Travis T. Tollefson, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Associate Professor
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery /  Cleft

UC Davis Health System
Department of Otolaryngology

2521 Stockton Blvd., Suite 7200
Sacramento, CA 95817

Clinical Focus

My clinical interests focus on rhinoplasty, facial aesthetic surgery (facelift, browlift, eyelid and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery), cleft lip and palate surgery, restoring facial deformities found at birth, after trauma, or after Moh’s skin cancer surgery, laser skin treatment, Botox™ and injectable fillers (e.g., Restylane) for treatment of wrinkles.

I am honored to participate as a surgeon with surgical mission teams travelling to Ecuador and China for Operation of Hope (formerly Operation Esperanza) and Smile China in providing care for children with facial deformities such as cleft lip and palate.

Research Focus

Dr. Tollefson has an interest in studying facial deformities found at birth, such as cleft lip and palate, microtia (absent ears), and craniosynostosis. He believes that translational research that links basic science discoveries to clinical use is very important. He has co-authored several articles and two textbook chapters on various topics in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery; including cleft lip and palate, nasal reconstruction, and facial implant materials. His current projects involve optimizing cleft lip and palate outcomes, improving classification of midfacial clefting, and using computer imaging software to study surgery on the chin. He is also involved in a clinical research project studying surgery for improving nasal breathing.

Departmental Duties

I have the pleasure as a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon to participate in the University of California, Davis Cleft Lip and Palate/Craniofacial Panel, and enjoy a clinical and surgical practice caring for patients of all ages with both reconstructive and aesthetic concerns.

Undergraduate Education

  • B.S. (Cum Laude), Biology, Baker University, Kansas, 1993
  • University of Kansas, Post Graduate: Neuroscience, 1994
  • MPH, Harvard School of Public Health, 2011

Medical Education

  • M.D. Univeristy of Kansas Medical School, 1998
  • University of Missouri, General Surgery Internship, 1999

Residency

  • General Surgery, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1999
  • Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas 2003

Fellowship

  • Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 2004

Board Certified

  • American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • American Board of Otolaryngology

Committees

  • American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Foundations Awards Committee

Professional Societies

  • American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association
  • American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
  • American Rhinologic Society
  • American College of Surgeons, Member in the Candidate Group
  • American Medical Association
  • Sacramento Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Tollefson TT,  Gere R. Presurgical Cleft Lip Management: Nasal Alveolar Molding. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. (Pending)

2007 -Pham AM, Tollefson TT. Correction of caudal septal deviation: use of caudal septal extension graft. Ear Nose Throat J. Mar;86(3):142, 144.

2007 -Tollefson TT, Sykes JM. Computer imaging software for profile photograph analysis. Arch Facial Plast Surg. Mar-Apr;9(2):113-9.

2007 -Doctor VS, Rafii A, Enepekides DJ, Tollefson TT. Intraoral transposition of traumatic parotid duct fistula. Arch Facial Plast Surg. Jan-Feb;9(1):44-7.

2006 -Tollefson TT. Advances in the treatment of microtia. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Dec;14(6):412-22

2006 -Tate JR, Kriet JD, Tollefson TT. Paralytic lagophthalmos: gold-weight implantation. Ear Nose Throat J. Sep;85(9):580-582.

2006 -Tollefson TT, Teran D.  Oswaldo Guayasamin’s madre y nino. Arch Facial Plastic Surg, July-Aug;8(4);288-9.

2006 -Tollefson TT, Wong J, Sykes JM, Larrabee WF. Cleft lip palate deformities in Western China: epidemiology, surgical reconstruction, and cost.  Arch Facial Plastic Surg. Jul-Aug:8(4); 234-9.

2006 -Tollefson TT, Tate JR.  Advances in facial reanimation.  Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Aug; 14(4):242-8.

2006 -Tollefson TT, Senders CM, Sykes JM, Byorth PJ.  Botulinum toxin to improve results in cleft lip repair. Arch Facial Plast Surg. May-Jun;8(3):221-2.

2005 -Namiq AL, Tollefson TT, Fan F. Cryptococcal parotitis presenting as a cystic parotid mass:  report of a case diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology.  Diagn Cytopathol. Jul;33(1):36-8.
2005 Tollefson TT, Kriet JD. Complex Nasal Defects – Structure and Internal Lining. Facial Plastic Clinic North Am, 2005. (pending publication)

2004 Sykes JM, Tollefson TT, Frodel J. Mentoplasty and Facial Implants. In Cummings CM: Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. 4th Edition, Philadelphia, Mosby, 2004.

2004 Sykes JM, Tollefson TT,. Management of the Cleft Lip Deformity. Facial Plastic Clinic North Am, 13(1): 157-67, 2004

2004 Tollefson TT, Wang T, Cook T, Kriet JD. Self-Induced Nasal Ulceration. Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. Vol. 6, May/June 2004, 6:162-166.

2001 Tollefson TT, Murakami CM, Kriet JD. Cheek Repair. Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. 2001; 34(3): 627-646.

1998 Tollefson TT, Wilkinson S, Overman J, Kieltyka J, Koller W, Troster A, Lyons K, Pahwa R, Batnitsky S, Wetzel L, Gordon M. Comparative Magnetic Resonance Image-Based Evaluation of Thalamotomy and Pallidotomy Lesion Volumes. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. 1998, 71(3): 131-144.

1997 Burns JM, Wilkinson S, Kieltyka J, Overman J, Lunsgaarde T, Tollefson TT, Koller WC, Pahwa R, Troster A, Lyons K, Batnizky, Wetzel L, Gordon MA. Analysis of Pallidotomy Lesion Positions Using Three-dimensional Reconstruction of Pallidal Lesions, the Basal Ganglia, and the Optic Tract. Neurosurgery. 1997, 41(6): 1303-1318.

1997 Burns JM, Wilkinson S, Overman J, Kieltyka J, Lunsgaarde T, Tollefson TT, Koller WC, Pahwa R, Troster AI, Lyons KE, Batnizky, Wetzel L, Gordon MA. Magnetic Resonance Image Evaluation of Pallidotomy Lesions: a Volumetric and Shape Analysis. Neurosurgical Focus. 1997, 2(3): 1-9.

1998 Tsao K, Wilkinson S, Overman J, Kieltyka J, Tollefson T, Koller WC, Pahwa R, Troster AI, Lyons KE, Batznitzky S, Wetzel L, Gordon MA. Comparison of actual pallidotomy lesion location with expected stereotactic location. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. 71(1): 1-19, 1998.

In Prep.

Tollefson TT, Tsue TT, Sanford TR, Hoover LA. Endoscopic Frontal Floor Drill-out: A Radical Approach to the Frontal Sinus, A 3-Year Experience. (In prep)Namiq A, Tollefson TT, Kriet JD, McGovern E. Cryptococcal Parotitis. Diagnostic Cytology (In preparation)

Pending

Sykes JM, Tollefson TT. Cleft Lip and Palate In Soft Tissue Reconstruction of the Oral Cavity. Terry Day, M.D. and Doug Girod, M.D., editors. Marcel Dekker, Inc. (Publication pending)