Nicholas Kalavrezos is the Senior Surgeon in the Head and Neck Centre at University Coll ege London Hospital, (UCLH)  He is also the Lead Head and Neck Sarcoma Surgeon for the London Sarcoma Service and a founding member of the Centre for Reconstructive Surgery at University College London where he also holds a Senior Lecturer post.

Surgical Expertise

• Head and neck cancer, oral cancer
• Microvascular reconstructive surgery
• Surgical treatment of advanced head and neck sarcomas
• Benign Diseases of the Head and Neck
• Reconstructive surgery for cranial and facial trauma
• Salivary gland tumours, neoplasms and thyroid disorders
• Early diagnosis of oral white and red lesions and patches

Focus areas in clinical practice

• The early diagnosis of suspicious head, neck and mouth lesions and the overall improvement of results through the best possible application of refined surgery.

• Early diagnosis of cancer with the use of modern aids such as new optical imaging systems. These improve the accuracy of diagnosis and therefore facilitate the appropriate management of potentially malignant mouth lesions with minimal side effects.

• The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the management of advanced head and neck cancer and functional and aesthetic rehabilitation through reconstructive surgery following cancer treatment.

Refined Surgery

Nicholas is interested in the refinement of facial reconstructive surgery and the integration of facial plastic techniques and microsurgery in the reconstructive surgery of the head and neck patient following treatment.

Refined surgery involves a 'scarless' approach to the management of head and neck lumps and bumps. Access to the face and neck should be limited to small incisions through facial creases with the use of a 'face lift' approach in almost all of salivary parotid gland surgery.

Refined surgery also means achieving better results by using secondary minor surgical procedures when appropriate. Typically these can include fat stem cell transfer and scar revision for patients undergoing surgery of the head and neck, whether for cancer treatment or other trauma.

Deployment of multidisciplinary teams (MDT) 

The approach described above requires a high level of specialisation in differing areas and the consequent requirement for the use of multidisciplinary teams to achieve the best possible outcome. A team-based approach means that the full range of specialist skills is available to implement each stage of an individual treatment plan. By ensuring that all necessary skills are available at the right time, the best possible outcome is achieved, whatever the level of complexity.

Research 

Mr Kalavrezos' research interests are in the development and application of tissue engineering in head and neck reconstruction, 3D bioprinting and nanotechnology as well as facial allotransplantation. (facial transplant).

He is a member of the Face Transplant Group based at the Royal Free Hospital, aiming to perform the first face transplant in the UK. He has joint research projects in the Nanotechnology Lab of UCL on tissue engineered bio-scaffolding, aiming to replace defects of the head and neck with tissue-engineered based micro-vascular flap reconstruction.

Mr Kalavrezos graduated from Zurich University Hospital, Switzerland, where he specialised in the management of craniofacial trauma. He was appointed Consultant Maxillofacial/Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgeon at UCLH in 2002 and later joined Mount Vernon, St Bart's and the Royal London, with the emphasis throughout on head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery.

As the Secretary General of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, he has set up links with various centres in Europe and organises international conferences on head and neck oncology and facial reconstruction.

He lectures regularly at national and international meetings and holds the position of Honarary Lecturer at University College London. 


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Mr Kalavrezos at University College London Hospital
Mr Kalavrezos at The Harley Street Clinic
Mr Kalavrezos at The Princess Grace Hospital
BUPA profile
NHS Base: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust