Facial Trauma

A facial trauma can be a devastating injury. These injuries are not only painful, but can harm your confidence and sense-of-self. After facial trauma, consulting with an experienced and skilled physician like Dr. Rednam to reconstruct your injuries while maintaining your facial function and appearance is a vital step in the healing process.

Injuries to the face and head account for roughly 7% of all emergency room visits. The most common causes of soft tissue injuries to the face include:

• Falls
• Sports
• Normal daily activities
• Violence
• Car accidents
• Animal attacks

The damage caused by these injuries can range from the superficial tissues of the face to deeper structural damage that impacts facial function as well as appearance.¹

A highly-skilled facial plastic surgeon, Dr Rukmini Rednam employs her extensive technical expertise and artistry to perform soft tissue reconstruction after facial trauma. Dr. Rednam is uniquely qualified to address not only cosmetic issues resulting from facial trauma, but also underlying damage to soft tissues that may cause serious functional complications immediately after trauma and well into the future.

Medical technology such as CT scanning has allowed for dramatic improvements to the results possible through facial trauma reconstruction surgery. Thanks to advanced diagnostic tools, Dr. Rednam is able to carefully analyze the full extent of injuries before operating in order to ensure the most optimal outcome.

The goal of surgery after facial trauma is to reduce the impact to facial function caused by the trauma as well as to improve aesthetics. Facial trauma surgery is performed in stages, with the initial treatment performed as soon as possible after the injury in order to prevent abnormal healing. This is typically followed with a second surgery months or even years after the first, depending on how well age impacts the results of the primary surgery.

Recovery after soft tissue reconstruction for facial trauma is dependent on a number of factors:

• The extent of the trauma or soft tissue damage
• The patient’s general health
• The patient’s adherence to post-operative instructions

Many patients experience bruising, swelling, and discomfort after their facial trauma repair. Cuts and lacerations occurring as a result of the traumatic incident, which may not be addressed with the surgery, may also be a source of pain after surgery.

Due to the unique nature of soft tissue injuries after facial trauma and the natural aging and healing processes, patients may require surgical intervention years after the initial trauma to address additional cosmetic and functional concerns.

Facial trauma reconstruction requires not only advanced surgical skill, but also compassionate patient care. Dr. Rukmini (Vinaya) Rednam understands that the wounds suffered by individuals after a traumatic event are more than skin deep, and is dedicated to providing each patient with the support they need and deserve to heal at every level. If you would like to learn more about how Dr. Rednam and our team can support your recovery through facial trauma surgery at our center in the Woodlands, please contact us today for a private consultation.

References
¹ Braun TL, Maricevich RS. Soft Tissue Management in Facial Trauma. Semin Plast Surg. 2017;31(2):73‐79. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1601381. Accessed June 2, 2020.