Facial Trauma/Scar Revision
Facial Trauma and Scar Revision
Facial injuries are most often caused by motor vehicle accidents and assaults. These injuries can result in facial bleeding, swelling, bruising, lacerations, cuts, burns, and deformities. Computed tomography (CT) is the primary imaging method used to assess facial trauma because it provides detailed images of both bone and soft tissue. Severe or complex injuries may require facial reconstruction surgery, especially in children, where the procedure must account for ongoing growth and development of facial features and the skull.
Plastic surgery encompasses a wide range of surgical procedures focused on restoring form, function, balance, and harmony to the body. When the body undergoes trauma, it’s important to restore some of that form and function. Common causes of trauma reconstruction include broken noses, amputations, work-related injuries, injuries to the face, head, and neck, extensive skin loss from infection or burns, and skin cancer removal. Some reconstructive surgical procedures require a combination of surgery, physical therapy, and emergency care. Recovery from burns, car accidents, amputations, and lacerations often occurs in stages. Once stable, patients undergo surgery and frequently follow up with physical or occupational therapy and trauma reconstruction.
What is Facial Trauma?
Facial trauma refers to damage to the bones or soft tissues of the face caused by incidents such as motor vehicle accidents, assaults (including gunshots), sports injuries, falls, chemical exposures, thermal burns, or animal bites. The face is a complex area with numerous bones, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and sensory organs. Untreated facial trauma can lead to permanent loss of functions like seeing, chewing, speaking, and swallowing, as well as disfigurement. Emergency doctors, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and other practitioners work together to reduce the risk of permanent complications.
Traumatic Injuries to the Face
Facial trauma can cause severe bleeding, swelling, bruising, and distorted appearance of facial features.
Facial Fractures
Facial fractures can affect any part of the face, impairing function or distorting appearance. Severe fractures can lead to cerebrospinal fluid leakage around the brain. A broken jaw can impact eating, chewing, speaking, and swallowing, while cracked or broken teeth may require dental restoration. Midface fractures, such as LeFort I, II, and III fractures, vary in severity and location, affecting areas from above the teeth to the upper jaw and eye sockets. Orbital fractures include orbital rim fractures and blowout fractures, which can lead to vision problems and pain.
Facial Soft Tissue Injuries
These injuries may include torn skin or scalp, cuts and scrapes, burns (thermal or chemical), eye injuries, nerve damage affecting facial movements and sensations.
Lacerations can be repaired in a plastic surgery method so that we minimize long term scar.
Emergency Treatment for Facial Injuries
Initial treatment for facial injuries from accidents, falls, burns, animal bites, or assaults occurs in the emergency department, where a full trauma evaluation is conducted. Medical staff work to control bleeding and swelling, and assess the impact on the airway, brain, and vision.
Diagnosing Facial Injuries
After a physical examination, CT scans are used to assess facial trauma, providing detailed images of bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons may order additional imaging for surgical planning.
Repairing Traumatic Facial Injuries
Patients with deep cuts, lacerations, or bone fractures are often referred to plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Effective communication between patients and surgeons is crucial for understanding surgical options, treatment plans, and expected outcomes.
Goals of Facial Trauma Treatment
The primary goals are to restore normal facial functions such as focusing, blinking, smiling, chewing, speaking, and swallowing, while also optimizing appearance. Surgical decisions consider both functional outcomes and aesthetic results, with techniques drawn from experience in other types of facial surgeries.
Repairing Soft Tissue Injuries to the Face
Treatment for soft tissue injuries may include microvascular reconstructive surgery to repair nerves and blood flow.
Addressing Facial Trauma Affecting the Eyes
Facial injuries can involve peripheral nerves affecting eye movement and sensation. Early documentation of neurological problems is essential to prevent complications like blindness.
Repair and Reconstruction of Facial Bones
Surgical treatments may include resetting bones manually, open reduction surgery, jaw wiring, bone or skin grafts, and repairing facial bones with titanium hardware.
Collaborating with Other Specialties
Plastic and reconstructive surgery teams often collaborate with ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, dental experts, speech pathologists, and mental health practitioners to ensure comprehensive care and recovery from facial trauma.
Pediatric Facial Trauma Patients
Facial trauma in children, though rare, requires careful and long-term monitoring to ensure proper growth and healing. Surgeons counsel patients and caregivers about the importance of follow-up to address any developmental impacts from the trauma.
Dr. Boonipat have extensive training in facial trauma and bony reconstruction.
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FAQ: Facial Trauma
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What is the difference between oral/maxillofacial surgeon and plastic surgeon?Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have a dental background. They went to dental school prior to obtaining their training in maxillofacial surgery. The training involved dental implants, third molar removal, facial fractures, orthognathic surgery, and in some programs free flaps reconstruction for the head and neck. Plastic Surgeons goes to medical school prior to residency. In plastic surgery residency, the training does not involve dental implants, or third molar removal. It does involve facial fractures, orthognathic surgery, free flap reconstruction in the head and neck and the rest of the body. Plastic surgeons also have extensive training in facial aesthetics. Dr. Boonipat further his plastic surgery training with a concentrated fellowship in aesthetic jaw surgery in Taiwan. He is well qualified to address both your functional concerns by working with your orthodontist (braces/teeth doctor), and your aesthetic concerns because of his plastic surgery and fellowship training. In many cases, jaw surgery can be performed with other aesthetic procedures to improve your aesthetic outcome, all under one anesthesia. (See page on combined jaw surgery with rhinoplasty or combined jaw surgery with other facial cosmetic procedures.