The Plastic Surgeons

This is the list of plastic surgeons who have done my reconstructive surgeries.

Dr. Frederick J. McCoy, M.D.

Dr. McCoy was my longtime plastic surgeon in Kansas City. He was my primary plastic surgeon from June 16, 1964, until June 30, 1993. Dr. McCoy retired before he could complete my reconstruction. He was the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons from 1977 to 1978.

He was more like a member of our family. He helped my parents with many things, including advocacy on school issues.

He passed away in September 2006.

Dr. Paul Tessier, M.D.

In 1977, Dr. McCoy convinced his longtime friend, Dr. Paul Tessier, to come to Kansas City for consultations. For those who don't know who Dr. Tessier is, he is the pioneer of modern-day craniofacial reconstrutive techniques. He began his work in the late 1950s after seeing a patient with severe craniofacial anomalies. He began practicing on human skulls. In the late 1960s, he did his first craniofacial reconstructive surgery.

I first met Dr. Tessier in Nov. 1977, when he came to Kansas City for consultation. In October 1978, I was the first person he ever operated on at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He performed his last surgery on me in 1989. In all, Dr. Tessier did eight of my reconstructive surgeries. My last meeting with Dr. Tessier was in April 1993.

He passed away in June 2008.

Dr. Jeffrey W. Colyer, M.D.

I've known Dr. Colyer since he was a resident. I met him in the winter of 1992. Dr. Colyer has been my plastic surgeon since October 1995. Before he retired, Dr. McCoy had referred me to him. Dr. Colyer went out of town to study at one of the international craniofacial clinics for about a year. He left his training early so he could assist the people of Rwanda. Dr. Colyer help set up a couple of clinics while he was there.

I was one of his first craniofacial patients. In Nov. 1997, Dr. Colyer took his oral plastic surgery boards. One of the eight cases the review committee chose to test him on was mine. He passed his boards and I am pleased to have played a role in his passing.

Dr. Colyer did four of my reconstructive surgeries.

I am very grateful for the plastic surgeons who did my reconstructive surgeries. All three were great to work with. I know I was a challenge to them. :-)