Maxillofacial Surgery in India

Maxillofacial surgeries are a broad term to describe surgeries of the upper and lower jaws and associated facial structures. Maxillofacial surgeries offer patients a chance to enhance the looks for those who want to increase their aesthetic appeal. Also, patients who have suffered traumatic injuries to the face and bearing the brunt of disfigurement due to various causes are virtually gifted a new look by maxillofacial surgeons with their expertise in plastic surgery. 

Jaw surgery requires a minimum of 2-3 days of stay in the hospital provided there are no complications. Depending on the type of jaw surgery patient had, the amount of pain they are in and the presence/absence of complications, the length of the hospital stay will be determined.

Jaw surgery recovery may not be very painful, since during the initial days of recovery the nerves around the surgery site are still bruised and hence does not feel much. By the time they get back their sensation, the healing process is well underway. Patient will however feel some discomfort and some amount of pain.
Medications will be prescribed for the tenure of the recovery period which will help reduce the swelling and minimize the pain/discomfort.

Patients will have swelling around their jaw for at least two weeks – sometimes it can be for a longer duration. Overall it may take at least 3 months for the jaw to heal completely.

Dos and Don’ts:

     •       Strictly follow the instructions prescribed by the doctor regarding the diet to be followed

     •       Take the medicines prescribed with regularity

     •       Visit your doctor at once if you have discomforts other than the ones suggested by the doctor

     •       Don’t smoke or drink after surgery

     •       Don’t miss the appointments for removing the plates that are used during surgery

     •       Maintain good oral hygiene

     •       Go back to work only after 2-3 weeks

     •       Avoid strenuous activities

     •       Avoid chewing tobacco

Complications and Risks:

Jaw surgery is a relatively safe procedure; however, every medical surgery carries some amount of risk. The usual risks and complications associated with jaw surgery are:

     •       Infections

     •       Blood loss

     •       Blood clots

     •       Negative reaction to anaesthesia

     •       Nerve injury

     •       Jaw fracture

     •       Problems with fit of the jaw

     •       Numbness or tingling feeling

     •       Swelling

When to call a doctor:

Patients should call a doctor immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms:

     •       Nausea

     •       Vomiting

     •       Excessive swelling in the jaw

     •       Bleeding

     •       Extreme or increased pain

     •       Continuous fever

     •       Discharge from the incision area

Maxillofacial surgery cost will depend on the type of surgery being performed. Orthognathic surgery cost in India would be around 1500 to 2300 USD. Most of the other maxillofacial surgery costs would be around the same range. These prices are much lower than what it would cost in most parts of the world, especially in the USA and UK.

The factors which can influence this pricing are:

     ·       The duration of the stay in the hospital

     ·       The type of room selected – shared or private or deluxe

     ·       The hospital selected

     ·       The city where the surgery will take place

Apart from these patients will also need to factor in additional costs such as travel fare, hotel stay for their travelling partner, food and medications etc.