Facial bone reconstruction is a procedure that aims to help those who have suffered facial injuries or have birth defects. Pieces of bone are transferred from the pelvis or skull and are used to replace missing or dislodged bones in the face.
What is it?
Facial bone reconstruction is a surgical procedure intended to fix facial deformities. This procedure uses bone from other areas of the skull or elsewhere in the body to replace the bones that are broken or missing in the face. This type of surgery is needed for those with birth deformities like cleft lip or palate, head, face, or jaw injuries, or tumors.
What should I do to prepare?
To prepare for a facial bone reconstruction surgery, patients must stop taking any medication that inhibits proper blood clotting, like Aleve, Excedrin, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin. Patients should also arrange transportation to and from the hospital, as they will not be fit to drive post-surgery.
What happens during the process?
Facial bone reconstruction surgery is done under general anesthesia and typically takes 4-12 hours. The exact process of the procedure is highly variable and depends on the location of treatment and severity of deformity or injury. However, during the surgery, some facial bones are cut and repositioned, while bone grafts from other areas of the body are also implemented. Sometimes, metal screws and plates are then used to hold the bones in place.
What are the risks and potential complications?
There are a number of possible risks and complications associated with Facial Bone Reconstruction Surgery. There are risks with anesthesia including problems breathing, reaction to medicine, bleeding, clotting, and infection. Other risks with this surgery include brain damage, loss of bone grafts, or scarring. The complications are more likely in those patients that smoke, have poor nutrition, have other medical conditions, have poor circulation, or previous nerve damage
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