Facial Reconstruction - An Overview

Introduction:

The face can be affected in both look and function by burns, trauma, cancer surgery, and disease. The inability to blink, smile, speak, or eat might be impacted by damage to the face's soft tissues and bones. To enhance function and increase a person's self-confidence in their look, facial plastic surgeons can remodel facial tissues. Serious facial trauma can occur instantly from an automobile accident, violent abuse, or other potentially fatal situations. The majority of patients receive treatment for this trauma shortly after the incident, and the closest clinic can accommodate their care. But even with the greatest efforts of the trauma team, following surgery, patients can still have deformation of the face. Thankfully, further maintenance can enhance the appearance. Face might be able to return to normal with post-traumatic facial reconstruction.

Repairing facial bone fractures is another common aspect of significant facial injuries. The form and function of the face can be enhanced with facial fracture repair. Usually, plate-and-screw fixation tools are used to join the face bones to stabilize the facial structure in the intended shape. In many circumstances, post-traumatic surgery can improve or rectify asymmetry in the bones or an improper bite.

What Are the Types of Facial Reconstruction?

The following are techniques related to facial reconstruction:

• Reconstruction of the head, neck, and face structures following cancer surgery.

• Reconstruction of the nose.

• Correction of cleft lip and palate.

• Rebuilding of the ears.

• Treatment for facial trauma.

• Reanimation of the face.

• Transmission of free tissue via microvascular means.

• Reconstruction of the nose.

• Treatment for scars.

• Mohs surgery for skin cancer and post-operative repair.

• Surgery on the skull base.

What Is the Procedure for Facial Reconstructive Surgery?

• A hospital, an outpatient surgery center, or the surgeon's office can all be the setting for facial reconstruction surgeries.

• The surgeon will perform a complete history and examination before the procedure to determine whether a prosthetic or implant would be a more suitable option for reconstructing a specific location or if the patient's tissue, such as skin or cartilage, would be used.

• Using anesthesia, the surgical team will always take great care to ensure the patient's comfort during any facial reconstruction surgery. The team may suggest general anesthesia for more complex procedures, which puts the patient into a deep sleep while the surgery is being performed.

• When having minor surgery, patients may be given a mix of sedatives and local anesthetics to help them rest and go numb in the vicinity of the incision. Before the procedure, the surgeon will go over the best course of action with the patient.

What Are the Risks?

General anesthetic and surgical risks include:

• Breathing difficulties.

• Responses to medications.

• Blood clots, infection, and bleeding.

Surgical risks for the head and face include:

• Brain injury or nerve (cranial nerve dysfunction).

• Recurrent surgery is necessary, particularly in developing children.

• Reduction in size or absence of bone transplants.

• Long-term harm.

These issues are more prevalent in those who:

• Smoke.

• Having an inadequate diet.

• Possess additional health issues, including lupus.

• Possess inadequate blood flow.

• Possess prior nerve injury.

What Happens After the Surgery?

Following surgery, the patient can stay in the intensive care unit for the first two days. They will often be able to leave the hospital in one week if there are no complications. A shorter or no hospital stay may be necessary for more limited treatments. It could take up to six weeks for a full recovery. Over the next few months, the swelling will lessen.

How Does Recovery Take Place Post-Facial Reconstruction?

• After facial reconstruction surgery, recovery can take many different forms. The extent of the underlying facial injury, the patient's age and overall health, their attitude and pain threshold, and the surgeon's procedures all affect how long the healing process takes.

• When feasible, facial plastic surgeons try to conceal incisions within the body's natural creases to reduce the visibility of scars. The majority of noticeable scars will ultimately fade and become thin, sometimes darker or paler than the surrounding skin.

• The patient and the surgeon must discuss the anticipated course of recovery before surgery. The doctor may give the patient advice for bandages, drains, dressings, activities, bathing, swimming, diet, sleeping, and medications in addition to other matters.

• Following surgery, a much more typical appearance is anticipated. For a period of one to four years, some individuals require follow-up operations.

• It is crucial to avoid contact sports for two to six months following surgery.

• After suffering a major injury, people frequently have mental problems related to the stress and the physical alteration in their appearance. A major injury can cause anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in both adults and children. Joining a support group or speaking with a mental health professional can be beneficial.

• When their kid has facial malformations, parents may experience feelings of guilt or humiliation, particularly if the deformities are inherited. Children may experience emotional symptoms that worsen or emerge as they get older and start to notice how they look.

It is crucial that the patient carefully follow the postoperative recommendations provided by the surgeon, in particular:

• Avoid particular situations and activities.

• Notifying the surgical team right away of any issue or unexpected change, particularly if there is excruciating pain in the operative region.

• Maintaining reminder appointments.

Conclusion:

The kind and severity of the deformity, as well as the patient's condition, determine how craniofacial reconstructive surgery is performed for head and facial deformities. This procedure is known as craniofacial reconstruction in medicine. The skull (cranium), brain, nerves, eyes, and the bones and skin of the face are all repaired surgically. For this reason, a plastic surgeon (for the skin and face) and a neurosurgeon (for the brain and nerves) may collaborate on cases. Craniofacial reconstructive procedures are also carried out by head and neck surgeons.