Beyond Craniosynostosis, clefts and trauma, craniofacial surgery covers a range of conditions that affect the function and appearance of the face.
Facial Palsy
Facial Palsy is loss of function of the muscles of facial expression due to injury to or compression of the facial nerve.
It is best treated early — within one year — when nerve transfer procedures can be carried out using nerve grafts from the leg (sural nerve). If treatment is delayed by more than 1–2 years, a major procedure such as free functioning muscle transfer using thigh muscle (gracilis) is needed to reconstruct the smile, and gold weights are placed in the eyelid to help it close properly. Physiotherapy and Botox injections may be needed as supplementary treatment.
Parry-Romberg Disease
This condition causes contour deformities of the face: loss of volume under the skin produces depressions, and the skin itself may thin.
Fat Grafting is an excellent option. Fat is taken from the tummy or thighs and injected into the affected areas to restore a smooth surface — usually a day procedure.
Vascular Tumours and Malformations
Haemangioma, lymphangioma, arteriovenous malformations, venous malformations and capillary malformations are quite common in children. Some resolve on their own; some do not.
Depending on the exact diagnosis your child may need medication (such as propranolol), injection therapy with sclerosants (such as bleomycin), an interventional radiology procedure (such as coiling) or surgery (complete excision or debulking). Your plastic surgeon, in consultation with the interventional radiologist, will help you choose the right treatment.
Need More Information?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should Facial Palsy be treated?
Ideally within the first year, when nerve transfer using a sural nerve graft from the leg is possible. After 1–2 years, Smile Reconstruction needs free functioning gracilis muscle transfer, with eyelid gold weights to help eye closure.
What is the treatment for Parry-Romberg disease?
Fat Grafting — fat from the tummy or thighs is injected into the depressed areas of the face to restore a smooth contour. It is usually a day procedure.
Do haemangiomas in babies need surgery?
Not always. Some vascular tumours resolve on their own. Others are treated with medication (propranolol), sclerosant injections (bleomycin), interventional radiology or surgery, depending on the exact diagnosis.
This page is general information written by Dr Vybhav Deraje for patients and families. It does not replace an individual consultation; treatment plans depend on clinical assessment.