformity from trauma, tumors, or congenital abnormalities, correct facial asymmetries, and adjust the alignment of the jaws and other facial structures as children grow. Prosthodontists also perform presurgical procedures such as nasoalveolar molding (NAM), expanding the palate, and preparing the child's bite to ensure stability after surgery and correcting jaw discrepancies and dental arches before cleft lip and palate surgery.
• Ear/Nose/Throat Surgery: Otolaryngologists evaluate and care for children with hearing, swallowing, and respiratory problems related to craniofacial conditions. They can identify ear fluid or congenital abnormalities that interfere with hearing, perform surgery to treat correctible hearing issues, offer hearing aid support, and evaluate and treat upper airway problems using flexible scopes.
• Eye Surgery: The craniofacial program features oculoplastic surgeons who perform reconstruction of eye structures.

Why Choose NewYork - Presbyterian

• Access to World - Class Specialists: The healthcare team has access to all pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists at NewYork - Presbyterian, ensuring that all of the child's medical needs can be addressed. They collaborate closely with specialists in prenatal pediatrics, vascular anomalies, pediatric dermatology, and otorhinolaryngology.
• Cutting - Edge Surgery Approaches: Pediatric neurosurgeons apply advanced surgical approaches such as minimally invasive approaches to craniosynostosis and virtual surgical planning to create tailored treatment plans for patients with craniofacial conditions.
• Seamless Access to Resources and Support Services: Patients and families have access to on - staff neuropsychologists for testing and treatments for emotional and cognitive issues. There is also a parent - to - parent program that can connect parents with others whose children have been treated for the same condition.
• Pioneers in the Field: The physicians conduct groundbreaking research to improve the outcomes of children with craniofacial disorders, developing novel treatments for speech disorders and new techniques to stimulate and promote cranial bone formation.
• Global Impact: The team members participate in nonprofit surgical missions to other countries to treat children with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other craniofacial problems.

2. Mount Sinai

Overview

Mount Sinai offers expert and comprehensive care in treating complex craniofacial malformations. Their team approach helps children and adults with cleft and craniofacial anomalies reach their full potential, aiming to minimize the physical and psychological consequences of such anomalies.

Treatments Offered

• Craniofacial Surgery (Pediatric and Adult): They perform a variety of surgeries, including cleft lip and palate surgery, craniofacial surgery (skull and facial bones), and orthognathic surgery (facial deformities of the upper and lower jaw). The surgeons use the latest and safest treatment innovations to restore the patient's quality of life.
• Specific Conditions Treated and Their Treatments:
  • Craniosynostosis: The premature fusion of skull bones can create an abnormal head shape and increased pressure within the skull. There are several types, including coronal synostosis, lambdoid synostosis, metopic synostosis, and sagittal synostosis. Treatment often involves cranial vault reconstruction, usually performed in the first year of life depending on the severity of the condition. It involves removing, reshaping, and replacing the affected bones.
  • Craniofacial Syndromes: Such as Apert syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, and Pfeiffer syndrome. Treatment is done during early or late infancy, depending on the presence and severity of the symptoms. It includes cranial vault reconstruction to alleviate increased intracranial pressure and the removal, reshaping, and replacement of the bones, which may take place in several stages.
  • Ear Deformities: Otoplasty is the plastic surgical procedure most commonly used to correct a prominent ear deformity. There are several techniques for reconstructing the ear, including sculpting a new cartilage framework from the ribs or removing the abnormal cartilage.
  • Eyelid Deformities: Drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis) usually requires corrective surgery to strengthen or tighten the muscles.
  • Midface Deformities: Interventions may involve reconstruction of several parts of the face to restore appearance as well as functions such as breathing, feeding, and hearing.
• Cosmetic Surgery: At the division of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, they offer services such as nose surgery (rhinoplasty), face and neck lift, forehead and brow lift, eye lift (blepharoplasty), cheek, chin and jaw implants, and ear surgery (otoplasty). They aim to enhance, reshape, and balance the appearance of the face using the least invasive, safest, and latest procedures.

Why Choose Mount Sinai

• Comprehensive and Personalized Care: The physicians work directly with patients and their families to develop the best personalized treatment plan based on individual needs. They take patients' concerns seriously and have the expertise to diagnose and treat all aspects of cleft and craniofacial care.
• Leaders in Facial Reconstructive Surgery: The hospital is a leader in the area of facial reconstructive surgery, providing outstanding outcomes. The team of distinguished facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons offers state - of - the - art care for all areas of reconstructive craniofacial surgery.
• Minimally Invasive Options: Whenever possible, the cosmetic surgeons offer minimally invasive surgical options that reduce scarring and tissue disruption, resulting in faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications.

3. Gotham Plastic Surgery

Overview

Gotham Plastic Surgery in New York City focuses on facial shaping procedures, both surgical and non - surgical. Their goal is to help patients achieve the desired facial contours and definition based on the facial golden ratio, which takes into account the symmetry and proportions of the face.

Treatments Offered

• Liquid Facelift: A “facelift in a bottle” that restores a youthful appearance through a combination of dermal fillers, neuromodulators, and ultrasound techniques. It can lift sagging skin, volumize lips, fill out hollow facial areas, minimize under - eye bags, and reduce a variety of wrinkles in less than an hour.
• Dermal Fillers:
  • Restylane: Composed of skin - nourishing hyaluronic acid, it helps erase fine lines, smooth out moderate to severe facial folds, and volumize sagging skin around the mouth, nose, and cheeks. Restylane Kysse is designed specifically for fuller lips.
  • Juvéderm: Made of skin - hydrating hyaluronic acid, it can correct a variety of facial wrinkles, from fine lines to deep facial folds, particularly around the nose, mouth, and forehead areas. Voluma targets hollow cheeks and/or sagging skin in the mid - face and cheek with results clinically proven to last up to 2 years.
  • Belotero: A hyaluronic acid - based filler that integrates into the natural structure of the skin, producing smooth results while allowing natural facial expressions. It can be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles around the nose, mouth, and chin.
  • Radiesse: An injectable collagen stimulator that triggers the body to produce more collagen within the dermal structure, restoring collagen levels to add volume and reverse aging signs in the lower face and hands.
  • Sculptra: Another collagen stimulator injected deep into the dermal tissue to boost collagen levels, which is excellent for long - term improvement in lines of the lower face, including smile lines, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines.
• Lip Augmentation: Ideal for patients with naturally thin lips or lips that have thinned due to aging, it can plump the lips for a luscious, youthful - looking mouth.
• G.I. Jaw™: An innovative technique for men who desire a strong, square jaw to make their face more symmetrical. It includes a variety of jaw - enhancing treatments like fillers, implants, and liposuction to yield more masculine - looking features.
• Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin Injections: Safe and effective neuromodulators used to correct dynamic wrinkles such as frown lines or laugh lines, improving the appearance for a more youthful look.
• Kybella®: Enhances the facial profile and improves facial shaping by eradicating a double chin. It destroys fat cells and yields a more sculpted jawline and neck, considered a non - surgical alternative to liposuction.
• Liposuction for Face: Effective for patients with fatty areas in the cheeks, chin, and neck that haven't responded to diet or exercise.
• Neck - Tite™: Utilizes minimally - invasive radiofrequency - assisted liposuction technology (RFAL) to precisely firm and contour the neck and jowls for a more youthful - looking neck with little discomfort or downtime and minimal scarring.
• Facial Implants: Come in a variety of sizes, styles, and shapes and are used to augment the chin, cheek, jawline, nose, and lips for natural - looking facial shaping.
• Rhinoplasty:
  • Primary Rhinoplasty: Also called a nose job, it is one of the most common plastic surgeries, either to improve nasal and facial aesthetics or nasal function. It can reshape a nose that's too small, too large, or has a hump, and can also improve a nose that's been injured or correct breathing problems.
  • Revision Rhinoplasty: Corrects nasal aesthetics or improves nasal functions that arise from a previous nose job that yielded poor results or whose effects didn't match expectations.
  • Non - surgical Rhinoplasty: A quick, non - invasive alternative to a surgical nose job, using dermal fillers to improve minor or slight nose irregularities, asymmetry, or a nasal hump.
• Forehead and Brow Lift: Can bring back a smoother forehead or arched eyebrows, returning the focus to the eyes and forehead.
• Blepharoplasty: Refreshes tired - looking eyes by correcting drooping or sagging eyelids, either upper or lower (or both).
• Chin & Cheek Augmentation: Expertly - placed facial implants in the chin and/or cheek can reshape the face and improve overall appearance and confidence.
• Otoplasty: Reduces the size or corrects the prominence of the ear(s) to help patients regain confidence in their appearance.

Why Choose Gotham Plastic Surgery

• Variety of Options: Patients have a wide range of facial shaping options, both surgical and non - surgical, to choose from, allowing them to find the most suitable treatment for their needs.
• Expertise of Dr. Miller: As a renowned facial plastic surgeon in New York City, Dr. Miller can help patients achieve the facial shaping results they desire, with innovative techniques like the G.I. Jaw™.
• Focus on Natural Results: The procedures are designed to enhance the patient's natural beauty and achieve a more symmetrical and proportionate face based on the facial golden ratio.

4. NYU Langone Health

Overview

NYU Langone Health's craniofacial team takes a collaborative approach to provide surgical and orthodontic treatment for facial skeleton malformations resulting from congenital disorders, trauma, and treatment for head and neck cancer. Their holistic approach addresses physical, social, and emotional aspects of craniofacial treatment.

Treatments Offered

• Craniofacial Surgery:
  • For Adults: Often involves reconstruction after injury or trauma, or a surgical procedure to treat cancer or another condition that has affected the face or skull. They also correct or update surgeries for congenital anomalies that occurred in childhood, such as ear, eyelid, nose, or jaw deformities. Surgery can improve breathing and hearing function, restore facial movement, and provide pain relief. For patients who had surgery to remove part of the skull, they work with neurosurgeons to perform cranioplasty to repair the skull and improve the head's shape and appearance.
  • For Children: Plastic surgery for children with craniofacial conditions such as cleft lip and cleft palate is provided through Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.
• Orthodontic Services: The craniofacial dental and orthodontic team focuses on surgical jaw corrections, dental implants, and orthodontic care for people with craniofacial conditions that affect the face, jaws, and teeth. They use advanced equipment in their dental laboratory, including digital radiography, advanced cone - beam CT scanning, three - dimensional printers and simulators, and three - dimensional intraoral scanning and CT scans to diagnose underlying craniofacial problems and develop appropriate treatment plans. They treat a variety of conditions, including cleft lip or cleft palate, developmental jaw growth disturbances, sleep apnea, genetic conditions that affect the shape of the head and jaw, irregular or asymmetric smiles, and missing teeth. They provide the full range of standard orthodontic treatment using fixed metal braces, clear braces, Invis