Maxillofacial & facial skeletal surgery
Complex Facial Reconstruction & Revision Surgery
Facial reconstruction and revision surgery restores form and function after injury, prior surgery, or a complex deformity. Dr. Husam Elias, former Section Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, brings reconstructive training to elective cases where the anatomy is anything but routine.
What Is Complex Facial Reconstruction?
Complex facial reconstruction is surgery that rebuilds the structure and appearance of the face when bone, cartilage, or soft tissue has been altered by injury, by previous operations, or by a deformity that is difficult to correct. It often means working through scar tissue, restoring support that was lost, and repositioning bone that healed in the wrong place, all while respecting the balance of the face as a whole.
At Cosmetic Doc, these cases are evaluated and treated by Dr. Husam Elias, MD, DMD, FACS. Before focusing on cosmetic surgery, he served as Section Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, where he was part of the team behind the first U.S. civilian face transplant. That reconstructive background means distorted landmarks, altered blood supply, and previously operated tissue are familiar challenges, and it shapes how he plans every secondary case.
Elective Correction, Not Emergency Care
This page describes planned, elective surgery to correct injuries that have already healed and results of prior surgery that you would like improved. We do not provide acute trauma or emergency care. If you have a new facial injury, a suspected fracture, difficulty breathing, changes in vision, or heavy bleeding, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Once an injury has healed and swelling has settled, typically several months later, we are glad to evaluate what remains and whether correction can improve how your face looks and functions.
What this page covers
Reconstruction & Revision Procedures
Every reconstructive or revision plan is individual. These are the areas we most often evaluate, with links to detailed guides where they exist.
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Complex Facial Reconstruction
Rebuilding facial structure that has been lost or distorted, using bone repositioning, grafts from your own tissue, implants, and soft-tissue techniques combined into a single, carefully staged plan.
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Revision Facial Surgery
Correction of facial cosmetic surgery that did not turn out as hoped, from overcorrected eyelids and visible scars to contour irregularities and asymmetry left after a previous operation.
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Trauma-Related Reconstruction
Elective correction of healed or malunited fractures of the nose, cheekbone, eye socket, or jaw that left the face flattened, uneven, or functioning differently than it did before the injury.
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Complex Facial Deformity
Deformities involving several areas of the face, or both bone and soft tissue, are assessed as a whole so the plan restores overall balance rather than treating each feature in isolation.
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Revision Rhinoplasty
When a previous nose surgery left breathing problems, collapse, or an unnatural shape, revision rhinoplasty rebuilds the nasal framework, often with cartilage grafts, to restore both function and appearance.
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Secondary Facelift
A repeat or revision facelift corrects a pulled or windswept look, a distorted earlobe, or visible scars, and restores deeper support to the face without adding excess tension to the skin.
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Correcting Healed Facial Injuries
Fractures that are not repaired, or that heal out of position, can leave lasting changes. A nose broken years ago may be crooked or obstruct breathing. A cheekbone fracture can leave the cheek flattened. An eye socket, or orbital, fracture can allow the eye to sit deeper than the other side or contribute to double vision, and a jaw that healed out of alignment can change how the teeth meet.
Correction may involve carefully re-cutting and repositioning the bone, supporting the area with grafts from your own tissue or implants, and refining the overlying soft tissue. Related concerns, such as a face that has become uneven, are also addressed through our facial asymmetry correction practice.
Planning Complex and Revision Cases
Reconstructive and revision surgery depends on knowing exactly what is beneath the surface. Evaluation typically includes a detailed examination, photographic analysis, a review of any operative reports and prior imaging you can bring, and 3D cone beam CT imaging when bone is involved. Digital planning can compare the affected side of the face with the unaffected side to guide symmetric repair. The same careful, layer-by-layer approach guides our revisional facial surgery practice.
Timing matters as much as technique. Tissue needs time to soften and settle after an injury or operation, often a year or longer, and sometimes the honest recommendation is to wait, to stage treatment, or not to operate at all. Surgery is performed in our AAAHC-accredited Pasadena surgery center, and recovery varies widely with the procedures involved, which Dr. Elias will outline for your specific plan.
Why Cosmetic Doc
Why Patients Trust Us With Complex Cases
Secondary and reconstructive surgery asks more of a surgeon than a first operation. Here is what our practice brings to it.
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Reconstructive Foundation
As former Section Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Elias built his career on the facial skeleton and complex reconstructive anatomy.
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Face Transplant Team
Dr. Elias was part of the Cleveland Clinic team behind the first U.S. civilian face transplant, an experience rooted in understanding every layer of the face.
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Bone and Soft Tissue
Board certified in cosmetic, facial cosmetic, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Elias can correct problems in the bone, the cartilage, or the soft tissue.
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Honest Timing Advice
You will hear plainly whether surgery should happen now, later, in stages, or not at all, rather than being encouraged toward an operation your tissues are not ready for.
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Detailed 3D Planning
Cone beam CT imaging and digital planning reveal how bone has healed and help guide repair toward symmetry with the unaffected side of your face.
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One Surgeon Throughout
You meet Dr. Elias at consultation, see him on surgery day, and follow up with him during recovery, which matters when a plan unfolds in stages.
Cost and Insurance for Reconstructive Surgery
Because reconstruction and revision cases vary so widely, your fee is determined after a thorough evaluation. Your personalized, written quote reflects:
- Complexity and technique: Bone repositioning, grafting, and revision of previously operated tissue each affect operating time.
- Anesthesia: Most complex cases require general anesthesia, and the length of surgery influences the overall investment.
- Facility: Surgery in our accredited on-site surgery center is often more cost-effective than a hospital setting.
- Staging and combined procedures: Some plans are completed in one operation, others in planned stages.
Cosmetic revisions are generally elective and not covered by insurance. Correction of a healed injury that causes a documented functional problem, such as blocked nasal breathing, double vision, or a bite that no longer meets, may qualify for medical insurance, and our team can help verify your benefits. We accept cash, checks, major credit and debit cards, and financing plans.
Schedule Your Reconstruction or Revision Consultation
Bring your operative reports, prior imaging, and any photographs from before your injury or surgery. Patients travel to Cosmetic Doc from across Los Angeles for complex facial care. Schedule your consultation at our Pasadena office, home to our accredited surgery center, or our Sherman Oaks office.
Questions patients ask
Facial Reconstruction & Revision FAQs
Do you treat new facial injuries or emergencies?
No. Our practice focuses on elective correction of injuries that have already healed and of results from previous surgery. If you have a new facial injury, suspected fracture, vision changes, breathing difficulty, or heavy bleeding, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. We are happy to evaluate you once you have healed.
Can an old facial fracture be corrected years later?
Often, yes. Fractures of the nose, cheekbone, eye socket, or jaw that healed out of position can frequently be improved by repositioning the bone, adding grafts or implants, and refining soft tissue. How much improvement is possible depends on the injury and prior treatment, which Dr. Elias will assess with 3D imaging.
How long should I wait before revision surgery?
For most revisions, waiting at least a year after the previous operation allows swelling to resolve and scar tissue to soften, so the true result is clear. Problems that will not improve with time, such as a displaced earlobe or a clear structural issue, can sometimes be addressed sooner. Your consultation will clarify the right timing.
What was Dr. Elias's role in the face transplant?
While at the Cleveland Clinic, where he served as Section Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Elias was part of the team behind the first U.S. civilian face transplant. That experience reflects his deep familiarity with complex facial anatomy, which informs how he approaches reconstructive and revision cases today.
Will insurance cover facial reconstruction after an injury?
It may. Correction of a healed injury that causes a documented functional problem, such as nasal obstruction, double vision, or a bite that no longer meets properly, may qualify for medical insurance. Purely cosmetic revisions generally do not. Our team can help verify your benefits and explain which parts of your plan may be covered.
What should I bring to a revision consultation?
Bring any operative reports from previous surgery, prior imaging such as CT scans, a list of your medications, and photographs from before your injury or earlier operations if you have them. These records help Dr. Elias understand what was done, what has changed, and what can realistically be improved for you.
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Your Choice for Expert Cosmetic Surgery in Pasadena & Sherman Oaks
Cosmetic Doc delivers board-certified cosmetic surgery with care, compassion, and artistry. From facelifts and rhinoplasty to body contouring, Dr. Husam Elias pairs dual MD/DMD training with an on-site AAAHC-accredited surgery center for the safest, most natural-looking results. Contact our Pasadena or Sherman Oaks office today to schedule your consultation.