Craniofacial Surgery
Craniofacial surgery is a type of plastic surgery performed to treat congenital (present at birth) or acquired conditions affecting soft tissue and bones of the head and face. In the case of congenital abnormalities, a surgical plan for craniofacial surgery may be devised when the child is eight or nine months old, or as soon as the abnormality is recognized.
This small area of a child’s body is complex and extremely important to development. Abnormalities can affect how the brain grows, and how the child hears, sees, breathes, chews, swallows, and interacts with others.
At UT Plastic Surgery in Memphis, we focus on practice on reconstructive and plastic surgery procedures, including craniofacial surgery. Our respected surgeons are leaders in their field who have earned a reputation for surgical excellence and high-quality patient care.
Conditions We Treat with Craniofacial Surgery
Our skilled reconstructive and plastic surgeons at UT Plastic Surgery perform craniofacial surgery in Memphis to repair acquired and congenital deformities of the skull and face, often in coordination with a neurosurgeon. Some of the conditions we treat with this type of surgery include:
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A newborn infant’s skull contains separate bones that are not yet fused together. As the brain grows quickly during the first two years of life, it is important that the bones of a baby’s skull remain open. Craniosynostosis, which involves the early fusion of two or more bones of the skull, can interfere with normal growth of the skull and brain.
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This condition affects the development of bones and tissues of the face. Signs and symptoms may include: a very small jaw and chin; underdeveloped cheek and facial bones; small, absent, or unusually formed ears; eyes that slant downward, sparse eyelashes, or a notch in the lower eyelids.
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This genetic disorder involves premature fusion of certain skull bones, preventing normal growth and affecting the shape of the face and head. Patients with Apert syndrome also have fused or webbed fingers and toes. Facial characteristics of this disorder include: wide-set, bulging eyes; shallow eye sockets; beaked nose; underdeveloped upper jaw; and sunken appearance of the midface.
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This condition is also a genetic disorder involving premature fusion of the bones of the skull. Symptoms are similar to those associated with Apert syndrome, except for the webbed fingers and toes. Crouzon syndrome can cause dental problems and hearing loss related to narrow ear canals.
What to Expect with Craniofacial Surgery
Craniofacial surgery may be performed to correct congenital defects in the skull or injuries to the soft tissue and bone of the head and neck. As this surgery is performed under general anesthesia, your child will be asleep during the entire procedure. For your child’s safety, important rules concerning eating and drinking must be followed in the hours prior to surgery.
Depending on the type and extent of reconstruction, craniofacial surgery can take approximately eight hours to perform. In most cases, the child will need to remain in the hospital for several days after surgery.
Surgery is performed through an incision in the child’s scalp, made in a zig-zag line to allow for hair growth to make the incision line less noticeable. When the procedure is complete, the incision will be closed with absorbable sutures.