Department of Adult and Pediatric Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery - Sheba Medical Center Ramat Gan

About the Department of Adult and Pediatric Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery at Sheba Medical Center Ramat Gan

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery at the Sheba Medical Center Ramat Gan offers the full range of modern surgical services in the areas of its specialization. The clinic opened its doors to patients for the first time in 1953 and during this time it has gained authority not only in Israel, but also far beyond its borders. Of particular interest to the department's medical team are postoperative reconstructive body surgery, surgical correction of congenital and post-traumatic defects, as well as aesthetic plastic surgery. The Chief Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Josef Haik.

The department provides comprehensive consulting services, thorough diagnostics, outpatient and inpatient surgical treatment, postoperative care. The department's surgeons annually admit about 7,000 inpatients, as well as provide outpatient care for more than 9,000 patients.

The department's specialists have excellent qualifications and rich experience in the use of modern reconstructive surgical techniques aimed at achieving symmetry of the breasts. Breast reconstruction is performed using silicone implants or autologous (patient's own) tissues. The surgeons successfully practice the most modern microsurgical techniques for breast reconstruction, including the use of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (using the tissues of the anterior abdominal wall without damaging the abdominal muscles). An alternative method for microsurgical breast reconstruction is the use of skin and tissues from the buttocks and/or back muscles along with the placement of a silicone implant.

The department's most important focus is burn surgery. The department has the status of the Level I Burn Center and has 9 beds for patients with burns of varying severity, including 3 beds equipped with artificial lung ventilation devices. It also has specialized intensive care units for critical patients with severe burns. The patients are treated by a huge multidisciplinary team, including not only plastic surgeons, but also physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, social workers and specially trained nurses. The team of the specialists works hand in hand in order to develop effective treatment and rehabilitation programs. If it is necessary to carry out complex operations for tissue reconstruction, microsurgeons with vast experience in the area of their specialization are involved in the treatment process.

The department also specializes in the correction of congenital malformations (for example, cleft lip and palate, microtia, vascular malformations), treatment of skin melanoma, microsurgery, Mohs micrographic surgery, treatment of chronic wounds and performance of various laser procedures.

The surgical spectrum of the department includes:

• Reconstructive breast surgery
  • Total or partial breast reconstruction (after lumpectomy or mastectomy)
  • Immediate or delayed breast reconstruction
  • Unilateral or bilateral breast reconstruction
  • Breast reconstruction after mastectomy with skin preservation
  • Prophylactic mastectomy
• Burn surgery
  • Treatment of burns of varying severity, including resuscitation measures
• Surgical treatment of congenital malformations
  • Surgical correction of cleft upper lip and palate in children
  • Surgical correction of microtia in children
  • Surgical correction of vascular malformations in adults, children and elderly patients
• Surgical treatment of skin cancer
  • Surgical treatment of skin melanoma
  • Mohs micrographic surgery for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas (performed in the department since 1989)
• Microsurgery 
  • Replantation of the limbs or their parts
  • Treatment of peripheral nerve injuries
  • Tissue grafting to close large wounds
  • Emergency treatment of extensive wounds resulting from an accident or military action
  • Reconstructive surgery for birth defects, resection for oncology or trauma
  • Transplantation of toes to the hand
  • Correction of defects on the face, upper and lower jaws
  • Treatment for facial nerve paralysis 
  • Complex reconstruction of the limbs
• Laser procedures
  • Removal of benign skin lesions
  • Tattoo removal
  • Laser correction of congenital and acquired vascular lesions
  • Ingrown toenail correction
  • Removal of warts
  • Removal of unwanted body hair
  • Scar revision
  • Correction of unwanted skin pigmentation
  • Psoriasis treatment
  • Vitiligo treatment
• Treatment of chronic wounds (bedsores, diabetic foot syndrome, wounds caused by peripheral vascular pathologies, as well as postoperative wound infections)
  • Treatment with macrophages (a type of white blood cell) obtained from young healthy donors, which are injected into the wound, where they stimulate the growth of granulation tissue and thus initiate the healing process
• Other therapeutic options