Facial reconstruction with Dr. Henry Sandel
Facial Reconstruction
We understand how essential your face is to your identity. Facial reconstruction corrects deformities or disfigurement caused by birth defects, disease, or injury — addressing appearance and function alike.
At a glance
Surgeon
Dr. Henry Sandel
Board certified in
Facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology
Setting
West Annapolis Surgery Center
Anesthesia
General, or local with sedation
Planning
X-rays, photographs, imaging
Insurance
Out-of-network; may reimburse
Six kinds of reconstruction
A broad term for a range of procedures.
We use the most advanced techniques in reconstructive surgery, combining technical and medical skills with aesthetic expertise, and work closely with you to restore your facial appearance and function so you can feel like yourself again.
Dr. Sandel has dual board certification in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and in otolaryngology — critical for reconstruction involving the nose, mouth, throat, and upper airway.
After injury from a car crash, physical violence, or other trauma, this may involve realigning bone fragments, minimizing scar tissue, and restoring function to facial nerves, tear ducts, or salivary glands. It might require surgery to restore form and function to muscles, bones, skin, nerves, cartilage, and connective tissue across the face and neck. People disfigured in an accident often need reconstruction after initial life-saving measures.
Restores as much facial mobility as possible by correcting damage to nerves and muscles. It may also include facial plastic surgery to achieve symmetry in facial features.
Makes scar tissue less visible when wounds, burns, surgery, acne, or other causes leave the skin damaged.
Nose reshaping may be necessary when an injury or illness leaves the nose disfigured. Rhinoplasty can restore a symmetrical appearance to the nose and simultaneously address breathing problems.
Ear reconstruction surgery may be necessary when one or both ears are malformed from birth or become disfigured after an injury or illness.
May involve skin grafts, tissue rearrangement, or more complex transfer of skin, bone, or cartilage to restore normal facial appearance and function.
Disfigurement we treat
Traumatic injury, such as a car or motorcycle accident
Physical assault
Sports injury
Infection or disease, such as cancer
Facial paralysis
Functional impairments
Breathing problems from airway obstruction
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Double vision, difficulty blinking, tear duct impairment
Salivary gland impairment
Misaligned teeth
How it is performed
Customized to the injury and the patient.
Dr. Sandel performs a thorough analysis of your face using X-rays, photographs, or other imaging, then suggests a personalized treatment plan. In some cases a combination of procedures is necessary, staged across more than one surgery over time.
Post-traumatic reconstruction takes place in our West Annapolis Surgery Center under general anesthesia. To rebuild facial features we may take skin, bone, muscle, or other tissue from another part of your body and use it to reconstruct the damaged area — called microvascular free tissue transfer, or a free-flap procedure. Implants and stabilizing plates or screws may also be used.
Other types of reconstruction may only require local anesthesia and mild sedation. To make scars less visible or restore skin damaged by burns or the removal of cancer, options include steroid treatment, skin grafts, or Z-plasty surgery.
Recovery
Because the range of procedures is so broad, there is no single description of recovery. Simple treatments have faster recovery times, while more extensive reconstruction may require a lengthy recovery period. For most procedures you will need to wear a gauze bandage, and over-the-counter medication can manage discomfort.
Dr. Sandel provides detailed instructions for your care, including directions for preventing infection, a timeline for rest and recuperation, and a schedule of follow-up appointments.
Insurance
Insurance rarely covers elective plastic surgery performed merely to improve appearance, but typically does cover medically necessary treatment. Because facial reconstruction can correct functional problems and problems present at birth or resulting from illness or accident, your insurance may cover all or some of the cost. Dr. Sandel can advise you with more specifics at consultation. Dr. Sandel is an out-of-network provider. If your insurance company offers you out-of-network benefits, you could be reimbursed for the medically necessary portion of the procedure. We will give you the medical notes, procedure codes, and diagnostic codes to help with this process.
However minor or severe.
No matter the injury or disfigurement, facial reconstruction can help. Our priority is to provide sophisticated treatment in close consultation with our patients, with personal attention throughout the process.