A facial laceration is a tear or cut in the skin due to a serious fall, being struck by a sharp or blunt object, a physical fight, a car crash or a sporting event.

These lacerations to the face are significant as they may involve blood and nerve vessels which can adversely impact skin and soft tissue integrity.

Reliable surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides treatments for facial lacerations to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other towns and suburbs in this standout Cotton State.

 

What are Facial Lacerations?

Facial lacerations include small cuts to the skin only that are linear. Such cuts can be treated easily with steri-strips. These are tiny strips of cloth tape and string that close the wound for around four days after which they can be removed.

Facial lacerations can also be uneven and craggy. This may require complex cosmetic surgery for repair. An especially challenging laceration is the burst-type of laceration which occurs when a person is struck by a blunt or relatively sharp object. This lacerations projects in all directions from a focal point, and may be complicated to repair.  

In children, lacerations commonly occur in the forehead, chin, and lip. They typically take a few days to heal. Laceration in adults can occur in any area around and including the cheeks, eye, and chin.

Both adults and children can experience lacerations that involve only the skin or the deeper tendons, fatty tissues, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. In general, facial lacerations have a tendency to bleed more profusely than lacerations in other areas of the body.

Facial lacerations, in particular, require repair for the best possible results. This repair should be able to render any potentials scarring as inconspicuous as possible.

The patient should choose a skilled and experienced surgeon to repair facial lacerations to ensure that post-healing scarring is minimal. Sometimes the laceration repair may involve more than one restorative surgery.

 

Facial Lacerations Types

Facial lacerations can be simple or complex. Simple lacerations are typically linear and involve only the skin, and at times, small amounts of soft tissue.

Steri-strips or primary suturing can address these lacerations. There is usually no associated infection or the requirement for complicated repair as the facial blood supply is abundant enough to enable the wound to heal easily.

Conversely, complex lacerations also include tendon, ligaments, nerves, muscle, and blood vessels. The treatment involves thorough cleansing and repair using dissolvable and non-dissolvable sutures. The facial nerves require special attention during the restorative treatment.

The face contains many significant nerves which run superficially. These must be approximated allowing the nerve a chance to regenerate itself.

The possibility of contamination exists in all lacerations, and they should be appropriately cleaned with generous amounts of water and disinfectant soap to eliminate all apparent debris. After that, the wound can be repaired via routine suturing or cosmetic surgery.

Facial wounds such as those on the forehead are the most aesthetically apparent of all injuries. These require cautious assessment and diligent repair. While the emergency doctor can repair most types of facial lacerations, a consultation with a specialist is warranted when the technical facets of the closure are beyond the abilities of the physician.

Facial injuries involving tissue avulsion areas may be repaired most effectively in the operating room where flaps and grafts can be used. Prudent surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas in this area of the nation for facial laceration treatments.

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.