Dr. Christopher Derderian was initially drawn to plastic surgery by the variety of problems that plastic surgeons treat and the creativity and high aesthetic demands required to treat them effectively.
“My focus on craniofacial surgery came when I realized the lasting positive impact I could have on a child’s well-being,” he says. “I don’t think that anything can be more rewarding than helping to bring normalcy into the life of any child who has a disfigured appearance.”
My focus on craniofacial surgery came when I realized the lasting positive impact I could have on a child’s well-being.
He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at Boston University, where he completed a combined undergraduate and medical school curriculum. He also completed a combined residency in general surgery and plastic surgery at New York University Medical Center in 2010.
Dr. Derderian then continued his training with a fellowship in craniofacial surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania and received his board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 2012.
“When meeting patients and their families, my goal is to educate them about the condition that their child is facing and then present the treatment options so they can effectively choose the right approach for their child,” says Dr. Derderian. “My commitment to patient education is one of the reasons I have worked on many of the enhancements to our website. It is important to me that our patients and their families are able to find a reliable source of information to help them understand their diagnosis and prepare for treatment.”
Dr. Derderian considers himself a perfectionist, always striving to improve his approach to anything he does – especially in the operating room.
“My clinical research focuses on refining new techniques for treating craniosynostosis, including posterior vault distraction osteogenesis and minimally invasive techniques,” he says.
He says craniofacial surgery is heading toward less invasive procedures that can produce similar or better results than traditional techniques with a shorter recovery time.
He has traveled extensively to give presentations on his research in reconstructive surgery at medical conferences, both nationally and internationally, and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the Dallas County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association.
When he’s not at work, Dr. Derderian enjoys spending time with his wife, Courtney, an anesthesiologist, and their golden retriever, Brady, who they “spoil the heck out of.” He is an avid golfer and also enjoys CrossFit training and cycling.
