Craniofacial Reconstruction

Also called Facial Reconstruction or Orbital-Craniofacial Reconstruction

Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Rami K. Batniji, M.D., F.A.C.S. sees a wide array of patients whose facial features are presented to him in various conditions. Some patients may seek their first plastic surgery of the face, while others come to him requesting a secondary procedure from a previous cosmetic surgery that did not produce the desired results. Typically, an aesthetically pleasing outcome, and often more functional features such as the nose (septoplasty for a deviated septum) and eyes (blepharoplasty for hooded eyes that decrease vision), are requested. Other patients may seek a sense of normalcy due to a disfigurement. Congenital deformities, disease, and trauma may all contribute to abnormal structures of the face and head.

Some techniques that may be utilized to correct misshapen structures are bone, cartilage, and skin grafts. Typically, bone replacement is used to fix the underlying overall structure of the face, while cartilage may be used to correct areas of the nose and ears. Skin grafts are overlaid on newly enlarged areas, or those that lack the necessary tissue coverage.

Bone Grafting

Bone tissue can be borrowed from the patient’s own body. This ensures compatibility and a shorter healing period, with less chance of an infection. According to Medline Plus, an offshoot website of the U.S. Library of Medicine, the rebuilding process commonly occurs through bone from the skull, ribs, or pelvis and hips to correct deficient areas of the face and head. Screws hold the new bone in place to form a more naturally-shaped underlying structure.

Cartilage Grafting

Borrowed from the rib or extra nasal cartilage, cartilage grafts can be performed to recreate the structure of the nose and ears to form a unique and natural shape of the existing cartilage. If a person was injured or disease compromised the tissues, Dr. Batniji may request to see a photo of the patient’s face before the damage occurred. This serves as a blueprint to restore the structures back to their normal size and position, as much as is possible.

Skin Grafting

There are different ways skin grafting can be performed; tissues may be removed and transported to another area of the body or a tissue expander can be inserted under the skin near the area that requires covering. The method utilized by Dr. Batniji will be determined once you meet with him and his staff for a consultation. The best results occur when like skin is used to cover the area. Not all skin on the body is alike. For example, friction ridge skin of the hands and feet is not ideal to implant elsewhere on the body.

You can feel confident setting up an appointment with Dr. Batniji because he practices only facial plastic surgery. His training focused on this area of the body, and his daily experiences increase his expert knowledge of the head, face, and neck. Call the doctor today at his Newport Beach practice to learn how he can improve your life and your looks: 949-650-8882.