Craniofacial Surgery

Corrects abnormalities of the skull and face — present from birth, or after trauma or tumor removal — restoring structure, function, and appearance together.

What is craniofacial surgery?

Craniofacial surgery treats conditions of the skull and face: craniosynostosis (skull bones fusing too early), cleft lip and palate, facial asymmetry, jaw deformities, and defects left by trauma or tumor removal. It is a team field, involving neurosurgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, ophthalmology, and speech and hearing specialists, and treatment is usually planned over years, especially for children, rather than as a single operation.

How is craniofacial surgery done?

The operation depends on the condition: skull reshaping for craniosynostosis, staged lip and palate repair for clefts, jaw repositioning for deformities, or reconstruction with bone grafts, implants, or flaps after trauma or tumor removal. Surgery is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia, often takes several hours, and is planned with imaging and, for jaw work, dental models and orthodontic preparation.

What are the options for craniofacial surgery?

Craniosynostosis surgery. Reshaping the skull to allow brain growth and normalize head shape, usually in infancy. Cleft surgery. Staged lip, palate, nose, and jaw procedures from infancy through adolescence. Orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Repositioning the upper or lower jaw for bite, breathing, and facial balance, usually after orthodontic preparation. Post-trauma and post-tumor reconstruction. Rebuilding bone and soft tissue with grafts, implants, or flaps.

What affects the cost of craniofacial surgery?

There is no single fixed charge for craniofacial surgery, and this guide does not publish prices: the written quote you receive at consultation is the binding figure.

Factors that commonly move the total include the surgeon's experience, the facility type (office procedure suite, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital), the type and length of anesthesia, the complexity of the surgical plan, whether other procedures are combined in the same operation, garments and follow-up visits, and the revision terms. Ask for an itemized written quote that states exactly what is included, and what would cost extra if a revision or an overnight stay became necessary.

What is recovery like after craniofacial surgery?

Recovery depends on the operation: hospital stays of days, swelling for weeks, and staged procedures spaced months or years apart. For children, recovery planning includes school time, feeding support where relevant, and the family's ability to attend follow-up. Orthodontic treatment before and after jaw surgery extends the timeline well beyond the operation itself, and families should plan for that full arc, not just the surgical week.

What are the risks of craniofacial surgery?

Risks include bleeding, infection, poor bone healing, nerve injury (including facial movement or feeling), asymmetry, and the need for further operations as a child grows or as healing reveals residual problems. Craniofacial surgery trades long timelines and multiple operations for structural and functional correction that no single small procedure can achieve, and the team's experience with the specific condition matters greatly.

What should I ask at a craniofacial surgery consultation?

• What is the full treatment timeline, including non-surgical stages?
• Which specialists will be on my team, and how is care coordinated?
• What further operations are likely as growth continues?
• What is the total quote, broken down, and what are the revision terms?
• Can you confirm your board certification? (Check the badge on each profile in this directory.)

Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons patient information and procedure guidance; U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance where applicable. General information only, not medical advice. Confirm details with a board-certified surgeon at consultation.