Why plastic surgery for facial skeletal and soft tissue trauma?
Through their extensive training in facial anatomy and keenly developed tissue management principles, plastic surgeons are well equipped to handle all forms of facial fractures and soft tissue trauma, restoring proper symmetry and contours of the facial skeleton whilst delicately handling the skin, muscles, and other soft tissues to minimize or camouflage scarring.
Your plastic surgeon should conduct a thorough assessment of your facial injury, and may order further imaging such as fine-cut CT scans of the face to further delineate its extent, and to aid in planning of repair. They will then recommend the most appropriate route of repair, optimizing return of function and minimizing scars. Oftentimes, facial fractures can be repaired without any external scars via the transconjunctival (lower eyelid) or buccal sulcus (intra-oral) routes.
In complex facial injuries, plastic surgeons can coordinate management with other specialties such as neurosurgery, ENT surgery, ophthalmologists, as well as dental surgeons, to achieve the optimal return of form, function, and dental occlusion. In addition to this, our plastic surgeon is trained in computer-aided planning which may be required for precise restoration in a case of complex or multiple facial fractures.