Reconstruction

Burns, cancer and diseases can affect the face both in appearance and with regard to its functionality. If the bones or soft tissues of the face are affected, the ability to smile, to open and close our eyes, to talk or even to eat may also be affected. Facial Reconstruction Plastic Surgeons can improve these functions and help a person feel more comfortable with their appearance as for instance through a microvascular free tissue transfer, or “free flap,” where the surgeon takes skin, bone or muscle from one part of the person’s body to reconstruct new facial features.

Types of facial reconstruction include:

• Restoration of the structures of the face, head and neck after surgery to treat cancer
• Restoration of the nose
• Restoration of cleft lip and palate
• Restoration of the ears
• Rehabilitation after facial injury
• Free flap transplantation with microsurgery
• Scars repair
• Skull base surgery

The procedure in short

Facial rehabilitation surgeries can be performed at a doctor’s office, in the outpatient department or in a hospital. Prior to surgery, a complete history is taken and the patient is thoroughly examined to evaluate their tissues, such as skin and cartilage, to repair a specific area or to consider the need for a patch or implant.

The surgical team will make sure that the patient is comfortable during the operation, choosing in consultation with the anesthesiologist the most appropriate type of anesthesia.

Recovery after facial reconstruction surgery

Recovery after such an operation varies. The duration of the healing process depends to a large extent on how much the facial tissues have been affected, the age, the general health of the patient and the techniques used by the surgeons.

Head and neck plastic surgeons always aim to minimize the appearance of scars and to hide incisions in natural grooves or wrinkles of the face, whenever possible.

Before the operation, it is important for the patient to discuss with the surgeon the estimated recovery process and various issues that may concern them such as bandages, drainage, postoperative treatment, sleep and postoperative activities.