Created in 1985, the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery of the Michigan State University Department of Surgery utilizes the most up-to-date techniques in the field of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
MSU Health Care Surgery provides patients peace of mind through our successful outcomes which are supported by our:
Meet the Surgeons
James HW Clarkson, MD, FRCSC, FRCS.plas, MSC
James HW Clarkson, MD, FRCSC, FRCS.plas, MSC, is a fellowship-trained, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, specializing in hand and micro-vascular surgery. He is an assistant professor and chief of hand management unit in the Department of Surgery at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine.
Dr. Clarkson received his medical degree in 1995 from the Royal London Hospital of England. He completed general & plastic surgery trainings in England and Scotland from 1995-2008. In 2008–2010, he perfected his training through a hand and micro-vascular surgery fellowship from Keinert Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a board-certified plastic & reconstructive surgeon from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
In 2010, Dr. Clarkson joined MSU where he has established the Department of Surgery Hand Management Unit providing specialized treatments of all hand and wrist conditions. His desire to provide exceptional patient care and total comfort has led to the expansion into wide awake surgery.
His desire to provide exceptional patient care with better access and greater safety has led to an increase in the range of surgeries that may be offered in the office, assisted where needed by Virtual Reality distraction. His research studies include Virtual Reality technologies for enhanced patient care and comfort. Other research includes the development with MSU Engineering of devices that help to standardize patient outcome assessment. At Sparrow Hospital, Dr. Clarkson provides hand and facial trauma care, hand and wrist surgery, and wound reconstructive services. He is the Medical Director of the Sparrow Wound Clinic.
Meet the Surgical Physicians Assistants
Our surgical physicians assistants provide surgical support services including:
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Miranda Cristales, PA-C Miranda Cristales, PA-C, is a certified surgical physicians assistant with a focus in plastic & reconstructive surgery. Miranda doubled majored in biology & spanish for her bachelors from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. She then earned a masters of physician assistant studies from Grand Valley State University. |
Ashley Day, PA-C Ashley Day, PA-C, is a certified surgical physicians assistant with a focus in plastic & reconstructive surgery. Ashely earned a bachelors of science in animal science from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. She then earned a masters of physician assistant studies from Grand Valley State University. |
Learn more about MSU Health Care's Craniofacial & Pediatric Plastic Surgery services.
Learn more about MSU Health Care's Hand Management Unit.
We work closely with our partners in the MSU Breast Center which was first opened in January of 1992 at MSU’s Clinical Center. Now located in the MSU Health Care Surgery clinic at the Eyde Building, the mission of the center is to provide comprehensive, specialized breast health care in a personalized, sensitive manner.
As board-certified plastic & reconstructive surgeons, we are proud to be a part of a team that provides a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of breast cancer including our board-certified
genetics nurse - Mary Smania, DNP, FNP-BC, AGNBC, and board-certified & fellowship trained
surgical oncologist - Harvey Bumpers, MD, FACS.
Surgery | Scar Care Instructions
UNDERSTANDING SCARS
Scars form whenever something “breaks” the skin for example:
Once the skin has broken, the body heals by laying down fibrous or connective tissue that causes a scar to form scars usually take 12 to 18 months to fully mature. During that time, they go through a remodeling process. Many scars that are under attractive in the first few months may greatly improve over the course of a year. In the first few months, they may be pink and raised (hypertrophic) then soften, flatten, and lighten over the remaining 9 - 10 months. Scar tissue is not as strong as normal skin, and therefore, depending on location, direction intention, and may widen overtime, no matter how carefully the wound was closed. Some scars may even remain permanently thick (hypertrophic) or form an excessive amount of scar tissue (keloid) despite best efforts to minimize scarring.
If the incision has been closed with absorbable sutures and Steri-Strips, scar treatment can begin about two weeks later after the Steri-Strips have been removed if the incision is completely healed. If permanent sutures were used and sutures removal is necessary, scar treatment can begin after suture removal according to the surgeon’s recommendation.
PHASES OF SCAR TREATMENT
Early Treatment |
Mid Treatment |
Late Treatment |
3 weeks – 1 year |
1 year – 3 years |
Scar Revision |
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR SCARS
There are many ways to treat a scar:
If you have further questions, please contact our office:
Stephanie Bray, MD, MS, FACS
James HW Clarkson, MD, FRCSC, FRCS.plast, MSC
Miranda Cristales, PA-C, MPAS
Ashley Day, PA-C, MPAS
Andrew Zwyghuizen, MD, ABPS
MSU Health Care Surgery
4660 S. Hagadorn Rd Suite 600
East Lansing, MI, 48823
517.267.2460
Monday | 8:00am-5:00pm |
Tuesday | 8:00am-5:00pm |
Wednesday | 8:00am-5:00pm |
Thursday | 8:00am-5:00pm |
Friday | 8:00am-5:00pm |
Saturday | Closed |
Sunday | Closed |