Facial Trauma

Facial trauma, or maxillofacial, occurs when a person experiences an episode of physical trauma to the face. This can result in a soft tissue injury, such as burning or scarring, as well as fracture to the skeletal structure. 

More generally, though, facial injuries are often highly sensitive, highly personal, and emotionally traumatic events that can affect both how you look and how you function. Recovery from an injury or accident that affects your face not only means getting back to looking and feeling like yourself but also being able to go through daily life with the same abilities to speak, breathe, see, and eat. 

At Gallatin Valley Surgical Arts, our doctors are some of the most experienced maxillofacial surgeons in the country. They will work with you to access your case and come up with an appropriate treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and places you firmly on the road to recovery.

What Is Facial Trauma? 

Your face has a complex bone and soft tissue structure that allows us to take in the world around us. Damage to this structure can result in both aesthetic issues and disability. Having an experienced, compassionate doctor help you heal from facial trauma is vital to your recovery. 

Facial trauma is any injury to the face that affects your facial bone structure or soft tissue. 

Facial trauma includes: 

• Soft tissue injury to the face, head, and neck such as lacerations, cuts, or punctures. 
• Broken facial bones, including the frontal bone (forehead), zygomas (cheekbones), Orbital bones (eye sockets), Nasal bones (nose), or maxillary/mandible bones ( jaw bones). 
• Jaw injuries and jaw dislocations. 
• Missing or broken tooth repair. 
• Scarring. 

You should seek professional medical treatment for facial trauma in order to prevent or minimize permanent scarring, deformity, or loss of function. 

How Does Facial Trauma Happen? 

Facial trauma has nothing to do with genetics or a way you were born—it is the result of an accident or incident. Common accidents that we see that may result in facial trauma include: 

• Motor vehicle accidents including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, four-wheeler accidents, and boat accidents. 
• Bicycle and cycling accidents. 
• Falls. 
• Blunt force accidents. 
• Sporting and recreation accidents.  
• Work-related injuries. 
• Assaults or fights.  
• Burns. 
• Gunshots, blasts, or explosions. 
• Dog bites or animal bites. 

If you experience any type of serious facial trauma, go directly to the emergency room or an emergency clinic for treatment. 

Is It Ever Too Late To Seek Treatment For Facial Trauma? 

No. While we strongly recommend for everyone to seek immediate help after an accident that involves any type of facial trauma, we often see patients who are seeking treatment for old injuries. For example, you may seek help for facial scarring following a soft tissue injury from years ago. Or you may seek help for jaw pain or misalignment after suffering a broken jaw years ago. Or you may seek help for a broken nose that never healed correctly. 

While we can’t help in all cases, we encourage you to schedule a consultation so that you can know, once and for all, what your treatment options are for your lingering facial trauma issues. 

Is Facial Trauma Treatment Covered By Health Insurance? 

All insurance plans are different, but we can help you determine if your facial trauma treatment at Gallatin Valley Surgical Arts is covered by your policy. 

Facial Trauma Treatment At Gallatin Valley Surgical Arts 

In most cases, patients will be referred to us after a visit to an ER or clinic following an accident or injury to the face. From there, we will evaluate the issue and create a treatment plan that fits the needs of the patient as well as the nature of the injury. We deeply understand the sensitive nature of facial injuries as well as everything that goes into treating and repairing these areas. 

To speak with one of our doctors, or to learn more, please contact us today.