Why an oral surgeon does this work
On 6 December 2022 the Government of India and the Dental Council of India formally recognised facial aesthetic procedures within the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
The reasoning is simple. This specialty already operates on the nose, the cheekbones, the eye sockets and the jaw. It already reconstructs faces after accidents and cancer surgery. Aesthetic work uses the same anatomy, the same instruments and the same training, with a different goal.
An honest note before you read further. Not every face needs changing, and a good result comes from small, well judged changes rather than dramatic ones. If what you are asking for is unlikely to make you happier, we will tell you that at the consultation instead of taking the booking.
Structural changes
These change the shape itself, so results are long lasting. They involve real surgery, real recovery time, and a proper conversation beforehand.
Rhinoplasty
Eyelid surgery
Ear correction
Facial bone recontouring
Facelift
Hair transplant
Teeth are half the face
People rarely name the teeth when they say they dislike a photograph of themselves, but very often that is what they are reacting to.
Rhinoplasty
- Tooth coloured restorations and veneers
- Reshaping uneven edges
- Professional whitening
- Gum line correction for a gummy smile
Braces and aligners
- Fixed braces
- Clear aligners
- Adult orthodontics
- Combined with jaw surgery in severe cases
Replacing what is missing
- Single tooth implants
- Crowns and bridges
- Full mouth rehabilitation
Smaller changes, shorter recovery
Injectable and skin treatments do not change bone structure, so results are softer and temporary. For many people that is exactly the right amount of change.
Botox
Dermal fillers
Scar revision
Skin procedures
Fair questions to ask us
How do I know if I actually need surgery or just a smaller treatment?
You do not need to know. That is what the consultation is for. Dr Pathak will look at the structure of your face and explain which of your concerns come from bone, which come from soft tissue, and which come from the teeth. Very often the smaller, cheaper option is the right one.
How long is the recovery?
It varies a great deal. Fillers and Botox need almost no downtime. Eyelid surgery usually means a week of visible bruising. Rhinoplasty and facial bone work need two to three weeks before you would be comfortable at a social event, and several months before the final result settles.
You will be given a realistic timeline in writing, including the ugly middle stage, because that is the part people are not warned about often enough.
Will it look obvious?
Not if it is done well. The aim is that people notice you look well rather than notice you have had something done. This is why we tend to advise less than patients initially ask for, and why we will decline a request that would look wrong on your face.
Is there an age limit?
For most procedures, no. For anything involving facial bone in a young person, growth needs to be complete first, which is usually the late teens. Ear correction is the common exception and is often done in childhood.
Start with a conversation, not a procedure
Come in, say what bothers you when you look in the mirror, and get a straight assessment of what would and would not help.