Many people think that facial reconstruction surgery and cosmetic surgery of the face are the same. Patients claim that they need to have face reconstruction after injury during playing sports. Unfortunately, they are wrong. While facial cosmetic surgery improves and enhances normal structures of the face, facial reconstruction surgery reshapes its deformities brought about by genes, accident, or other medical conditions. Find out everything you need to know about what happens to facial reconstruction surgery before and after the procedure.
Facial reconstruction surgery
As mentioned earlier, facial reconstruction is needed to correct a deformity of the face, neck, and head, not necessarily to improve its appearance, but to improve its function which may affect a person’s quality of life. There are many kinds of reconstruction surgery, and they are based on the cause of the deformity, the location and affected part and the severity of the malformation. Here are some Facial reconstruction surgery before and after procedures.
Cancer reconstruction (Mohs surgery). Skin defects after an extensive cycle of Mohs surgery to remove cancer-stricken cells and tissues need to be addressed to help the patient cope with the condition and to feel normal again.
Cleft lip/palate repair. Reconstruction of these genetic facial defects should happen earlier on in life. A cleft lip can be corrected before the baby reaches 6 months old, and the cleft palate can follow suit after a few months.
Facial paralysis surgery. The goal of this surgery is to bring back facial animation or vibrancy of the patient so they can look the way they feel.
Facial trauma reconstruction (Soft tissue trauma). Trauma presented as a result of an accident can range from soft tissue only to fractures of the facial bones. As usual, the goal is to bring back the function of each affected body part, not necessarily improve its appearance and profile.
Microtia repair. This is a congenital birth defect of having a missing ear. Otolaryngologists perform several surgeries to create a structure that resembles the ear with the use of parts of the patient’s rib cage (cartilage)and skin.
Scar revision. This may look like an example of a cosmetic surgery procedure because the appearance of the face is what’s targeted by this procedure. But more than the appearance, the surgery aims to let the patient’s face be able to show different emotions without getting restricted by scars.
If you think you, a relative, or someone you know needs facial reconstruction surgery, do not hesitate to communicate with an otolaryngologist to find out what they can do to help you restore your normal facial function, and improve your outlook in life.
