About Samuel H. Lance, MD

Samuel Lance, MD, is a plastic surgeon who specializes in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, with expertise in adult and pediatric craniofacial surgery. He is the director of adult craniomaxillofacial surgery (i.e. surgery related to the mouth, jaws, face, skull and associated structures). Dr. Lance provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures, including breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction, abdominoplasty, liposuction, rhinoplasty and facial procedures including facelift and nonoperative facial rejuvenation with Botox, facial fillers and laser treatments. As part of his craniofacial specialty, he also sees many patients for revision and complex rhinoplasty. Additionally, Dr. Lance performs post cancer breast reconstruction and post cancer head and neck reconstruction, including microsurgical tissue transfer. He often works with individuals who have facial trauma and is a member of the multidisciplinary burn center team at UC San Diego Health, focusing on burn scar reconstruction, including burn scar release, skin grafting and laser scar treatment. In treating children, Dr. Lance's expertise is in complex craniofacial disorders (acquired or congenital abnormalities of the skull, face, neck, jaws and head), including vascular legions, craniosynostosis (early fusion of cranial sutures), frontonasal dysplasia, facial cleft, vascular malformation, and cleft lip and palate. He also performs pediatric breast reconstruction for asymmetry or breast reduction for abnormally large adolescent breasts, and complex skin lesion management. Dr. Lance is an accomplished author and has contributed book chapters on topics such as Asian cosmetic facial skeletal surgery, oncoplastic approach to early breast cancer in women with macromastia, and unilateral and bilateral cleft lip repair. His research has been featured in peer-reviewed medical journals, including the Journal of Surgical Research, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, and Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. He also speaks at local, national and international conferences on topics including speech outcomes of single-stage vs. two-stage cleft palate repair, new approaches to resurfacing of total shoulder joint region, and surgical treatment of craniofacial clefts. Dr. Lance completed fellowship training in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and residency training in general surgery and plastic surgery at UC Davis School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He is a member of several professional medical organizations, including the American Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Association. Dr. Lance also participates in medical mission organizations that bring surgical education to areas of South and Central America via telemedicine conferences. He is member of the Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a program that provides craniofacial surgical care to children from across the globe through charity services provided by Rady Children's Hospital. Outside of work, Dr. Lance enjoys distance running, technical rock climbing and hiking. He has completed several half and full marathons as well as obstacle races. He is also a classical and blues guitar player. Dr. Lance speaks fluent Spanish.