Facial Reconstruction by Dr. Shahin Fazilat can repair deformities or trauma of the head and face (craniofacial), including the maxilla, the zygoma, the mandible, and the frontal bone of the cranium. Your specific type of surgery performed depends on the type and severity of your injury or deformity.
Dr. Fazilat has special training in microsurgery to offer his patients the best options for facial reconstruction. Typically, bone grafts may be taken from a patient’s pelvis, ribs, or skull to fill in the spaces where bones of the face and head have been moved. Small metal screws and plates may be used to hold the bones in place. The jaws may also be wired together to hold the new bone positions in place.
Our approach to facial reconstruction
During your consultation with Dr. Fazilat, he will discuss the options and alternatives in great detail, providing you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about facial reconstruction.
Facial reconstruction is most often a surgery option for patients who have suffered:
- Deformities caused by treatments of tumors
- Injuries, fractures, cuts or lacerations to the head, face, ears, eyelids, nose, or jaw (maxillofacial)
- Skin cancer
- Trauma
Prior to your surgery, Dr. Fazilat will discuss several important decisions to make when planning your facial reconstruction procedure. He will personally walk you through your options and share recommendations based on the latest research, advances in the field, and what’s best for your particular case.
Once your surgery is booked, you will be given instructions for your procedure as well as any other medical request forms for necessary blood work or related medical tests.
Typically, facial reconstruction surgery is performed in an out-patient setting under general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist and possibly a board-certified oral surgeon; surgical times can range from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the extent of the surgery.
Recovering from facial reconstruction at SF | Bay Area Plastic Surgery
After the surgery, it is typical for our patients to have temporary swelling of the face, mouth, and/or neck. There may also be a temporary blockage of your airway requiring a tracheotomy for the first 2 days after surgery and a possible stay in the Intensive Care Unit. You may be hospitalized for up to 7 days. Some facial reconstruction surgeries may require follow-up surgery.
Patients typically can return to work within 1 to 2 weeks, though strenuous activity should be avoided for up to 4 weeks. The patient should also have an adult stay with them for 24 hours following the surgery to monitor their recovery.
Stitches are removed a week to 10 days after facial reconstruction surgery with complete healing in 4 to 6 weeks. Any post-operative pain, swelling, and/or sensitivity will commonly diminish over the first few weeks. Finally, scars from facial reconstruction incisions begin to fade in a few months and continue to fade for months or years to come.
Dr. Fazilat will schedule a follow-up post-recovery office visit in Morgan Hill or Mountain View, California to discuss your progress.
Request your consultation
We invite you to schedule your cosmetic consultation with SF | Bay Area Plastic Surgery today; we’d love to be a part of your journey to a more youthful you. To learn more about facial reconstruction surgery, please call us today at 650.964.2200 or complete the form on our website to request a consultation in Mountain View or Morgan Hill.
