Orange County Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Raj Vyas is a specialist in what many consider the most challenging aspect of plastic surgery – craniofacial surgery, delicate cleft repairs, state-of-the-art cancer reconstruction and much more, both pediatric and adult. In addition to his broad reconstructive practice, he is well-respected in the area of aesthetics, particularly facial procedures and breast augmentation, translating his incredible skills as a reconstructive surgeon into creating beauty.
““I was educated at Stanford and UCLA – then did my plastic surgery residency at Harvard and craniofacial surgery fellowship at NYU. I was so fortunate to have been mentored by world leaders in our field.”
Dr. Vyas’ training reinforced his unwavering work ethic. That ethic is as extraordinary as his talent as a surgeon. He does most of his planning before entering the operating room – spending hours reviewing films; envisioning and planning every step; understanding it from every angle. He believes surgery should be precise and mathematical and does everything in his power to minimize surprises in the OR.
“I love my work because I’m constantly learning. Every day I try to be better than the day before.”
What drew Dr. Vyas to his field is the challenge of it – the need to stretch and use his creativity to solve whatever the problem is before him. He says that no two cases are the same because every human being has their unique anatomy along with whatever physical and psychosocial challenges they face.
“I love working as part of a team at Children’s Hospital Orange County. Collaboration is the best way to assure great outcomes.”
CHOC is the perfect place for Dr. Vyas. It is a place that nurtures the patient. A place where physicians can feel part of a community; where they can collaborate with physicians from every specialty. The kind of work Dr. Vyas does is dependent on a multidisciplinary team. Patients are often patients for life and it takes good medicine and good psychology to support that person. “In the case of a child, we must be thinking beyond the current challenge and procedure and anticipate how that child will grow in 6 months or 5 years.”
“One of my primary goals is to take away worry.”
Dr.Vyas says, “One of the biggest challenges I face in my work is making sure parents and loved ones feel as secure and confident as possible. I don’t want a parent’s or husband’s anxiety to translate to the patient. Calm loved ones assure calm patients. My goal is to be reassuring and provide education – to paint a picture and to take away the unknown.”
“I am also involved in migraine relief surgery for those with extreme cases.”
For people who suffer from chronic migraines that are resistant to traditional medications, there can be great relief. Over the last decade, we have learned that compression of peripheral facial and scalp nerves are likely the trigger that causes susceptible individuals to have repeated migraine headaches. This compression can be because of muscle, vessels, and/or bone. Decompressing the nerves can be extremely therapeutic and life restoring.
“I ask the patient to keep a headache journal to record anatomic trigger sites as well as the onset, frequency, severity, and duration of headaches. I then confirm suspected trigger site with the use of Botox. If responsive to Botox, I can do an outpatient procedure to decompress the suspect nerves in order to minimize or even completely eliminate the symptoms of their migraines,” says Dr. Vyas.
Procedures Dr. Vyas performs:
GENERAL SURGERY
• Migraine Relief Surgery
• Breast Cancer Reconstruction
• Aesthetic Breast Surgery
• Aesthetic Facial surgery
• General Reconstruction
CRANIOFACIAL
• Cleft lip and palate
• Alveolar cleft (gum) bone grating
• Velopharyngeal insufficiency VPI (Speech surgery)
• Obstructive sleep apnea (Airway surgery)
• Craniosynostosis (Congenital skull anomaly)
• Craniofacial (Hemifacial) Microsomia
• Treacher-Collins Syndrome
• Hypertelorism
• Maxilla or Mandible growth disturbance (Distraction Osteogenesis)
• Facial fractures
• Ear anomalies: Microtia and Otoplasty reconstruction
• Infant ear molding (Earwell™)
PEDIATRIC PLASTIC SURGERY
• Vascular anomalies (Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations)
• Giant congenital or hairy nevi (moles)
• Skin lesions and scar revisions
Education
Dr. Raj Vyas is a native of Southern California. He studied Biology and Economics at Stanford University, where he earned the President’s Award for Academic Excellence and graduated with Honors & Distinction. Raj completed his medical education at UCLA, receiving numerous honors including the Longmire Medal (top medical student in surgery) and the Stafford L. Warren Medal (top overall medical student). He was one of two students invited to join the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) medical honor society during his third year, and served as UCLA chapter president.
Following medical school, Dr. Vyas joined the Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency. There, he was mentored by a broad range of world leaders and treated patients at several “Top 10 US News” hospitals: Massachusetts General, Brigham & Women’s, and Boston Children’s. After residency, Dr. Vyas pursued additional fellowship training in Craniofacial Surgery at New York University – the nation’s first and most comprehensive program.