Maxillofacial Surgery in South Africa

This kind of surgery is performed by a maxillofacial surgeon. Such a surgeon is specialized in treating the entire craniomaxillofacial complex. This includes the anatomical area of the skull, face, mouth, and jaws as well as associated structures.

Depending on the location, maxillofacial surgeons may have training in general medicine, dentistry, and surgery. Training and qualification in medicine can be optionally undertaken. They may also undergo additional optional training for 1or 2 years in oral and maxillofacial surgery fellowship training. This fellowship can be in the following areas:

• Cosmetic facial surgery
• Head and neck cancer-microvascular reconstruction
• Cranio-maxillofacial trauma
• Craniofacial surgery
• Head and neck reconstruction
• Maxillofacial regeneration

• To have dental implants inserted to replace teeth.
• To have oral surgical procedures performed
• To have an oral, facial or jaw cyst or tumor diagnosed and treated.
• To have your jaw aligned
• To have your jaw joints repaired
• To have facial and jaw reconstruction after cancer surgery
• To have the facial bones realigned after facial trauma.
• To consult so as to determine whether to have aesthetic surgery
• To have a tooth extracted

Treatments may be performed on the craniomaxillofacial complex which includes the face, neck, mouth, jaws and include:

• Dentoalveolar surgery: This is surgery for difficult tooth extraction, to remove impacted teeth, extractions on medically compromised patients, bone grafting or pre-prosthetic surgery, dentures, or other dental prostheses.
• Surgery to insert bone fused maxillofacial implants and dental implants for attaching bone anchored hearing aids and craniofacial prostheses.
• Cosmetic surgery of the head and neck: This includes facelift, browlift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, septoplasty, cheek or chin augmentation, genioplasty, lip enhancement, oculoplastics, neck liposuction, injectable cosmetic treatments, chemical peel and botox
• Corrective jaw surgery and surgical treatment of sleep apnea

If opting for sedation or general anesthesia you should not drink or eat anything 6-8 hours prior to the surgery. Also, ensure to have someone to take you home after the procedure. Any prescribed medication should be taken with only a small sip of water.