Facial Trauma Surgery

Facial Trauma Surgery Canberra OMFC Deakin, Dr Ragu Krishnamoorthy

Facial trauma refers to injuries that can occur to the eyes, nose, mouth, jaws, forehead and cheek.

It can involve trauma to the following structures:

  • Frontal bone

  • Eye socket

  • Cheek bone

  • Maxilla (upper jaw)

  • Mandible (lower jaw)

  • Lacerations

  • Fractured teeth

What is facial trauma surgery?

Fixing your face to its correct position requires a high level of knowledge and experience.

Dr Ragu is a qualified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in, medicine, dentistry and surgery. He has trained in major facial trauma institutes all over Australia including the Royal Melbourne, Gold Coast University and Royal Perth Hospitals. He has been involved in repairing faces that have been broken from sporting injuries, assaults, gunshot wounds and major motor vehicle accidents. You will be in safe and experienced hands with Dr Ragu.

When is the treatment performed?

It is important you are assessed soon after the injury. Depending on the location of your injury and the degree of swelling, your face will be repaired as soon as possible. For any closed injury of the upper face, Dr Ragu will wait 1-2 weeks to allow for the swelling to settle, to ensure we get the best aesthetic and functional result.

How is the surgery performed?

The surgery will be performed under a general anaesthetic in a hospital. Incisions will be made in your mouth and also in skin creases to minimise or hide any potential scarring. Plates and screws are made from titanium and will be used to hold the bones together. The plates and screws stay forever and will not be visible or palpable, they also don’t set off any alarms in the airport.

How long is the recovery after surgery?

You will stay overnight in hospital and will need to have some x-rays after surgery. We generally recommend you take 1-2 weeks off from work to allow the swelling and pain to settle. It will take up to 6 weeks for the bones to unite and come to their original strength After you are discharged from hospital Dr Ragu will prescribe you adequate pain relief and will have regular reviews to ensure you are healing well.

Where will I have my surgery?

The surgery will be performed under general anaesthetic in a private hospital in Canberra.