Reconstructive Surgery

Do you have scars from an accident or surgery that you’d like to see disappear? Or do you have a tattoo that seemed like such a great idea so many years ago and now you’d like to see it vanish? Or do you have severe burn scarring and would just like to have your old life back? Then, reconstructive surgery may be the right next step for you!

Dr. Robert Schmid is a board-certified plastic surgeon who was elected into the prestigious American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2007. He specializes in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. He has performed numerous reconstructive surgery procedures in West Texas including skin cancer reconstruction, tattoo removal and spider vein treatment.

Below, we’ve provided brief descriptions for each of the various procedures we conduct – everything from burn reconstruction to scar revisions – so you can make a well-informed decision. Be sure to click on the before and after photos to see examples of Dr. Schmid’s excellent work and go to each procedure’s specific page for even more information. Then, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Burn Reconstruction

Are you a burn victim? Are you longing for freedom from the scars and the pain? Are you longing for the burns to heal and go away? Dr. Schmid knows that severe and serious burns can be devastating, and, through reconstructive burn surgery, he can help the recovery process begin and help you feel normal again.

Through the help of technology and modern science, he can replace the skin on your arms, legs, torso – on your entire body. He can restore ears to their original sate. And, he can make your lips look soft and supple again. Dr. Schmid has the experience to reconstruct noses, entire faces, even perform hair transplants.

Skin Cancer Reconstruction

Skin is the body’s largest organ and provides protection against sunlight, injury, heat and infection. If you’ve had prolonged or unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, you’re at higher risk for developing skin cancer. Have you noticed an unusual growth on your body? Are you concerned that it could be skin cancer?

Dr. Schmid can surgically remove any spot or growth, keeping full function and appearance of the area (important if the cancer is in a highly visible area). If a treatment other than surgical excision is called for, Dr. Schmid will refer you to the appropriate specialist.

For a small cancerous growth, Dr. Schmid can remove it quickly and easily in his office, using local anesthesia. The procedure may be a simple excision, which usually leaves a thin, barely visible scar. For a larger and/or expanding growth, however, major surgery may be required.

Scar Revision

Has a cut, burn or abrasion left severe scarring on your skin? Are you looking for a way to make your scar less severe or less conspicuous? With scar revision surgery, Dr. Schmid can improve the way your scar looks, making it less noticeable to others.

Your scar’s severity depends on the ways your body heals itself, how it responds to injury and how severe the injury was that caused the scar in the first place. There are many different types of scar revision surgery (including laser surgery, injections or skin grafts) and the type you have will depend on the severity of the scarring and your body’s response to the injury. While all scars are permanent, scar revision surgery may help conceal it and improve its overall appearance.

Birthmark Removal

Do you have a prominent or bothersome birthmark on your body? While some birthmarks aren’t noticeable or troublesome, some are large, painful, prominently located or even unhealthy. If you’re self-conscious about your birthmark, Dr. Schmid can remove it, restoring your self-esteem and reducing the possibility of health risks associated with it.

The best way to remove a birthmark is with a series of laser treatments. Dr. Schmid has a variety of lasers that will diminish the color, size and/or shape of your birthmark. However, steroids or direct surgical removal may be a better option for your situation.

Tattoo Removal

Tattoo removal is for you if you no longer desire to have one or more permanent decorative images on your body. Maybe you got a tattoo with the name of a person, symbolizing your love, only to break up with that person. And now, rather than being stuck with that permanent reminder, you can have it easily removed. Dr. Schmid can get rid of those now unwanted decorations on your skin.

Rather than the unsightly scars formerly left by tattoo removal, advancements in cosmetic surgery now allow your skin to be free of scars and ink in just a few sessions over several months. MedLite® Lasers (the most-popular method) are aimed at the tattoo, breaking the tattoo ink into tiny particles that are flushed from the body’s system naturally while leaving the surrounding tissue (the area that is not tattooed) unharmed.

Spider Vein Treatment

Do you have spider veins – blue, purple or red thread-like lines under your skin? Associated with increased pressure to your veins and abnormal blood flow and commonly caused by women’s normal monthly hormonal fluctuations, nearly 75 percent of adult women are plagued by them. If you’d like to see them disappear – if you’d like to have your skin clear of these lines, Dr. Schmid can help.

He can remove those unsightly lines through laser treatment, sclerotherapy (a procedure where saline solution is injected into the vein to irritate the lining and cause the vein to collapse and disappear) or a combination of both.