What to expect during an oral maxillofacial surgery
Posted on 5/23/2022 by Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin |
 Before surgery is decided on, a patient needs to discuss and agree with the OMS surgeon and book a surgery appointment. On the day of surgery, a patient checks in, complete all necessary forms and satisfies other pre-operative requirements. These preparations are widely influenced by the anesthesia to be administered. Expectations, however, range on several factors, for example, the procedure required, inpatient or outpatient and anesthesia to be issued.
What happens during an OMS procedure
After the patient has been prepped for the surgery and sedated, the surgery begins in the operation room. It could be an open procedure that involves making a large incision, endoscopic or keyhole surgery or a minimally invasive procedure. The surgery may also be considered either reconstructive to repair and restore structural abnormalities or aesthetic for cosmetic needs. The surgeries could take time, depending on how invasive they are, with a minimum of 2 hours. After the surgery, splints, spacers, or other mouth appliances, for example, jaw wiring and headgear, may be used to clamp the bones into position. Hence, they heal better and are in the correct position.
The patient is taken to the recovery room, where they are monitored as the anesthesia wears off. This takes 10 to 15 minutes for local anesthesia and around 45 minutes for general anesthesia. After the sedation has worn off, the patient might experience bleeding, soreness, or no sensitivity. These subside as recovery progresses. Once the patient has regained stability, they are discharged from the hospital with post-operative home wound care instructions, oral antibiotics, and pain medications to ease the pain and reduce infection risk.
The patient must follow the instructions given to fasten recovery. Any complication experienced should be reported back to the surgeon for medical management. The patient needs to get adequate rest following an operation. Consult your healthcare practitioner frequently. Keep all your regular appointments and have rational expectations about how long it will take to get back on your feet. It's never a good idea to rush through this time.
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