Maxillofacial “Hair” surgery

Inl. J. Oral Surg, 1985: 14: 275-277 (Key words: .,·urger)", orthognathic, psychology)

Maxillofacial "Hair" surgery D. B. TUINZING Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Teaching Hospital, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ABSTRACT - 2 case-reports illustrate the importance of the hairdresser in orthognathic surgery.

(Received/or publication 19 March, accepted I May 1984)

At conferences and clinical meetings, presentations concerning orthognathic surgery have the tendency to stress the favorable change in facial appearance. Although in many cases the surgeon does playa major part in achieving improvements in the facial profile, the orthodontist and in some cases the hairdresser should be given credit for the ultimate satisfying result. 2 case-reports will illustrate this role of the hairdresser.

Case reports Case I. A 31-year-old female student was operated on because of an open bite, Preoperatively, while talking, hardly any teeth were shown, which bothered the patient from an esthetic point of view. After orthodontic treatment, the open bite was corrected by distal impaction of the maxilla with a Le Fort 1 osteotomy. Although this operation did not change the face fundamentally, the patient did, which seems expressed in the hairstyle (Fig. I). Case 2. An 18-year-old female was treated because of a mild prognathic mandible. As a

member of a rather strict religious community, any consideration for correction because of esthetic reasons was denied. After correction by a vertical ramus osteotomy, the occlusion was excellent and although by surgery the change of profile was very little, the appearance changed very much, because of hairstyle (Fig, 2).

Discussion In the literature, many articles are concerned with the psychological aspects of patients after orthognathic surgery. OUELLETIE4 and HELDT et aI.1 consider the satisfaction of patients after surgery as being highly dependent on presurgical expectations. Good information is therefore mandatory. HILLERSTROM et al? report greater self-confidence, a happier feeling and a greater harmony in his group of patients. On the other hand, in the survey of OLSON & LASKlN 3 , the patients did not think that a major change in facial appearance had occurred through orthognathic surgery.

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TUINZING

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HAIRDRESSER AND SURGERY

Comparison of patient groups is difficult because some difference in expectation between a patient with severe mandibular prognathism and one with a mild deformity might be expected. In the cases presented, orthognathic surgery did not change the facial profile a lot, but postoperatively, the facial appearance, radiating the feeling of self-confidence and harmony, was mainly due to changed hairstyle.

2. HILLERSTROM, K., SORENSEN, S. & WICTORIN, L.: Biological and psychosocial factors in patients with malformation of the jaws, I year after surgery. Scand. J. Plast, Reconstr. Surg, 1971: 5: 3440. 3. OLSON, R. E. & LASKIN, D. M.: Expectations of patients from orthognathic surgery. J. Oral Surg, 1980: 38: 283-285. 4. OUELI.ETrE, P. L.: Psychological ramilications of facial change in relation to orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery. J. Oral Surg, 1978: 36: 787-790. Address:

References 1. HELDT, L., HAFFKE, E. A. & DAVIS, L. F.: The psychological and social aspects of orthognathic treatment. Am. J. Orthod. 1982: 82: 3[8-328.

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