Face laceration - dog bite injuries

About Dr. Bermant

Find us

Multimedia Lectures

Kid's view

Other Bulletin boards

Learn about

• Dog bite prevention
• Lip reconstruction after dog bite injury
• Eyelid reconstruction after camel bite

PlasticWeb

PlasticArt

Home

Children are unusually susceptible to dog bite lacerations. I am not certain if the cause is from easier to tear skin or failing to understand a dog's body language. Each of these injuries was from a dog bite. See information on preventing dog bite injuries elsewhere on this website.

Dog bites can range from simple punctures, to jagged tears, to missing gouges of flesh. The largest teeth (the canines) can penetrate minimally or catch and tears result as in these cases.

Facial reconstruction after dog bite

The lacerations	Healed	The lacerations	Healed

These multiple facial lacerations required debridement and plastic surgical reconstruction. I remove crushed devitalized tissue in an attempt to make the first repair count. A good reconstruction at the time of injury may prevent the need for subsequent revision. Early plastic surgery can sometimes prevent the need for later plastic surgery. Some insurance companies no longer pay for revision of scars claiming such reconstruction is "cosmetic" and not covered under the policy.

 

Forehead laceration from dog bite

The injury	After repair

This flap like laceration is a tear from the dog's tooth. A section of eyebrow came away with the torn skin. I angled the skin debridement along the axis of the brow hairs. This lessens the chance of non-hair bearing scar in the eyebrow. No plastic surgery revision was necessary.

 

Torn eyelid from dog bite

This dog bite tore at the margin of the eyelid just missing the eyeball and the tear duct that drains the eye. My reconstruction included a functional repair of the eyelid and margin to keep the eyelashes aligned

 

Dog bite and redness of cheek

Dog bites can get infected easily. I frequently prescribe antibiotics to minimize the infection becoming worse. The redness responded quickly to an intravenous antibiotic.

 

More Bite Injury Pages

Prevention bites from dogs

Dog bites of Lip and Reconstruction Photographs (graphic)

Dog bite Injury Face Repair / Reconstruction Photos (graphic)

Camel Bite Reconstruction

Find books about dog bite prevention from Barnes and Noble

Bite Injuries Reconstructive Surgery bulletin boards

• part 1
• part 2
• part 3

Member of the American Society
of Plastic Surgeons, Inc.

Shop at The Surgery Store for your skin care, comfort, and recovery needs.

Hear Dr. Bermant's Multimedia Lectures in your community

Find this site useful? Tell a friend!

Search for a Book from Barnes and Noble

© 1996-2008 Michael Bermant, MD

Legal Information - Privacy Policy

This page last updated on: April 27, 2008

Member of the American Society
for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc.