Face Injuries

About Face Injuries

Facial injuries vary from simple skin lacerations to complex multi-bone fractures involving the eye sockets, nose, cheek bones, jaw and teeth. The face is unforgiving because every feature contributes to expression and identity. Initial care emphasises airway protection, control of bleeding, identification of associated head, neck and dental injuries, and rapid yet meticulous repair of soft tissues.

Assessment uses focused clinical examination, sometimes supplemented by dental review and imaging. CT scans are the workhorse for fractures, allowing three-dimensional planning before surgery. Eye involvement is checked with ophthalmology, while bite and tooth alignment are confirmed with dental colleagues. Each step is explained to the patient and family, since repair is often staged across days to weeks.

Soft tissue injuries are repaired with careful layered closure, attention to natural skin lines and meticulous handling of facial nerve branches and major ducts. Lip, eyelid and ear injuries follow specialised principles to preserve function and natural shape. Wound contamination is addressed with thorough cleaning, antibiotics and tetanus cover. Photographs document the injury and guide future scar revision.

Facial fractures may need internal fixation with titanium plates and screws. We use small, hidden incisions where possible. Orbital floor, zygoma, nasal, mandibular and complex panfacial fractures each follow specific surgical sequences to restore alignment, occlusion and projection. Endoscopic approaches and three-dimensional planning help reduce scarring and improve precision in selected cases.

Postoperative care includes pain control, antibiotics, soft diet and gradual return to normal activity. Hospital stays vary from same-day discharge to a week, depending on injury complexity. Splints, dental wires and protective dressings may be used. Follow-up is structured at one week, one month and longer intervals to monitor healing, occlusion and scar maturation as recovery progresses.

Late corrections address asymmetries, scars or persistent functional issues such as nasal blockage or jaw misalignment. These are usually planned once acute swelling has fully settled, often three to six months after the initial injury. Our team discusses options openly and provides written care plans, with structured reviews ensuring that each phase of face injuries treatment supports a comfortable, balanced outcome.

What to expect

• Focused assessment of soft tissue, bone and dental injuries
• CT imaging for fractures and three-dimensional planning
• Layered repair of lacerations following natural skin lines
• Internal fixation of fractures using titanium plates and screws
• Coordinated dental, ophthalmology and ENT reviews where needed
• Staged scar revision after acute swelling has settled

Recovery

• Hospital stay from day-case to one week, depending on injuries
• Soft diet and protected mouth opening after jaw surgery
• Wound dressings, splints and ice in the first week
• Avoidance of contact sports for several weeks after fixation
• Follow-ups at one week, one month and longer intervals