Dr. Jessyka Lighthall's research interests include clinical outcomes research in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Her specific interests include optimizing outcomes after rhinoplasty, pediatric and adult facial trauma, and procedures for facial paralysis. Additionally, she has a focus on combating the opioid epidemic and providing narcotic-sparing multimodal pain control after facial plastic surgery. She has clinical trials focused on utilizing new medications in the treatment of post-paralysis synkinesis (facial movement disorder) and in long-acting injectable anesthesia after rhinoplasty. Dr. Lighthall has experience in using multiple databases to provide population-based outcomes. Finally, Dr. Lighthall has an interest in innovation and simulation in surgical education of trainees.

Dr. Jessyka Lighthall is a regularly invited speaker to local, national and international otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, craniomaxillofacial trauma and rhinoplasty conferences.  She serves on several editorial boards, has been a guest editor and is a peer reviewer for multiple journals in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.  Additionally, she has been the recipient of multiple institutional research grants on a wide range of research topics.

Dr. Jessyka Lighthall practices the full spectrum of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. She is microvascular trained and does large-scale reconstructions of the head and neck after cancer surgery as well as microvascular reconstruction in patients with facial paralysis and trauma. She founded and directs the multidisciplinary facial nerve clinic, caring for patients at all stages of facial paralysis and facial movement disorders. She performs reconstructive surgery for pediatric and adults with facial trauma, deformities of the ear including microtia reconstruction, cleft lip and palate surgery, nasal reconstruction, cranial reconstruction, functional rhinoplasty, and skin cancer reconstruction. Additionally, Dr. Lighthall is the Medical Director of the Penn State cosmetic clinic and performs aesthetic surgery in the head and neck including brow lift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty, facial implants, liposuction, fat transfer, face/neck lift, otoplasty. She also performs minimally invasive procedures such as botox, fillers, and laser procedures. Dr. Lighthall has a passion for volunteerism and outreach and has completed numerous international surgical mission trips performing cleft lip and palate surgeries in underserved populations.

Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS), 2019

Fellow, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Board certification - Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 

Board certification - Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery - American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 

Founder/Director, Penn State Facial Nerve Clinic 

Medical Director, Esteem Penn State Health Cosmetic Associates 

Fellowship Director, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 

President, Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery