Craniofacial Surgery in Ahmedabad for Tumors and Reconstruction

Conditions Treated With Craniofacial Surgery

• Cancers of the upper jaw and hard palate (maxillary cancer) – see tongue and jaw cancer
• Cancers invading the lower jaw from the gums, floor of mouth or cheek – see oral cancer
• Sinus and nasal cancers extending to the skull base or eye socket – see skull base cancer
• Tumors of the eye socket (orbit) requiring removal together with the surrounding bone
• Benign but destructive jaw tumors such as ameloblastoma and large cysts
• Skin cancers of the face that have invaded bone or nerves
• Parotid cancers involving the facial nerve, needing nerve repair and facial reanimation – see salivary gland cancer
• Recurrent head and neck cancers after previous surgery or radiation

Types of Craniofacial Treatment in Ahmedabad

Tumor removal (resection)

• Maxillectomy – partial or total removal of the upper jaw
• Mandibulectomy – marginal or segmental removal of the lower jaw
• Orbital exenteration or orbital wall resection – when the tumor involves the eye socket
• Craniofacial resection – combined removal of tumors that cross from the sinuses into the skull base, performed with a neurosurgeon
• Temporal bone and lateral skull base resection – for cancers near the ear, with the appropriate specialists

Reconstruction

• Microvascular free flaps: tissue is transferred with its own artery and vein, which are reconnected under a microscope. Common choices include the fibula (bone for the jaw), the anterolateral thigh (soft tissue), the radial forearm (thin lining) and the scapula.
• Obturators and dental prostheses: to close palate openings and restore teeth.
• Dental implants: in selected patients, placed in reconstructed bone to restore chewing.
• Facial nerve grafting and reanimation: to restore eye closure and smile.
• Virtual surgical planning: CT-based planning and cutting guides can help reconstruct the jaw accurately.

Craniofacial Surgery Step by Step

1. Evaluation: examination, biopsy, CT and MRI, and dental assessment.
2. Tumor board: head and neck surgeon, neurosurgeon, reconstructive surgeon, radiation and medical oncologists agree on the plan.
3. Planning: the extent of resection and the reconstruction are planned together before surgery.
4. Surgery: tumor removal and reconstruction are usually performed in the same operation.
5. Recovery: intensive care monitoring of the flap, early speech and swallowing therapy, and nutrition support.
6. Additional treatment: radiation or chemotherapy when needed.
7. Rehabilitation: dental rehabilitation, prosthetics, physiotherapy and regular follow-up.

Choosing the Best Craniofacial Surgeon in Ahmedabad for Tumor Surgery

• Is the surgeon trained in head and neck oncology, so the tumor is removed with safe margins?
• Is microvascular free flap reconstruction available in the same operation?
• Does the team include neurosurgery, ophthalmology and prosthodontics when needed?
• Is the operation performed in a craniofacial-capable hospital with intensive care and radiation oncology?

Craniofacial Hospital in Ahmedabad

Major craniofacial operations are performed at Apollo Ahmedabad, which provides operating theatres for long complex surgery, intensive care, radiation oncology, medical oncology and rehabilitation. Consultations are available at Anahat Oncology near Parimal Cross Roads.

Why Choose Dr. Vishal Choksi as Your Craniofacial Specialist in Ahmedabad

• Clinical Fellow in the Head and Neck Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
• More than 20 years of experience in head and neck cancer surgery, including jaw and skull base resections
• Tumor removal and reconstruction planned as one operation
• Multidisciplinary care at Apollo Ahmedabad

Read about Dr. Vishal Choksi.

Risks and How They Are Reduced

Craniofacial tumor surgery is major surgery. The main risks, and how the team reduces them, are:

• Flap problems: a free flap depends on a small artery and vein; it is monitored closely in the first days, and a problem is corrected by returning to theatre promptly.
• Infection: antibiotics, careful wound care and good nutrition reduce the risk.
• Brain fluid leak (after skull base surgery): the skull base is repaired in layers; most leaks settle or are repaired.
• Changes to vision or eye position: planned for in advance when the eye socket is involved, with an ophthalmologist on the team.
• Changes in speech, chewing or swallowing: reduced by reconstruction and early therapy.
• Anaesthesia and general risks: assessed before surgery by the anaesthesia and medical team.

Dental and Prosthetic Rehabilitation

Restoring teeth and the palate is an important part of recovery after jaw surgery. A prosthodontist may make an obturator to close a gap in the palate, dentures shaped to the reconstructed jaw, or – in selected patients – crowns on dental implants placed in bone flaps. Planning this before surgery gives the best result.

Recovery After Craniofacial Surgery

Hospital stay is usually one to two weeks. Patients may have a temporary tracheostomy and feeding tube, which are removed as swelling settles. Most patients eat by mouth within a few weeks. The scar is placed in natural creases wherever possible. Full recovery takes two to three months, longer if radiation follows.

Frequently Asked Questions About Craniofacial Surgery

What is craniofacial surgery?

Surgery on the bones and soft tissues of the face and skull. In cancer care, it means removing tumors of the jaws, eye socket, sinuses or skull base and reconstructing the area.

Does Dr. Choksi perform cleft lip or cosmetic craniofacial surgery?

No. His craniofacial work focuses on tumors and reconstruction. For cleft and congenital conditions, a paediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon is the right specialist.

Which craniofacial doctor in Ahmedabad should I see for a jaw or facial tumor?

See a head and neck surgical oncologist who removes the tumor and plans reconstruction in the same operation, working in a hospital with neurosurgery, intensive care and radiation oncology. For children’s birth conditions, a paediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon is the right specialist.

Can my jaw be rebuilt after it is removed?

Yes. The lower jaw is most often rebuilt with a fibula free flap, and the upper jaw with a free flap or an obturator.

How long does craniofacial tumor surgery take?

Usually six to twelve hours when tumor removal and free flap reconstruction are done together.

Will my face look normal after surgery?

The aim is to restore appearance as closely as possible. Changes depend on how much tissue is removed, but modern reconstruction greatly reduces visible deformity.

Can I have dental implants after jaw reconstruction?

In selected patients, yes – implants can be placed in fibula bone, sometimes after radiation is completed.

Is craniofacial surgery safe?

It is major surgery with real risks, including flap failure, infection and bleeding. Performed by an experienced team in a well-equipped hospital, most patients recover well.

Which hospital in Ahmedabad performs craniofacial tumor surgery?

Dr. Choksi performs these operations at Apollo Ahmedabad, which has the intensive care and oncology services needed for complex surgery.

How do I book a consultation with a craniofacial surgeon in Ahmedabad?

Call +91 97277 03693 or +91 79 2646 8666 and bring your scans and biopsy reports.

Sources

• NCI – Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer Treatment (PDQ)
• American Head and Neck Society – patient education on reconstruction

Author & Medical Review

Dr. Vishal Choksi, MBBS, Diplomate American Board of Surgery, AHNS Fellow. Medically reviewed by Dr. Vishal Choksi.