Hemangioma Center

Hemangioma

Dr. Edwin Williams Dr. Williams with his 17 years of treating these disfiguring facial hemangiomas has the advantage of really focusing on the aesthetic approach to surgical removal.

Maury Povich featured this heart breaking story on a little girl with a Hemangioma on her nose. Watch the video to see her story and how Dr. Williams helped her

Click on the Medical Magazine written by Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Edwin Williams. Dr. Williams was also featured on The Learning Channel for helping a little girl with a hemangioma on her forehead. Click here to watch her story.

Click here to view Before and After photographs of Hemangioma treatments

A hemangioma is a relatively common vascular tumor that manifests itself in the head and neck region in 60% of affected indviduals. Although children of all races can develop a hemangioma, they are more common in Caucasians and females. Premature, low birth weight infants also have a higher risk of having a hemangioma.

Hemangiomas are usually solitary masses, although 20% of children will have multiple cutaneous lesions. Common sites on the face include the cheek, upper lip, and upper eyelid. In addition to the skin, hemangiomas can be present in other organs including the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Hemangiomas are typically not present at birth but make their appearance during the first few weeks of life. Although variable in every patient, hemangiomas tend to undergo a phase of rapid growth followed by a period of involution or regression that can last a few years.

Many hemangiomas do not require any intervention other than close observation by a physician. Hemangiomas that threaten to interfere with vision or breathing or cause significant cosmetic deformity are usually treated. A physician may consider initiating treatment with oral medications that slow or reverse the growth of hemangiomas such as steroids or propranolol, although these medications can sometimes have serious side effects. For small, raised hemangiomas, steroids can sometimes be injected into the lesion. The pulse dye laser can be used to treat early, flat lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas or left-over surface blood vessels in lesions that have not completely disappeared.

Occasionally, surgical removal of the hemangioma may be necessary which can usually be accomplished using strategically placed incisions with minimal distortion of surrounding structures. Even hemangiomas that resolve can leave behind redundant or scarred skin that can be improved with surgery.

Renowned Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Edwin Williams provides treatments for hemangiomas including removal with a personalized laser surgery or a surgical treatment plan at the Williams Center for Excellence of Albany, NY.

Read an article written by Dr. Edwin Williams.

A Psychological Profile of Children with Hemangiomas and Their Families