Facial surgery at Leeds Hospital

What is facial surgery?

Facial surgery covers a range of procedures carried out on the face, either to change how it looks or to restore its structure and function. This includes cosmetic surgery, which changes your appearance by choice, and reconstructive surgery, which addresses damage or deformity caused by illness, injury or a condition you were born with.

What conditions does facial surgery treat?

Facial surgery can be used for:

• cancers affecting the skin, head or neck
• facial deformity affecting the nose, eyelids or ears
• facial palsy
• complex trauma affecting the face or skull
• acquired facial deformities, including those linked to vascular or lymphatic conditions, skeletal problems, or substance misuse
• visible signs of ageing, such as sagging skin and deep lines, or other features of the face you'd like to change

What are the benefits of facial surgery?

Reconstructive facial surgery can restore movement, appearance and function that's been affected by an illness, injury or condition, for example rebuilding bone and soft tissue after trauma, or restoring facial movement after facial palsy.

Cosmetic facial surgery can alter a feature you're unhappy with or help reduce visible signs of ageing such as sagging skin.

Are there different types of facial surgery?

Facial surgery covers a wide range of approaches, including:

• reconstructive techniques, such as moving tissue from elsewhere on the body, 3D-planned and 3D-printed implants, surgery to restore movement after facial palsy, and rebuilding bone and soft tissue after complex trauma
• cosmetic procedures affecting the nose (rhinoplasty), eyelids (blepharoplasty), ears (otoplasty, or ear pinning), brows (brow lift), cheeks (buccal fat removal or cheek implants), chin (chin implants), or the lower face and neck (facelift or neck lift)
• non-surgical options, such as dermal fillers, thread lifts, chemical peels, laser treatments or anti-wrinkle injections

What happens before facial surgery?

You'll usually have a consultation before any procedure, where your surgeon gets a clear sense of what you're hoping for, examines the relevant area of your face, and discusses what result is realistically possible for you.

For reconstructive surgery, planning can also involve a team of different specialists working together, rather than a single surgeon alone.

What happens during facial surgery?

What happens during facial surgery depends on which type of procedure you're having, since this covers everything from major reconstruction to smaller cosmetic changes. In general, procedures are carried out in an accredited facility, with an experienced team looking after you throughout.

What does recovery look like?

Aftercare is generally structured and closely monitored, with your surgeon staying involved as you heal. Exactly what recovery involves, and how long it takes, depends on the specific type of facial surgery you've had.