Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery Department

Integrated treatment according to the particular needs of each patient.

The Department

Craniofacial Surgery Department was created to offer comprehensive care in the field of fissures and other craniofacial abnormalities in Greece, according to the international standards and therapeutic protocols.

The Department’s high level of specialization as well as its staff’s experience on treatment and rehabilitation of children and adults facial abnormalities through state-of-the-art methods and surgical techniques, classify MITERA’s Craniofacial Surgery Department as a centre of excellence in Europe.

One of the particular characteristics of the Department is the customized and integrated treatment of all cases according to the particular needs of each patient. As a result, the patient is attended not only by the Craniofacial Surgeon but also by highly qualified doctors and scientists of all medical specialties that are necessary for the successful treatment of his particular case.

The Craniofacial Surgery Department of MITERA is distinguished due to the following reasons:

It is the only Center in Greece and one of the few similar ones in Europe that specializes in such cases following the international standards.
It is acknowledged by the European Society of Craniofacial Surgery.

Other specialties offered

Besides Craniofacial Surgery, the Department offers also some other specialties including:

Gyneacology
Speech Therapy
Molecular Biology – Genetics
Dentistry – Orthodontics (aesthetic orthodontics for adults & child orthodontics)
Counseling psychology – Children psychology
Neurosurgery
Opthalmology
Paediatrics
Pneumonology
Physical therapy
Otorhinolaryngology

For the integrated treatment & pre-operative assessment of the patients, the Department hosts meetings of all cooperating medical specialties on a monthly basis.

Surgeries performed

The Department performs the following:

Reconstructive surgeries in children

Cleft lip / palate reconstruction
Removal of congenital moles
Tumour rehabilitation (i.e. fibrous dysplasia)
Treatment of vascular malformations
Treatment of eyelid phimosis
Treatment of cephalic disorders / cranioplastics (i.e. Scaphocephaly, trigonochephaly, plagiocephaly)
Rehabilitation of various syndromes (i.e. Crouzon, Apert, hemifacial microsomia)

Cosmetic surgeries in children

Otoplasty & Eyelid ptosis treatment

Reconstructive surgeries in adults

Reconstruction of head and face deficits after trauma
Reconstruction of craniofacial abnormalities
Reconstruction of head and face deficits after removal of tumours
Septoplasty
Reconstruction of exophthalmos

Cosmetic surgeries in adults

Rhinoplasty
Eyelid plastic surgery
Face lift

For a safer and more effective surgical treatment of all cases the Department has the following:

Specially trained anaesthesiologists & child anaesthesiologists
Specialized child intensivists
State-of-the-art medical equipment
Special equipment for neurosurgery & craniofacial surgery
Special imaging equipment

The Craniofacial Surgery Department treats successfully and with high standards any kind of facial abnormalities for children and adults such as congenital dysplasia, craniofacial dysplasia and syndromes, cleft lip % palates, functional problems such as septum problems as well as any cosmetic facial problems.

Cleft lip and palate

Cleft lip and palate are the most common congenital face abnormalities (1/650 births). The reason for these abnormalities remains unknown. Babies with fissures should be followed up by a team of specialists that offers to parents the necessary information and help them face any problems that may occur such as, for example, difficulties in feeding, etc.

The first operation on the cleft lip usually takes place at the age of three months. In case that, complementary operations are needed, a specific time-schedule should be followed.

Babies and young children with palates have an increased sensitivity to otitis and they should be regularly tested by an otorhinolaryngologist and speech pathologist in order to evaluate their hearing, speech and language and prevent complications. Regular screening by a child dentist and an orthodontist ensures oral hygiene and jaw development.

Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Syndromes

The coronal suture is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint that separates the frontal and parietal bones of the skull. At birth, the bones of the skull do not meet.

If certain bones of the skull grow too fast then “premature closure” of the sutures may occur. This can result in skull deformities. Craniosynostosis are often accompanied by increased intracranial pressure or even decreased blood supply on the corresponding cerebral areas. Timely intervention by a team consisted of a craniofacial surgeon and a neurosurgeon reconstitutes the normal shape and improves functional disorders.

Scaphocephaly – Trigonochephaly – Plagiocephaly

Craniofacial syndromes often present important difficulties in their diagnosis, evaluation and surgical reconstruction. Their treatment requires the contribution of many specialties (Genetic counseling, Craniofacial Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthodontics, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Paediatric Psychology).

Apert’s Syndrome Reconstruction

Special Diseases:

Thyroid exophthalmos:
Thyroid exophthalmos is accompanied by functional and aesthetic problems (eye displacement, corneal irritation and optic nerve compression). The reconstruction with craniofacial techniques takes place for aesthetic improvement and symptoms relief.
Bone dysplasia:
Fibrous dysplasia. A rare type of meningioma.
Dysplasias are usually not malignant but they change the anatomic structure of the bones and they cause functional and morphological disorders.

Post-trauma Abnormalities:

Injuries in car accidents often cause abnormalities that require a series of surgeries and the cooperation of many specialties
Orbit deformity correction