Craniofacial Surgery
Definition
Craniofacial surgery is a specialized surgical discipline that focuses on the correction and reconstruction of congenital and acquired deformities of the skull, face, and jaws. It involves a combination of plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, and neurosurgery techniques to address complex craniofacial disorders and improve the patient's appearance and function.
Related Specialists
Showing 3 of 20
Related Fact Sheets
Related News
Related Departments
Showing 3 of 8
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Our surgeons and clinical specialists are dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children affected by cancer treatments, congenital defects, degenerative diseases, and traumatic injuries. Providers offer patients the most effective, safest, and current surgical techniques, paired with individualized, compassionate care. In caring for our patients, we harness the latest in medical care and technologies, as well as the safest, most effective cosmetic surgical procedures. Our expertise ensures that, whenever possible, our patients experience shorter hospital stays and less postoperative discomfort. Our surgeons are also experts in enhancing the aesthetic balance of the face and contours of the body, creating a more youthful appearance and improving symmetry. Our team includes leading plastic surgeons, clinical specialists, and nurse practitioners who work together to address each patient’s needs in managing adult and pediatric conditions that require plastic and reconstructive surgery. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Airway and sleep disorders Breast reconstruction Cosmetic surgery Craniofacial conditions Hand and microsurgery Maxillofacial and orthognathic surgery Melanoma and skin cancer Developed procedures, such as the barrel stave osteotomy, for novel comprehensive skull care for children born with skull deformities Developed important data defining neuropsychological outcomes for children with such craniofacial disorders as craniofacial and plagiocephaly Active participants and leaders in such humanitarian care organizations as Operation Smile and Hand HelpCraniofacial Program
We provide coordinated management and comprehensive care for children with complex tumors, and congenital, traumatic, and vascular anomalies of the head and neck. We understand that living with a craniofacial defect can present children with challenges. We want to help each child meet and overcome those challenges by exploring what his or her condition means in day-to-day life. Our team includes plastic and reconstructive surgeons, pediatric craniofacial nurse practitioners, and care coordinators who work together to address each child’s needs in managing his or her craniofacial condition. We collaborate with primary care providers and a comprehensive range of multidisciplinary specialists to optimize the child’s health and provide parents with a comprehensive network for all of their child’s care.Maxillofacial & Orthognathic Surgery Program
We offer comprehensive state-of-the-art care for adults and children with disproportions of the upper and lower jaws and related facial structures. Yale has one of the most respected maxillofacial and orthognathic surgery programs in the nation. Our team helps patients maximize the ability to speak, eat, and chew; alleviate breathing problems; and minimize temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and the potential for sleep apnea. We also focus on improving facial symmetry by balancing jaw-to-face ratio. In caring for our patients, we harness the latest in medical care and technologies, as well as the most effective reconstructive surgical procedures. During the planning stage, we use the most sophisticated 3-D imaging tools available. With 3-D photo imaging, 3-D CT scan imaging and special software programs, we can simulate proposed outcomes so that patients can see the results before surgery. Our team includes leading surgeons, nurse practitioners, and care coordinators who work together to address our patients’ needs in managing disproportions of the upper and lower jaws.