CLINICAL AND AESTHETIC CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUALIZED SURGICAL PLANNING IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF POST-TRAUMATIC MAXILLOFACIAL SOFT TISSUE DEFECTS

Abstract

Post-traumatic soft tissue defects of the maxillofacial region represent one of the most challenging areas of reconstructive surgery. Because the face is composed of aesthetically critical anatomical units and plays a vital role in facial expression, eyelid function, oral competence, speech, and mastication, reconstruction cannot merely be limited to defect closure; it demands a comprehensive restoration of both form and function. In selecting a surgical approach, alongside the size and depth of the defect, it is essential to consider its anatomical location, relation to facial aesthetic units, skin color and texture, three-dimensional contour, local tissue mobility, functional deficits, and donor site availability.