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What is Children's Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida?
Children's Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida is a surgical practice led by Dr. Eric Stelnicki, MD, focused on plastic and reconstructive surgery for children and adults. Its stated areas of emphasis are pediatric plastic surgery, vascular malformations and hemangiomas, and cleft lip and palate, alongside cranio-maxillofacial reconstruction and some cosmetic procedures.
The practice presents itself as unusually research- and experience-heavy for a specialty surgical office: Dr. Stelnicki is described as having published 100 peer-reviewed articles and as being listed by Doximity among the top 5% of plastic surgeons cited in the medical literature. It also offers telemedicine visits, which matters most for families who need a second opinion or an initial consultation before traveling.
What it treats
| Area | What the site highlights |
|---|---|
| Pediatric plastic surgery | Repair, reconstruction and replacement of body areas affected by defects in form or function, from simple excisions of masses and lesions to complex cranio-maxillofacial surgery |
| Vascular and hemangiomas | Diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations and hemangiomas using laser therapy, medical therapy and surgical excision when appropriate |
| Cleft lip and palate | Cleft lip, nose and palate surgery, with fellowship training in pediatric craniofacial reconstruction and a stated history of thousands of procedures |
| Adults | Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, including a "mommy makeover" option |
Who it is for
The clearest fit is a parent or caregiver whose child has a craniofacial or vascular condition and who wants a surgeon with pediatric fellowship training and a high-volume cleft practice. A second audience is adults seeking reconstructive or cosmetic procedures from the same surgeon.
A practical next step
If you are considering the practice, start with the telemedicine option for a second opinion or to confirm whether your child's condition falls within its main areas. Before booking, ask three concrete questions: how many procedures of your child's specific type the surgeon performs each year, who handles anesthesia and postoperative care for infants and young children, and what the follow-up schedule looks like if you live far from the office. For cleft and craniofacial cases, it also helps to ask how the practice coordinates with speech, dental and orthodontic specialists, since that multidisciplinary follow-up often matters as much as the surgery itself.
For broader context on pediatric plastic surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Cleft Palate Foundation's site Cleft Palate Foundation offer condition and specialist-finding information.
How do I schedule a telemedicine appointment with Dr. Stelnicki?
The site provides a dedicated telemedicine path for Dr. Stelnicki's practice: look for the "Telemedicine" section and use its "Book a Telemedicine Appointment" link. That is the intended starting point for a virtual visit or second opinion.
H3 What to expect from that route
- It is framed around virtual doctor visits and second opinions, so it suits families seeking an initial review before traveling.
- The practice is presented as handling pediatric plastic, cranio-maxillofacial and reconstructive surgery, plus vascular anomalies, hemangiomas and cleft lip and palate.
- Because the same practice also lists adult cosmetic and reconstructive care, a telemedicine request should state the patient's age and the specific concern.
H3 Practical next step Open the telemedicine booking link, then have ready: the patient's age, diagnosis or referral, prior imaging or operative notes, and insurance details. If the booking form does not cover your case, call the office directly and ask whether the visit should be with Dr. Stelnicki or another surgeon in the group.
For a second opinion, a virtual visit is usually the lower-friction first step; an in-person examination becomes necessary when the surgeon needs to assess function, growth or surgical planning. The practice site is Children's Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida.
What pediatric plastic surgery procedures does Dr. Stelnicki perform?
Dr. Eric Stelnicki performs pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery for children, with a focus on correcting defects in form or function. According to the practice, this ranges from simple excisions of masses and lesions to complex cranio-maxillofacial surgery, and includes dedicated programs for vascular anomalies and cleft lip and palate.
Procedure areas listed by the practice
- Pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery — repairing, reconstructing, and replacing areas of the body affected by a defect in form or function; the practice notes this spans minor excisions of masses and lesions through complicated cranio-maxillofacial procedures.
- Vascular malformations and hemangiomas — diagnosis and treatment using laser therapies, medical therapies, and surgical excision when appropriate.
- Cleft lip, nose, and palate surgery — the practice describes nearly two decades of experience and thousands of procedures, with fellowship training in pediatric craniofacial reconstruction.
- Cranio-maxillofacial and craniofacial reconstruction — part of the stated scope, tied to the cleft and craniofacial work.
- Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for adults — the practice also treats adults, including body contouring procedures such as a "mommy makeover," which is separate from the pediatric scope.
How to judge fit
The listed categories tell you the areas the practice covers, not the full range of techniques or the age ranges for each. If your child's need is a specific diagnosis — a particular vascular anomaly, a revision cleft repair, or a craniofacial syndrome — ask directly whether that condition is managed in-house and which specialists are involved.
A useful next step: use the practice's telemedicine option for a second opinion before committing to travel or surgery. For a concrete scenario, a parent whose child has a facial hemangioma that has not responded to medication could request a telemedicine review of photos and records, then ask whether laser therapy, medical therapy, or excision is recommended and what the follow-up schedule looks like.
For broader context on what pediatric plastic surgery involves, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes patient-facing descriptions of craniofacial and pediatric procedures.
How are vascular malformations and hemangiomas treated at this institute?
Vascular malformations and hemangiomas are treated at Children's Plastic Surgery Institute of Florida with a spectrum of approaches rather than a single procedure. The practice states that it diagnoses and treats all different types of vascular malformations and hemangiomas, using laser therapies, medical therapies, and surgical excision when appropriate.
That three-part range matters because these conditions are not one disease. A superficial hemangioma, a deep infantile hemangioma, and a slow-flow venous malformation can look similar to a worried parent but behave very differently over months. Broadly:
- Medical therapy is generally used when a lesion is growing, threatens function (vision, breathing, feeding), or would leave a poor result if simply watched. In pediatric care this often means oral or topical beta-blocker treatment, which is standard first-line care for infantile hemangiomas.
- Laser therapy targets superficial color and texture, or specific vascular components, and is often staged over multiple sessions.
- Surgical excision is reserved for lesions that are well localized, that persist after other treatment, or that cause deformity, obstruction or bleeding.
The institute's page does not list which specific lasers, drugs or dosing protocols it uses, so treat those as questions for the consultation, not assumptions. The page does note that the surgeons are board certified and handle both pediatric and adult patients, and that the practice treats a wide range of defects in form or function — from simple excisions of masses and lesions to complex cranio-maxillofacial surgery.
A practical next step: if you are weighing a second opinion, the practice offers telemedicine visits, which the page frames as an easy way to get one. Before that appointment, gather photos of the lesion with dates, any imaging (ultrasound or MRI), and a note of how it has changed — growth rate is often the single most useful detail in choosing between watching, medicating, lasering or operating.
One trade-off worth naming: a practice with deep craniofacial and cleft expertise may be a strong fit for complex or syndromic vascular cases, but for a small, uncomplicated hemangioma, a closer pediatric dermatology or general pediatric surgery option may be more convenient. Ask directly at the consult which treatment they would recommend, why, and what happens if you choose to wait.
What is the process for cleft lip and palate surgery with Dr. Stelnicki?
The site does not publish a step-by-step cleft surgery protocol. What it does describe is the scope of the practice: Dr. Eric Stelnicki is fellowship-trained in pediatric craniofacial reconstruction, has nearly two decades of cleft lip, nose and palate experience, and founded the multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Center at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Cleft repair is also listed as a core service alongside vascular anomalies and general pediatric plastic surgery, with telemedicine offered for virtual visits and second opinions.
What a cleft care pathway typically involves
Cleft lip and palate repair is staged rather than a single operation, and the exact sequence depends on the child's anatomy, feeding and airway needs, and the team's judgment. A realistic outline:
- Newborn assessment — feeding support, airway check, and a first surgical plan; nasoalveolar molding or similar pre-surgical orthopedics may be recommended before lip repair.
- Lip repair — usually in the first few months of life.
- Palate repair — typically within the first year to 18 months, timed around speech and growth.
- Ongoing follow-up — speech therapy, dental and orthodontic work, ear/nose/throat monitoring, and possible revision surgery into the teen years.
How to get a concrete answer for your child
Because timing and staging are case-specific, the fastest route is a telemedicine consultation, which the practice advertises for second opinions, followed by an in-person evaluation. Before that call, gather the prenatal or postnatal diagnosis, any imaging, feeding history, and prior specialist notes, and ask directly:
- Which repairs does Dr. Stelnicki perform himself, and who covers speech, dental and audiology follow-up?
- How many cleft repairs does he do per year, and what are his revision and fistula rates?
- Is care coordinated through a single multidisciplinary clinic, or do you assemble the team yourself?
- What does the post-operative follow-up schedule look like, and how far will you need to travel each time?
For background on what accredited cleft teams provide, the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association at ACPA publishes team-care standards, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at ASPS explains surgeon certification — useful when comparing this practice with another center.
Does Dr. Stelnicki offer cosmetic procedures for adults?
Yes. The practice states that its surgeons perform both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for children and adults, and the site explicitly mentions a "Mommy Makeover" as an adult body-refresh option. So adults are not limited to reconstructive referrals; cosmetic procedures are part of the offering.
H3 What the page makes clear
- Board-certified surgeons work with both pediatric and adult populations.
- The scope runs from simple excisions of masses and lesions to complex cranio-maxillofacial reconstruction.
- Adult cosmetic surgery appears alongside pediatric care rather than being a separate service line.
- Telemedicine is available, which is useful for an initial adult cosmetic consultation or a second opinion.
H3 How an adult patient might use this A reader considering a cosmetic procedure could book a telemedicine appointment first to discuss goals and whether the practice is the right fit. If the concern is a vascular lesion, hemangioma, or a reconstructive issue, the same practice also treats those with laser, medical, and surgical options. That breadth matters if your situation sits between cosmetic and reconstructive care.
H3 Practical decision criteria
- If you want a surgeon whose main identity is pediatric craniofacial work but who also treats adults, this fits.
- If you want a high-volume adult aesthetic practice focused only on cosmetic cases, ask directly about that during the consult.
- For anything insurance-related, confirm whether the procedure would be classified as cosmetic or reconstructive, since that changes coverage.
For comparison while researching, you can look at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at American Society of Plastic Surgeons to check board certification and procedure information.
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