Traumatic facial injuries
You can damage your facial bones in a number of ways, including motor vehicle accidents, assaults, sports injuries, and falls
The facial bones can occasionally weaken due to disease or infection.
The face can be affected by overlooked fractures, which are best assessed and treated early after a trauma. The extent of your facial fracture, whether you are impacted physically, and whether vital structures are affected will determine whether surgery is needed.
In some cases, it is better to wait until an injury has healed naturally for more mild injuries.
In addition to providing advice, Dr. John Doe is able to repair facial trauma injuries, such as:
– Fractured cheekbone (zygoma)
– Fractured upper jaw (maxilla)
– Fractured lower jaw (mandible)
– Fractured nose
– Fractured frontal sinus
Performing the surgery
The doctor is an anesthetist who administers a general anesthetic to a patient under general anesthesia administered by a specialist. As well as providing pain relief after surgery, the anesthetist is in charge of that too.
In order to hold the bones together until they heal, Dr. John Doe will need to use screws and plates to rebuild the fractured area. It is generally not necessary to remove the screws and plates.
An inside-the-mouth incision or a cut performed within natural facial folds will minimize the appearance of scars.
Recovery from facial trauma surgery
Hospital stay: It’s most likely you will have to stay in the hospital between one and two days.
Management of pain: An anaesthetist will prescribe you intravenous analgesia, which can be self-administered with a button, to treat pain while you’re in hospital. After 48 hours you will be able to take painkillers such as Nurofen® or Panadeine Forte® without experiencing any discomfort.
School/Work: It will take you approximately a week to recover from your fracture, possibly less, depending on how severe it is.
Stitches: The majority of cases are treated with dissolving stitches. It takes 3 to 4 weeks for them to dissolve.
Diet: It will take you 4 to 6 weeks to get back to eating solid foods after having a jaw fracture.
Follow-up care: To monitor your healing, Dr. John Doe will need to see you periodically after the surgery.
An individual can heal completely after 4 to 6 months.
During your preoperative consultation, your doctor will provide of detailed postoperative instructions. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully for the best chance of a speedy recovery. A general explanation of post-op and patient care is available on the Post-operative and Post-Patient Care page.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon John Doe has extensive experience. It is very important that you ask him any questions you have regarding your facial trauma surgery. He will take the time to answer any concerns you may have, and are very good at listening.