Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery - University Hospital Halle (Saale)

About the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery at University Hospital Halle (Saale)

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery at the University Hospital Halle (Saale) offers a full range of medical services in its areas of specialization. The healthcare facility successfully treats diseases and injuries of the jaw, face, and hard and soft tissues in the maxillofacial region. The department also provides a wide range of services in surgical dentistry and dental implantology. The most important focus for the department's oral and maxillofacial surgeons is performing operations to treat malignant diseases of the oral cavity, tongue, palate, pharynx, and face. The department is part of the Head and Neck Tumor Center certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG). Aesthetic dentistry and facial plastic reconstructive surgery complete the surgical possibilities of the medical facility. Functional and aesthetic results are taken into account in the planning of the operation. The department's team of physicians follows the recommendations of the German Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DGMKG) in their daily clinical practice, which helps to achieve the best treatment results. The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Frank Tavassol.

One of the primary clinical interests of the medical team of the department is the surgical resection of tumors of the facial skull, head and neck soft tissues, oral cavity, tongue, and pharynx. For this purpose, the specialists of the department have at their disposal the most sparing minimally invasive and microsurgical techniques, the use of which ensures excellent therapeutic results with minimal restrictions on speech and swallowing after the completion of therapy. Surgical resection of the tumor is an integral part of the therapeutic process, but in most cases surgery alone is not sufficient, so the operation is complemented by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other conservative methods. The treatment regimen for each patient is developed by an interdisciplinary tumor board that includes oral and maxillofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists, oncologists, and radiation therapists. The department also has expertise in bone and skin reconstructive plastic surgery to restore the aesthetics of the face and neck after extensive tumor resection.

An important place in the work of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the department is occupied by the surgical correction of jaw malformations, the most common of which is dysgnathia. This pathology is characterized by the displacement of the jaw and teeth, resulting in the formation of a malocclusion. Many people mistakenly believe that dysgnathia is a purely aesthetic defect, but it also negatively affects the functions of chewing, swallowing, and speech, and causes pain. In many cases, dysgnathia is corrected with conservative methods. However, in complex clinical cases, the only effective method to eliminate the malocclusion is surgery, jaw osteotomy.

In the field of facial plastic surgery, the department focuses on performing rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery), otoplasty (ear reshaping surgery), and face and neck lifts. Plastic surgery is preceded by an individual consultation, during which the surgeon and the patient discuss the patient's wishes for the upcoming surgery. If necessary, computer modeling of the patient's new appearance can be done.

The range of medical services provided by the department includes the following:

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery
  • Surgery for tumors of the facial skull, head and neck soft tissues, oral cavity, tongue, pharynx, and facial skin
  • Surgery for dysgnathia (malocclusion)
  • Surgery for dental, facial skeletal, and jaw injuries
  • Surgery for inflammatory diseases of teeth, jaws, facial soft tissues and bones
  • Surgery for diseases of oral mucosa and tongue
  • Surgery for diseases of salivary glands
  • Surgical dentistry
    • Tooth extraction
    • Root apex resection
    • Dental implantation
• Facial plastic surgery
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Otoplasty
  • Face and neck lifts
• Other surgical options