Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Facial Aging and Trauma

Facial aging and trauma can have a variety of causes, from congenital (present at birth) deformities to illnesses, accidents and exposure to the elements. Common causes include:

• Cleft palate and lip
• Congenital skull and facial deformities
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Car accidents
• Sports injuries
• Sun and wind exposure
• Exposure to chemicals
• Burns

Diagnosing facial aging and trauma

Your physician will do a full physical exam and take a history of your symptoms. Other diagnostic tests may include:

• Electromyogram (EMG): This test can confirm nerve involvement and measure the severity of the damage.
• Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): These tests help your physician analyze the structural causes for your symptoms.

In cases of cosmetic surgery, your physician may want to discuss:

• Your reasons for wanting the surgery
• Your expectations for results
• The recovery period
• The medical risks
• The expense involved for elective surgery
• Whether or not you smoke