Meet Dr. Payne

Phileemon Eric Payne, MD is a native Texan and grew up in the southwest. He finished medical school at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2004. While a student, he gained an appreciation for plastic and reconstructive surgery—specifically craniofacial surgery. His passion for helping people was instilled in him by his parents.

Following the completion of his medical degree, Dr. Payne began his general surgery training at Texas Tech University’s Health Science Center in El Paso, Texas. During this period, Dr. Payne frequently traveled to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to correct cleft lip and palate birth defects in children. These experiences further ignited his passion to help people through craniofacial surgery and plastic surgery.

After finishing his chief year of surgical training, Dr. Payne completed the remainder of his plastic surgery instruction at the University of Texas in Houston. It was during this time that he learned about the plethora of children in need of surgical care for craniofacial deformities in Houston, Texas. Dr. Payne spent an additional year completing training in the subspecialty of craniofacial plastic surgery at Medical City Hospital in Dallas, Texas. During this period, he continued to treat children who were born with cleft defects and craniofacial deformities during various humanitarian mission trips to India and Zimbabwe.

The Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Center of Houston was established to create a center of surgical excellence in the fourth largest city in the United States.

Medical Missions and Charitable Service

Dr. Payne is proud to contribute significant time, energy, and skill to several charitable organizations and programs, including LEAP Global Missions, Christus Foundation for Healthcare, the Shriners Hospital for Children-Houston, and Operation San Jose. LEAP Global Missions, a Christian medical outreach program, brings together specialists in various medical fields to provide advanced care to underserved populations in Zimbabwe, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Belize, India, and areas where disaster relief is needed. Through the Cronin-Brauer Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic, families in Mexico, Texas, and the surrounding states receive treatment for craniofacial deformities at the Shriners Hospital for Children. Dr. Payne performs life-changing surgeries for children who would otherwise have no access to the necessary care. Returning year-after-year, Dr. Payne and his medical team forge lasting relationships with patients and their families, delivering the compassionate, leading treatment that all people deserve to experience.

What Is a Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon?

A subspecialty of plastic surgery, craniofacial plastic surgery is focused on repairing and correcting malformations of the skull and face. Craniofacial plastic surgeons typically help newborns, young children, adolescents, and adults address congenital and acquired deformities of the head, face, skull, neck, and jaws, as well as the structures associated with each of these areas. In addition to reconstruction, cosmetic enhancements can also be performed, either to achieve a more typical appearance or to improve the aesthetics of the desired area.

Why Choose a Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon?

Craniofacial plastic surgeons like Dr. Payne are extensively trained in the latest restorative and cosmetic techniques and technology designed to improve the lives of patients with facial and skull deformities. These procedures are highly complex and often require additional training beyond plastic surgery to achieve the best possible outcome in the safest environment possible. Many of the conditions Dr. Payne treats occur very rarely, and craniofacial plastic surgeons are uniquely experienced in addressing the signs and symptoms that accompany these disorders. As a result, patients can receive more accurate treatment at the time when they need it most.

Selecting the Best Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon for You

To find a craniofacial plastic surgeon who can provide excellent care and compassionate treatment we recommend choosing someone with the appropriate background and credentials. During an initial consultation, talk to them about their experience and ask about how many cases they have worked with regarding your particular concern. This meeting should also give you an idea about the physician’s patient philosophy and demeanor. You should feel comfortable talking with the doctor, and they should make every effort to try and address your questions. If they have them, before-and-after photos can also be helpful in determining a surgeon’s skill level.

For more information about craniofacial plastic surgery and Dr. Payne, please reach out to us to schedule a consultation and to learn more.