Facial reconstruction is plastic surgery that restores the form and function of the face after injury, burns, tumour removal or birth differences. Dr. N. Jithendran in Bengaluru repairs the ears, eyelids, lips, cheeks, jaw, forehead and scalp using techniques ranging from simple repair and skin grafts to microvascular free tissue transfer.
- AnaesthesiaLocal or general, depending on the procedure
- Hospital stayDay care to several days, depending on complexity
About Facial Reconstruction
The face carries our identity and is essential for seeing, eating, speaking and expressing emotion. When it is affected by a road traffic accident, a bite, a burn, cancer surgery or a congenital condition, reconstructive surgery aims to restore protection of vital structures, function and a natural appearance.
Dr. N. Jithendran's facial case gallery includes facial fractures (blow-out fracture of the orbit, zygoma fracture, naso-ethmoidal complex fracture and pan-facial fractures), periorbital injuries, mid-facial degloving and penetrating injuries, dog bites to the eyelids, human-bite loss of the lower lip reconstructed with a Karapandzic flap, complete unilateral cleft lip with lip and anterior palate repair, bat ear correction, scalp avulsion, forehead skin loss including the eyebrow in a child, and electrical burns of the scalp treated with debridement and microvascular free tissue transfer.
Treatment is planned individually. Depending on the defect, it may include fixation of fractures (ORIF), local flaps, skin grafts, tissue expansion or free flaps transferred with microsurgery.
Procedures in facial features
Ear Reconstruction (Microtia and Ear Defects)
Ear reconstruction is plastic surgery that builds a natural-looking ear for people born with an underdeveloped ear (microtia) or who have lost part…
Read more →Eyelid Reconstruction
Eyelid reconstruction is surgery that repairs defects of the upper or lower eyelid after tumour removal, injury or bites. Its aims are to restore…
Read more →Lip and Cheek Reconstruction
Lip and cheek reconstruction is plastic surgery that repairs defects of the lips and cheeks caused by cancer, injury, bites, burns, Mohs surgery or…
Read more →Mandible (Lower Jaw) Reconstruction
Mandible reconstruction rebuilds the lower jaw after tumour removal, trauma, infection (osteomyelitis) or bone death from radiation or bisphosphonate…
Read more →Forehead and Scalp Reconstruction
Forehead and scalp reconstruction repairs skin, soft tissue and skull defects caused by injury, burns (including electrical burns), tumour removal,…
Read more →Who can benefit?
- People with facial injuries or fractures after road traffic accidents, falls or assaults
- Patients with dog or human bites to the eyelids, lips, nose or ears
- Children and adults with birth differences such as microtia, prominent ears or cleft lip
- Patients with defects after removal of skin cancers or other facial tumours
- People with facial or scalp burns, including electrical burns
How Dr. Jithendran approaches treatment
- Careful assessment of the injury or defect, often with X-rays or CT scans
- Cleaning and debridement of contaminated or non-viable tissue
- Fixation of facial bone fractures with plates and screws where needed
- Repair with direct closure, local flaps, skin grafts or tissue expansion
- Microvascular free tissue transfer for large or complex defects
What is recovery like?
- Swelling and bruising usually settle over 1 to 3 weeks
- Stitches on the face are typically removed within about 5 to 7 days
- Final scar maturation usually takes 6 to 12 months
- Some reconstructions are staged and need more than one operation
What are the risks?
- Infection, bleeding or haematoma
- Visible scarring or asymmetry
- Partial or complete loss of a flap or graft
- Altered sensation or nerve weakness
- Need for further revision surgery
Why choose Dr. Jithendran?
- Dual training in orthopaedics (MS) and plastic surgery (MCh, DNB), with hand and microsurgery experience from Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore
- Consults at five hospitals across Bengaluru, with 24×7 availability for emergencies
- Clear explanations in English, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu, and time to answer every question
- Strict sterilisation and patient-privacy standards
Frequently asked questions
What facial problems can a reconstructive plastic surgeon treat?
A reconstructive plastic surgeon treats facial fractures, cuts and bites, soft tissue loss, burns and their scars, defects after skin cancer removal, and birth differences such as microtia, prominent ears and cleft lip. Repairs involve the eyelids, lips, cheeks, ears, nose, jaw, forehead and scalp.
How soon should a facial injury be seen by a plastic surgeon?
Facial injuries are best assessed as early as possible, ideally within hours. Early cleaning and careful layered repair lower the risk of infection and usually give a better scar. Fractures are often fixed once swelling allows, but bites and deep wounds should be seen urgently.
Will there be a scar after facial reconstruction?
Any surgery that cuts the skin leaves a scar, but plastic surgeons place incisions along natural lines and creases and use fine stitches to make scars as inconspicuous as possible. Scars usually fade and soften over 6 to 12 months, and further treatment can improve them if needed.
What is a free flap in facial reconstruction?
A free flap is tissue such as skin, fat, muscle or bone moved from another part of the body, for example the thigh or leg, with its own blood vessels. These vessels are joined to vessels in the face under a microscope. Free flaps are used for large or complex defects.
Can children have facial reconstructive surgery?
Yes. Children commonly need repair of facial cuts, bites, burns and birth differences such as cleft lip, prominent ears and microtia. The timing of surgery is chosen around the child's growth, and some procedures, such as rib cartilage ear reconstruction, are deliberately planned for later childhood.
