reconstructive

Craniofacial is a medical term that relates to the bones of the skull and face. Craniofacial abnormalities are birth defects of the face or head. Some, like cleft lip and palate, are among the most common of all birth defects. Others are very rare. Most of them affect how a person's face or head looks. These conditions may also affect other parts of the body.

Treatment depends on the type of problem. Plastic and reconstructive surgery may help the person's appearance.

Surgeons can reshape the appearance of body parts through cosmetic surgery. Some of the most common body parts people want to improve through surgery include:

• Breasts: Increase or reduce the size of breasts or reshape sagging breasts
• Ears: Reduce the size of large ears or set protruding ears back closer to the head
• Eyes: Correct drooping upper eyelids or remove puffy bags below the eyes
• Face: Remove facial wrinkles, creases or acne scars
• Hair: Fill in balding areas with one's own hair
• Nose: Change the shape of the nose
• Tummy: Flatten the abdomen

Eyelid disorders include a variety of conditions that affect your eyelids. Your eyelids protect your eyes and help keep them healthy. When you blink, they spread tears across your eyes and help wash away dirt or dust. You also close your eyelids when something comes near your eyes to protect them from injury.

Like other parts of your body, your eyelids can get infected, become swollen, or develop growths or eye cancer.

The cause depends on the type of disorder. Some eyelid disorders may run in families, while others happen for unknown reasons.

There are many kinds of eyelid problems. They can cause swelling, infection, irritation, or change how your eyelids look or move. Some may cause lumps or growths on or around the eyelids.

Eyelid disorders that cause swelling, redness, or infection include:

• Stye (hordeolum). A small, red, painful bump caused by a bacterial infection in an oil gland. A chalazion is a painless lump that may form after a stye.
• Blepharitis. Makes your eyelids red, itchy, or burning and can cause crusty eyelashes. It's often linked to bacteria or skin conditions like rosacea.
• Periorbital cellulitis. A bacterial infection of the eyelid and nearby skin. If it spreads behind the eye (orbital cellulitis), it needs immediate medical care.

Eyelid disorders that affect eyelid position or movement include:

• Ectropion (eyelids turn out). The inner eyelid is exposed, which can cause irritation or tearing.
• Entropion (eyelids turn in). The eyelashes rub against the eye, causing discomfort or damage.
• Ptosis (drooping eyelid). Often caused by weak muscles, aging, or nerve damage.

Eyelid growths include:

• Xanthelasma. Yellowish patches of cholesterol near the inner corners of the eyelids.
• Papilloma. A benign (noncancerous), wart-like skin growth.
• Basal cell carcinoma. The most common eyelid cancer, often on the lower eyelid.
• Squamous cell carcinoma. A less common but faster-growing skin cancer.
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma. A rare but serious cancer of the eyelid's oil glands.

Eyelid disorders that affect blinking or eyelid movement include:

• Blepharospasm. Eyelid blinking or twitching you can't control.
• Myokymia. A minor, occasional eyelid twitch often caused by fatigue or stress.

Symptoms can vary depending on the condition but may include:

• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Burning or stinging
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Red, swollen eyelids
• Blurry vision

Your eye care specialist may diagnose eyelid disorders during an eye exam. They may also ask about your medical and family history to help find the cause.

Treatment depends on the cause of the disorder. Some eyelid conditions get better on their own or may be related to another health condition. Keeping your eyelids clean can help prevent irritation and infection.

If you need treatment, it may include:

• Warm compresses
• Medicines or ointments
• Eye drops
• Surgery (less common)
• Lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep or cutting back on caffeine

Face injuries and disorders can cause pain and affect how you look. In severe cases, they can affect sight, speech, breathing and your ability to swallow. Fractures (broken bones), especially in the bones of your nose, cheekbone and jaw, are common facial injuries.

Certain diseases also lead to facial disorders. For example, nerve diseases like trigeminal neuralgia or Bell's palsy sometimes cause facial pain, spasms and trouble with eye or facial movement. Birth defects can also affect the face. They can cause underdeveloped or unusually prominent facial features or a lack of facial expression. Cleft lip and palate are a common facial birth defect.

A scar is a permanent patch of skin that grows over a wound. It forms when your body heals itself after a cut, scrape, burn, or sore. You can also get scars from surgery that cuts through the skin, infections like chickenpox, or skin conditions like acne. Scars are often thicker, as well as pinker, redder, or shinier, than the rest of your skin.

How your scar looks depends on:

• How big and deep your wound is
• Where it is
• How long it takes to heal
• Your age
• Your inherited tendency to scar

Scars usually fade over time but never go away completely. If the way a scar looks bothers you, various treatments might minimize it. These include surgical revision, dermabrasion, laser treatments, injections, chemical peels, and creams.