About Travis T. Tollefson, MD

Travis T Tollefson MD, MPH, FACS, is the Director of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at UC Davis, where he and his team offer excellence in the full spectrum of pediatric and adult facial reconstruction and aesthetic surgery. As Co-director of the UC Davis Cleft and Craniofacial Program, he also provides surgical care for children and adults with cleft lip and palate, microtia, or head and neck vascular anomalies. Dr Tollefson enjoys the challenges of rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty, whether the patient is seeking improved nasal function, nasal appearance, or both. He recently co-chaired the clinical practice guidelines on rhinoplasty and is a strong patient advocate for his rhinoplasty patients. Dr. Tollefson is dedicated to providing the best possible educational experience so that each patient is fully involved in the decision-making process. Some patients take advantage of the clinic’s latest technologies during consultation, including 3D facial analysis using an automated stereophotogrammetry system, educational offerings on iPad’s in the clinic to inform patients about the patient’s problem, the potential treatment options, and the alternatives. Dr. Tollefson and his team also specialize in non-surgical techniques to help you look your best at any age. To meet the needs of some patients, a surgical procedure is not always necessary. Non-surgical options are available such as laser skin treatments, dermabrasion, facial fillers, and Botox injections. Whether you have always wanted to change the shape or function of your nose with a rhinoplasty, or have had a facial skin cancer removal (Mohs surgery) from your face, Dr. Tollefson emphasizes patient education and support for patients and their families for both surgical and non-surgical procedures. From the moment you step in to our clinic we hope you will ask questions and consider us partners in your care. Both Dr. Tollefson and his extraordinary nursing team to help guide you through your assessment, presurgical preparation, surgery and aftercare, or non-surgical procedure to achieve your best results. After graduating with honors from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Dr. Tollefson continued at KU for his residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery . He then completed further specialty training in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery with his fellowship at the nationally ranked UC Davis Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery department. ( U.S. News and World Report). Dr. Tollefson is a double-board certified surgeon by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , and a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. As Professor and Director of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at UC Davis, he shares responsibility for teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, guiding research teams, and leading faculty education programs. As Director of Mentorship, he uses educational and feedback principles that he acquired when he completed a Masters in Public Health at Harvard. He enjoys teaching and collaboration with other surgeons globally, with current projects in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, China, and Haiti and heads educational efforts for the craniomaxiliofacial (CMF) division of AO Alliance in resource-limited countries. Dr. Tollefson has published over 100 research papers and serves on the editorial board of the esteemed journal JAMA-Facial Plastic Surgery. His research interests focus on quality of life improvement for patients needing facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. As a Northern Californian, he recognized the need to reduce barriers to care for Spanish-speaking families. He led a team to validate a VELO-Spanish quality of life instrument for children with difficulties with speech after cleft palate surgery. Versions of this validated questionnaire are now being used in the US, Central and South America to better capture the effects of velopharyngeal dysfunction on children and their parents. Dr. Tollefson is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Education Board of AO North America, and has served in the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and Triological Society. For the last 15 years, Dr. Tollefson has actively volunteered to improve surgical access and safety in low and middle income countries for children and adults. This work in Global Surgery stretches outside the typical “mission” approach with the goal of contributing to lasting change in resource-limited environments.