If your child is diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia (HFM), it’s natural to feel shocked and overwhelmed.
You may ask yourself a million questions, including:
Facing a congenital condition like HFM can be challenging, but you’re not alone.
We’re here to offer hope, support, and solutions.
At the Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center, we specialize in helping children with craniofacial conditions like hemifacial microsomia.
Led by Dr. Youssef Tahiri, a world-renowned craniofacial and plastic surgeon, our team is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your little one, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
Hemifacial microsomia presents differently in each child. Often, the clinical presentations are barely noticeable.
In more severe cases, however, HFM can cause significant problems, including:
We understand that each child with HFM is unique, as are their needs and goals.
That’s why we’ll work closely with you to understand your child’s goals and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific challenges.
Our treatments are covered by most insurance plans, ensuring you can focus on what matters most: your child’s well-being.
So, let’s work together to give your child the best possible chance at a happy and fulfilling life. Call (310) 255-4476 or email team@tahiriplasticsurgery.com to schedule a free Skype consultation.
Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a complex topic. But as they say, “Know thy enemy.” So, to help you understand what you and your child are dealing with, here are some key points:
An HFM diagnosis can catch anyone off-guard, especially if you believe that you did everything correctly during the pregnancy. So, it’s natural for you to wonder how common this congenital disorder is.
Although hemifacial microsomia is the second most common facial birth deformity, it’s still relatively rare, only behind cleft lip and cleft palate—separations in the upper lip and mouth.
HFM affects only one child in every 3,500 to 4,000 births. In other words, your child’s chances of developing facial asymmetry are between 0.025% and 0.029%.
It’s worth noting, however, that HFM typically appears more in males. The malformations also usually happen more on the right side of the face than on the left. However, there’s a 10% to 15% chance of manifestations occurring on both sides.
Understanding the statistics can be helpful when dealing with something so unfamiliar. However, you must remember that every child’s journey with HFM is unique.
So, the most important thing is to give them the love, care, and support they need to flourish.
HFM and Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) are distinct congenital conditions requiring unique treatment approaches.
TCS is a rare congenital condition that can affect your child’s facial bones, jaws, skin, and muscles.
It also shares many of the same clinical presentations with HFM, from flattened cheekbones and narrow lower jaws (mandible) to missing eyes (anophthalmia) and missing ear canals.
However, TCS manifestations have facial symmetry or occur on both sides of the face. On the other hand, hemifacial microsomia symptoms are generally one-sided or asymmetric.
Think your child may have HFM or TCS? Getting a diagnosis from a craniofacial team is critical.
Here’s where Dr. Youssef Tahiri and the Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center come in.
Fill out our contact form and send images of your child’s symptoms. Dr. Tahiri will then evaluate the deformities to determine which condition your child has and recommend appropriate treatment options.
You can also schedule diagnosis and testing at our clinic, located at 9033 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, California 90211, by calling (310) 255-4476 or emailing team@tahiriplasticsurgery.com.
While we can and should empathize with children with hemifacial microsomia, we can’t honestly know what living with it is like. After all, every child’s experience is different—they face unique challenges.
However, children with HFM often require ongoing medical care, including reconstructive surgery, to address the physical effects of this congenital condition.
Although surgical intervention can significantly improve your baby’s quality of life, you must remember that dealing with HFM will require patience and resilience.
The good news is that as your child grows, the need for surgeries often decreases since the craniofacial abnormalities that come with this disorder do not get worse.
However, regular check-ups are essential. Some conditions, like hearing issues, may need ongoing management, such as hearing aid adjustments. Meanwhile, epibulbar dermoids (benign tumors) can return.
Beyond the physical challenges, it’s also critical to acknowledge the emotional impact of HFM. Your baby may experience feelings of self-consciousness or being different due to their appearance.
Here’s where providing a strong support system or seeking professional counseling can become valuable tools in helping your child develop coping strategies and build self-esteem.
It’s natural for a parent to think that it was something they did or didn’t do during the pregnancy that caused their baby to be born with congenital conditions like HFM.
But you shouldn’t blame yourself—hemifacial microsomia isn’t the result of your actions or lack thereof. So, you’re likely wondering, “Then, what caused this terrible thing to happen?”
Unfortunately, no one knows—at least, not with 100% certainty. Despite advancements in medical research, the root cause of hemifacial microsomia remains a mystery.
However, that doesn’t mean scientists don’t have theories. Some suggest that a disruption in your baby’s early-stage fetal development (first three months) can cause HFM.
Some believe that this disruption involves the neural crest cells, which help form your child’s facial structures. Substances like retinoic acid can cause problems with the movement and distribution of these cells.
Other theories point to interruptions in your baby’s blood supply, diabetes, or inherited gene mutations as the causes of the malformations in your child’s face.
However, we’re here to emphasize that these theories are educated assumptions. Since there’s no definitive answer, HFM is sometimes considered a “random” occurrence.
Do you want to recognize potential issues early and provide your child with the necessary support to lead a fulfilling life? Of course you do! Then, you must know your enemy.
While hemifacial microsomia affects each child differently, and the severity of the clinical presentations can vary significantly, understanding its signs and symptoms can be invaluable.
So, here’s how HFM typically manifests itself:
One of the most noticeable signs of HFM happens in your baby’s ears. You might notice abnormalities like a small or missing external ear (microtia) or skin tags (noncancerous growths).
Depending on your child’s unique case, hemifacial microsomia can also cause hearing loss due to an absent ear canal or damage to the middle ear, requiring the help of audiologists or the use of hearing aids.
If your child has HFM, you may notice a small, sometimes empty eye socket on your baby’s affected side. In some cases, noncancerous growths called epibulbar dermoids can also develop.
Due to these abnormalities, your child with hemifacial microsomia may have challenges closing one eye or seeing clearly.
Facial asymmetry is a hallmark of HFM. One side of your child’s face may appear smaller or underdeveloped compared to the other, or you may notice a flattened cheek or forehead.
However, hemifacial microsomia can lead to nerve damage or result in having small facial muscles in more severe cases. Hence, simple acts like smiling may be challenging for your baby.
Another area where HFM typically presents itself is your child’s mouth. Issues like a cleft palate or lip, difficulty speaking or feeding, or narrow jaws are often involved.
In some cases, children with hemifacial microsomia may also have a small mouth opening or tongue, a wide mouth, or missing jawbones or joints.
Many of the symptoms of hemifacial microsomia impact your baby’s appearance. However, not all of them are solely focused on the face. In severe cases, HFM can affect the respiratory system.
After all, facial and jaw underdevelopment and abnormalities, such as a narrow airway or limited mouth opening or closing, can cause breathing difficulties.
Dental problems are common in children with HFM. So, if your child has this congenital condition, expect to see misaligned teeth, overcrowded teeth, or delayed tooth development.
Involving an orthodontist, a dentist, or a children’s hospital specializing in orthodontics in your child’s care plan may be necessary to address these dental issues.
Your child will need a tailored treatment plan to address the manifestations of their congenital condition. That’s why it’s critical to get a proper diagnosis.
A healthcare provider can diagnose HFM by carefully and thoroughly examining your child’s face. They’ll look for characteristic features like facial asymmetry, ear anomalies, and jaw underdevelopment.
You can also receive a diagnosis from a geneticist. However, some experts don’t believe doing so is mandatory, especially considering that research has yet to find a concrete link between HFM and genetics.
Since hemifacial microsomia shares symptoms with other congenital disorders like Treacher Collins syndrome, a physical examination is often not enough to make an accurate diagnosis.
Here’s where imaging tests, such as the following, come in to give you a clearer picture:
Sometimes, your child may require further testing to evaluate other potential issues related to hemifacial microsomia. These tests may include:
Ensure your child receives a treatment plan tailored to their unique case. Schedule your child for diagnosis with Dr. Tahiri at the Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center.
We understand the importance of accurate and early diagnosis and want to support you and your child in your journey through our state-of-the-art facilities and compassionate care.
You can schedule a free consultation by calling (310) 255-4476, emailing team@tahiriplasticsurgery.com, or filling out our contact form. Let’s help your baby together!
If your child has been diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia, you’re likely worried that this condition will impact their odds of leading a long, happy, and satisfying life.
But don’t be. Yes, your baby will likely face many challenges, from eating and talking to dealing with psychological and emotional struggles that come with looking different.
However, you can rest assured knowing that children born with HFM often live as long as those without it. It all comes down to whether you take measures to help your baby overcome potential problems.
HFM is what you’d call “nonprogressive,” which means the affected OMENS (orbit, mandible, ear, nerve, and soft tissue) areas remain the same throughout growth and development.
Unlike hemifacial microsomia, however, many craniofacial disorders worsen with age, especially if left untreated. Take craniosynostosis, for instance. This craniofacial condition causes your baby’s skull bones to fuse early.
Over time, this condition can lead to your child’s head growing abnormally, resulting in pressure buildup on the brain and causing seizures and developmental delays.
Believe us. We want a universal cure for congenital disorders as much as you do. Unfortunately, a solution like that doesn’t exist. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options to help your child thrive.
After all, various treatments, including surgical and nonsurgical types, are available today that can allow your baby to overcome the various challenges of living with hemifacial microsomia.
Breakthroughs in medical technology and surgical techniques have undoubtedly and significantly improved the outcomes for children with hemifacial microsomia.
However, we don’t promise that HFM treatments are 100% safe and effective. All medical interventions carry risks, and some procedures require multiple sessions to yield results.
Plastic surgery, for instance, can lead to complications like infections, scarring, or nerve damage. That said, we’re not going to downplay our treatment options either.
Our mission is to provide patients with surgical innovations and top-notch personalized care. And you can see this commitment to high-quality healthcare in our center, which features:
So, who better to consult regarding HFM treatment options than Dr. Youssef Tahiri and the Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center?
Call (310) 255-4476 or email team@tahiriplasticsurgery.com to schedule a free Skype consultation. You can also visit our clinic at 9033 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, California 90211.
We can’t blame you for wanting to visit your nearest pediatric center for treatment recommendations. After all, we want the same thing as you—for your child to receive the best possible care.
But before you do so, it’s essential to understand what to expect before, during, and after treatment. This knowledge will help alleviate your anxieties and give you insight into your eventual expenses.
Finances are likely the last thing you think about when dealing with HFM. However, treating it will sometimes require a multidisciplinary approach involving various specialists, such as:
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Our staff is prepared to help you at all stages of your baby’s care, including the coordination of:
The best part? Dr. Youssef Tahiri is partnered with almost all insurance companies and plans, including Medical and Medicaid, to ensure your baby gets the best results without costing you an arm and a leg.
We don’t want to sound like a broken record, but every child’s HFM journey is unique. Therefore, your baby’s treatment plan must be tailored to their condition’s severity and specific needs.
That said, knowing the treatment solutions available to help your child overcome the difficulties of living with HFM can come in handy. So, here are avenues that you should consider:
If your child has facial palsy (facial nerve paralysis) due to hemifacial microsomia, they may face challenges with expressing emotions like smiling or, in severe cases, moving their face.
Fortunately, procedures like tissue and dynamic muscle transfer, which involve transferring soft tissue from one body part to the face, can help restore facial sensation, mobility, and form.
Facial asymmetry is one of the telltale signs of hemifacial microsomia. But don’t worry. With fat grafting, you can transfer fat from a part of your child’s body to the affected side to resolve this problem.
You can also achieve facial symmetry from other craniofacial surgical procedures, such as cheek augmentation, via implants and dermal fillers, and skull reshaping.
Jaw underdevelopment, often resulting in speaking and feeding difficulties, is a common feature of HFM. To help your baby beat these challenges, they may need to undergo procedures like:
In severe cases, children born with HFM have significantly underdeveloped jaws that may cause breathing problems. Simple adjustments to your baby’s position are often the solution.
However, if your child’s condition is severe, surgical intervention, such as tracheostomy, may be necessary. This procedure involves opening an airway in your child’s windpipe.
“Our son Owen was born via a scheduled repeat C-section on July 14th, 2014. While the nurses assessed Owen, they noticed he wasn’t breathing ideally, so he went to the NICU for some monitoring.
We soon learned that Owen had a cleft palate… My world shattered…
An [echocardiogram] of his heart showed some cardiac issues. At a week old, he had a sleep study to determine if we needed jaw surgery to improve his airway…
When you’re told your child is a medical mystery, sometimes hope seems lost.
[But] Dr. Tahiri, our plastic surgeon, stands out to us and will always have a place in my family’s heart. I truly believe he saved our son’s life twice. He truly cares about his job and the patients that he treats. He has made surprise visits to our room and called me after work hours and on weekends to give us test results that we were so desperately waiting for.”
Owen’s Parents
Due to issues like a small jaw or cleft lip and palate, children with hemifacial microsomia often struggle with eating and swallowing. Enter cleft lip and palate repair.
However, depending on your child’s unique case, the solution can be as conservative as giving you guidance on feeding techniques and as drastic as tube feeding or gastrostomy tube insertion.
In some cases, your child may have hearing loss, as HFM is known to cause abnormalities in the ear canal or middle ear. Consulting an otolaryngologist or an audiologist can help you determine the best solution.
These solutions often involve bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs), which use vibrations in the skull bones to transmit sounds to the inner ear.
Speech difficulties can occur in children with HFM due to clefts or issues with their facial muscles. Cleft lip and palate surgery and BAHAs can help further your child’s speech development.
However, you must also consult with a speech and language pathologist to ensure your baby develops clear communication skills in the future.
If your baby has hemifacial microsomia, they may be born without one eye, develop noncancerous growths called epibulbar dermoids, or have issues fully closing an eye.
Any of these clinical presentations can affect their vision. So, regular eye exams by an ophthalmologist are essential to monitor your child’s eyes and determine treatment options.
Although HFM primarily affects the face, you shouldn’t ignore your child’s overall health. After all, some children with this condition suffer from spinal deformities, particularly on the cervical spine.
Here’s an unfortunate fact: children with hemifacial microsomia have a slightly higher risk of developing kidney problems. While heart problems are rare in kids with HFM, it’s still critical to seek professional help.
A board-certified craniofacial expert like Dr. Tahiri and his Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center can help diagnose your child’s health accurately and identify potential problems.
If your child has ear abnormalities due to HFM, such as mispositioned ears or microtia, reconstructive surgery is an option you should consider.
Here’s where Dr. Youssef Tahiri’s groundbreaking microtia treatment can prove invaluable for improving your baby’s ear appearance and hearing abilities.
Why choose Dr. Tahiri’s exclusive procedure? Dr. Tahiri’s ear reconstruction procedure utilizes porous polyethylene (PPE) ear implants, reducing the number of needed surgical stages.
Dr. Tahiri is so adept at this procedure that Dr. John Reinisch, the architect of the PPE (MEDPOR™, OMNIPORE™, and SUPOR™) technique, tapped him to continue his work.
“Dr. Tahiri is an amazing surgeon. We’ve known him for over five years, and he has been supportive over the years…
He patiently walked us through the entire surgical process and always answered our questions. My son had ear reconstruction surgery two months ago and also had the Oticon Ponto abutment procedure. We are beyond thankful for Dr. Tahiri, [his team], and the K and B [Surgical] Center.
They all together took care of our son like their own. We would recommend Dr. Tahiri again and again to all prospective patients. We have met multiple surgeons, and we knew he was the one the moment we met all those years ago.”
Christine Bayan
In severe HFM cases, surgery is often crucial to managing hemifacial microsomia. For many others, however, nonsurgical options are enough to improve the child’s quality of life.
If your baby’s case is relatively moderate—an inconvenience more than anything—here are some nonsurgical treatment avenues you can pursue:
It’s natural to have questions about what to expect after your child undergoes treatment for hemifacial microsomia.
While the answers to your questions will depend on your baby’s procedures, there are some general things to keep in mind. The most critical is that your little one will still require ongoing evaluation.
Yes, HFM is a nonprogressive disorder, meaning your baby’s condition won’t get worse over time. Yes, some procedures, such as Dr. Tahiri’s PPE (MEDPOR™, OMNIPORE™, and SUPOR™) ear reconstruction technique, are effective after one operation.
However, picking your physician’s brain can help you get valuable tips and guidance on how to move forward and navigate the challenges of hemifacial microsomia.
Fortunately, our team is dedicated to providing ongoing support and follow-up care, ensuring you and your child feel confident and informed throughout the recovery process.
So, don’t hesitate to reach out! Call us at (310) 255-4476 or email team@tahiriplasticsurgery.com, and we’ll happily address any of your concerns.
Many children with HFM lead healthy and fulfilling lives. After all, most only suffer from facial anomalies, which can be fixed through plastic surgery, but don’t have other significant medical issues.
Unfortunately, some aren’t so lucky. In severe cases, children with HFM can have malformed vertebrae, heart defects, or misshapen kidneys. For this reason, early diagnosis is critical.
It’s hard not to blame yourself if your child has been diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia. You’re likely racking your brain, thinking of everything you could’ve done differently during the pregnancy.
But here’s the truth: studies have yet to determine how to prevent this condition. In other words, hemifacial microsomia wasn’t caused by anything you did or didn’t do.
While there are studies suggesting that a parent with HFM has a 3% chance of passing down the disorder to their child, there isn’t enough evidence to indicate that HFM is genetic.
So, instead of crying over spilled milk, focus on providing your child with love, support, and the best possible care.
Early intervention is critical to address severe symptoms of hemifacial microsomia, such as breathing and feeding difficulties. So, the best time to call your baby’s healthcare provider is as early as possible.
Note that while HFM is generally a nonprogressive congenital condition, complications can still happen. Therefore, you should contact your child’s pediatrician if you notice changes in your youngster’s health.
We understand that a hemifacial microsomia diagnosis can be overwhelming. You likely have countless questions and concerns about your baby’s well-being and possible treatment options.
But don’t worry. Everyone at the Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center strives to provide the best care to patients. We’re perfectionists—always aiming to give exceptional results.
So, you can be confident that we’ll do everything in our power to assist you in your journey and provide a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your precious little one’s needs.
“I have been communicating with Dr. Tahiri and [his] office staff since 2020. My daughter, who [has] bilateral microtia and atresia, finally just had her left ear reconstruction. This office worked tirelessly with [the] insurance [company] and with me, Mom. Always responding in a timely fashion and always kind. I cannot say enough about our experience.
The surgery center is immaculate, [and] the staff [is] very professional and nice. The doctor himself is AMAZING!!! We are so thrilled with her big ear and looking forward to [having] the other side [done]. The doctor has a gift. He is an artist and so great with kids. 5 stars all around.”
Kate Faroni
There are likely hundreds, if not thousands, of medical professionals near you who can help give your child with hemifacial microsomia the best chance of leading a fulfilling life.
However, there are several reasons why families worldwide choose Dr. Youssef Tahiri and the Los Angeles Ear and Craniofacial Center for their baby’s HFM treatment. These reasons include:
Dr. Tahiri is a board-certified craniofacial surgeon with extensive experience treating HFM. We also coordinate with other specialists, such as orthodontists and speech therapists, to ensure your child receives the most well-rounded care possible.
Dr. Tahiri is a leader in ear reconstruction, using the highly effective PPE (MEDPOR™, OMNIPORE™, and SUPOR™) technique. He is committed to staying at the forefront of craniofacial and microtia surgery, constantly seeking new ways to improve patient outcomes.
We understand that HFM can affect the entire family. That’s why we offer comprehensive support services to help you navigate the treatment process and address any emotional challenges you may face.
Dr. Tahiri is actively involved in research to improve the treatment of HFM. He’s so committed to research that he’s published peer-reviewed articles and presented his work at various scientific conferences.
What does this dedication to innovation mean for your child with hemifacial microsomia? Cutting-edge techniques and technology that improve patient safety and outcomes.
If you’d like to learn more about how Dr. Tahiri can help your child with HFM, call (310) 255-4476, email team@tahiriplasticsurgery.com, or visit our facility at 9033 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, California 90211.
We’re here to answer your questions and provide the necessary information to give your child the best odds of leading a happy, normal life.
