Joseph Kerwin Williams, M.D.

Whether the nose is distorted from a congenital birth defect or from facial trauma, Dr. Williams utilizes a variety of specialized rhinoplasty techniques to reconstruct the look and function of the nose. Patients suffering from a cleft lip can also experience a bilateral or unilateral deformity in the nasal passage – making breathing more difficult. Depending on the severity of the abnormality and the amount of scar tissue resulting from the correction of the cleft lip, Dr. Williams will work to reshape the nasal cavity.

Another common nasal abnormality is a deviated septum, a condition where the septum (the hard wall running down the middle of the nose, which cuts the nasal passages in half) is off-center. A deviated septum may be natural or the result of trauma, but in either case can potentially cause breathing/ congestion problems in a patient. Surgical reconstruction is typically recommended to correct this deviation.

Nasal abnormalities can also occur as a result of either trauma or diseases like skin cancer. Severe cases of rosacea can lead to the development of rhinophyma, a rare condition marked by an enlarged red nose that may cause airway obstruction. Patients suffering from rhinophyma often seek reconstructive surgery of the nose to restore function as well as appearance. Depending on the individual patient, Dr. Williams utilizes the latest reconstructive techniques to restore the function and improve the appearance of the nasal abnormality.

While most patients undergo cleft lip and palate surgery as a child, adults may also opt to undergo this surgery. Adult cleft lip and palate patients may have long standing concerns about their appearance and the function of their lip/palate. These areas may have not been addressed in childhood or adolescence for any number of reasons. The alignment of the jaws and teeth, missing teeth, speech problems, nasal appearance, and function as well as lip aesthetics can be addressed during the surgical procedure. Modern techniques make correction of late cleft deformities a realistic goal with enhanced appearance and function. Dr. Williams performs revision surgery for adult patients who have had their cleft lips and palates corrected at another practice (or as a child), but who are still unsatisfied with their appearance after their surgery. Reconstructive surgery of the lip can also correct aesthetic problems due to trauma, disease, or infection.

Excision is a surgical procedure that is used to remove abnormal growths, such as moles, lesions, and tumors, from the skin. When performing a surgical excision, Dr. Williams uses his expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery to help minimize scarring. He also employs advanced non-surgical skin rejuvenation technology, like laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels, to even out the skin tone and further camouflage the excision site and make the scar less noticeable.