Maxillofacial Surgery in Saudi Arabia

Maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dental medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diseases that affect the mouth, face, jaws, and neck – both hard and soft tissue regions. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are oral surgeons, but they have had additional training to address more complex issues. They work with patients of all ages, ranging from newborn babies to elderly people. They can treat children who are born with deformities of the face or skull, such as cleft lip and palate. With adults, they usually perform surgery following an accident or injury. With older people, they usually treat skin tumors of the face and head, as well as oral cancer.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons can undertake a wide range of procedures. They are trained and qualified to properly administer anesthesia and perform complex and extensive surgeries. These include:

• Dental implants
• Minimally invasive tooth extraction
• Surgical removal of wisdom teeth, worn down or impacted teeth, and retained tooth roots
• Surgical removal of benign and malignant tumors from the head and neck
• Surgical removal of jaw cysts and tumors
• Salivary gland surgery for benign and malignant lesions
• Surgery of skin lesions of the head and neck
• Oral cancer treatment
• Surgical treatment for cleft palate and lip, as well as other congenital facial deformities
• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) treatment
• Orthognathic (jaw) surgery
• Sleep apnea surgery
• Surgical treatment of facial injuries, such as complex craniofacial fractures, soft tissue injuries, as well as fractures of the upper and lower jaw, nose, and cheekbone
• Reconstructive surgery, such as microvascular free tissue transfer
• Cosmetic surgery of the head and neck, such as brow surgery, rhinoplasty, facelifts, otoplasty, blepharoplasty, neck liposuction, as well as injectable cosmetic treatments such as Botox.

How Long Should I Stay in Saudi Arabia?          

The type of procedure you underwent and the specific disease or condition you have determines your length of stay. Several procedures, such as orthognathic surgery, require you to stay in the hospital for several days, while other procedures, such as dental implants do not require a hospital stay. In general, you should plan to stay in Saudi Arabia for at least 7 to 14 days to give some time for the surgical site to heal and to attend scheduled follow-up checkups.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time varies a lot, depending on the type of procedure and the specific condition you have. It mainly takes up to around 12 weeks until you completely recover, but you may be allowed to return to work and most of your normal activities within 4 to 6 weeks. For minor procedures, such as tooth extraction, you can expect to recover within 2 days. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your surgeon will provide you with everything you will need for your aftercare, such as activity restrictions, special diet, and how to care for the surgical wounds. For some procedures and diseases, you may need to attend several follow-up visits. For example, after oral cancer treatment, you will have to attend regular checkups to ensure cancer has not come back. You typically can choose to have follow-up visits with your doctor or dentist back at home if you want to.

What's the Success Rate?

Most oral and maxillofacial surgery has high success rates and is considered safe and effective. For example, dental implants have over 85% success rates. This surgical specialty continues to advance and evolve each year. Today, oral and maxillofacial surgeons use the latest techniques and technology to assist them in their work, such as CT and MRI scans. This technology enables them to view complex structures of the face and skull base, making the procedures a lot safer and successful than they were in the past. Still, there are risks you need to be aware of, such as infection and bleeding.

Are there Alternatives?

The alternative depends on the procedure you need or condition you have. For example, you can go to a dentist for a tooth extraction or a plastic surgeon for a rhinoplasty. It is best to talk to your general physician first. 

Maxillofacial Surgery in and around Saudi Arabia

Introduction

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and is home to the holy Muslim city of Mecca, all Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to this city at least once during their life and non-Muslims are forbidden from the city. There are other wonders to be found here, from the Red Sand Dunes in Riyadh, Jeddah’s coral architecture, to the azure waters of the Red Sea. In the last few years, the Kingdom has developed a plan to encourage international patients to seek treatment at its medical centers. The healthcare sector in the country has constantly improved and developed and the country has all the attributes to have a successful medical tourism industry, such as ultra-modern hospitals that are well-equipped with cutting-edge technology, foreign-trained doctors and specialists, and a well-established private healthcare sector. 

Popular Cities and Regions in Saudi Arabia

The capital city is Riyadh, which is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. It offers amazing attractions for tourists, such as the Masmak Fortress, the National Museum, the Kingdom Center, the Sky Bridge, Riyadh Zoo, and the Antiquities Museum. Another popular city is Jeddah, which is called the Bride of the Red Sea. It’s a large metropolitan city with an incredible waterfront and beautiful old town. It’s the traditional gateway to Mecca, as well as the historic crossroads of traders and pilgrims. Most tourists visit this city to admire its World Heritage Red Sea architecture, explore its lively souq, relax in its laid-back coastline, and try its world-class cuisine. 

Transport in Saudi Arabia

King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in Saudi Arabia, located in the city of Dammam. It serves flights to and from numerous cities in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Domestic flights are the best way to travel around this country. Buses, taxis, and car rental are widely available for travel inside the cities.

Visas in Saudi Arabia

Almost all nationalities need to have a visa to visit Saudi Arabia, except for citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. eVisa or visa on arrival is available for holders of passports of 51 countries, including all EU countries, the US, the UK, and Japan. Most other countries need to obtain a visa prior to arrival.

Weather in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has two seasons, summer and winter. Summer (April – October). The weather is extremely hot and humid. The average temperatures range between 40oC to 45oC, but it can soar to 49oC. Winter, from November to March, brings mild temperatures, with an average of 20oC during the day and 10oC during the night.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR) is the currency. 1 USD is equivalent to 3.75 SAR.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widespread and credit cards are widely accepted. There is no tipping culture.
3. Local Language:  Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken. 
4. Local Culture and Religion: Women do not need to wear abayas (a long black, robe-like dress) anymore, except at religious sites. However, both men and women have to wear modest clothing and refrain from showing too much skin. Islam is the state religion and the country’s law requires all citizens to be Muslim. Any non-Muslims who want to acquire Saudi Arabian nationality will have to convert to Islam. There are Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists in the country but all of them are foreign nationals. 
5. Public Holidays: The most celebrated public holidays in Saudi Arabia are Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, ad National Day.