Maxillofacial reconstruction refers to surgery or surgeries that address any deformities on the face from below the eyes and downwards. These deformities can either be natural (the patient is born with it) or acquired (through injury or other trauma).
Maxillofacial reconstruction can address issues with the hard and soft palates (roof of the mouth), the predominant bones in the face (maxilla), the largest bone in the skull (mandible), as well as facial and dental implants.
Some of these deformities can actually affect speech as well as eating, in particularly chewing and swallowing. It is also meant to improve the aesthetics and appearance of one’s face, as well as its overall symmetry.
The goal of maxillofacial reconstruction is to correct facial defects or deformities, either natural or acquired, from below the eyes to the rest of the face downwards in order to improve the patient’s quality of life and aesthetics.
Average Cost
$5,900
Price Range
$4,400 to $7,400
The procedure will vary from patient to patient. This depends on the type of deformities present as well as their severity or complexity.
Maxillofacial reconstruction can mean different types of surgeries ranging from bone grafting to microvascular free flap surgery. Bone grafting is the process of using bone transplant in order to fix damaged bones, while microvascular free flap surgery is using soft tissues from another part of your body to reconstruct deformities.
Your surgeon will decide on the procedure and form of treatment that can best address your areas of interest.
Preparation for the surgery will depend on the type(s) of surgery that you’ll be undergoing. You’ll have a consultation with your surgeon before the procedure for oral and maxillofacial surgery, where you’ll get a rundown of what to do before and what will happen during the procedure.
Recovery times also depend on a multitude of factors, like the type of surgery you had. Typically, the recovery time for something like a wisdom tooth extraction is within a few days, while procedures like orthognathic surgery can require months of recovery time before being able to go back to your normal routine.
More factors for recovery and healing include your general health before surgery, how meticulous the after care is for the surgical wound (i.e. keeping the wound clean, untouched, and applying the medication as required), and if the patient is a smoker or not.
Proper nutrition and eating a well-balanced diet is also impactful in helping the body heal. Some procedures will require adhering to a special diet after in order to lessen the stress on the surgical site. Eating small meals frequently is also generally advised as opposed to heavy set meals for at least a week after the procedure in order to avoid irritating the wound. Those who need their jaws to be wired will need to follow a liquid diet.
In order not to have bacteria and plaque build up throughout, you will need to gargle with salt water and rinse your mouth thoroughly on top of regularly brushing your teeth. Dental hygiene will be extremely important to avoid any issues from arising.
Meanwhile, surgeries that involve the hard and soft palate, the jaw, and the tongue can all have effects on speech articulation. There can be changes in the way you talk after these kinds of surgeries. These changes can either be temporary or permanent and can require the help of a speech pathologist to address.
On the other hand, the trigeminal nerve is what sends sensory information from the face to the brain. Damage to its branches is common after maxillofacial surgery. Although, these damages tend to heal without much intervention over time.
Lastly, bear in mind that scarring can also occur. Thorough aftercare would be needed, as well as constant attention to reduce the appearance of scars and to prevent hypertrophic scarring.
We understand you may want to change your plans due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its health implications.
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It’s important to note that there are no completely risk-free surgeries. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you do your research and ask as many questions to your surgeon to understand the procedure you’re about to go through completely.
The following risks are disclosed to all patients to ensure full transparency, no matter how unlikely they are to occur:
Who are the best candidates for maxillofacial reconstruction?
The best candidates are people who have facial deformities or defects that they would like to correct—including but not limited to cleft palates, uneven jaws, facial injuries, and receding chins. This can also be a good option for patients with problematic temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which can cause constant discomfort or pain.