Facial features are the worst affected part in children suffering from Down syndrome. The major problems suffered by these children are slanting eye openings instead of horizontal, contains surplus skin at the internal corners of the eyelids and a compressed nasal bridge.

Another problems include downturned lower lip and a firmed mid facial region. A projecting tongue along with an open mouth is also one of the common features in children suffering from Down syndrome. Then a plastic surgery was suggested by a team of people in the year 1970 in order to alter the facial features of these children. Plastic surgery was divided into two parts such as:-

Surgery was performed to improve the outlook of the face known as facial reconstruction.
Surgery is also performed to reduce the breathing of the mouth and the size of the tongue.

Facial Reconstruction

The main purpose of the reconstructive surgery is to improve the outlook of the face. Various surgical methods were performed for facial reconstruction in children suffering from Down syndrome and they include:-

Correction of the down-turned lip
Placing implants in the zygomatic bones
Partial resection of the tongue
Removing the epicanthal folds
Removal of fat from the neck
Lifting of the nasal bridge
Making the palpebral fissures more horizontal

Several studies have shown the positive results of the plastic surgery and this makes the parents to decide whether they should give the approval for it or not. By seeing the results, the parents can also decide that what is right for their children. Some of the studies also show that the patients who have already undergone plastic surgery have found no development in their appearance. The main aim of the plastic surgery is not only to improve the outlook but to develop the common recognition of children having Down syndrome.

Tongue Reduction

Children suffering from Down syndrome usually contain projecting tongue and an open mouth and this seems to be poorer in the early childhood. The children suffer from these conditions due to the numerous factors such as:-

A deficiency of muscle pitch of the tongue
Bulging of the part of the tongue that lies near the tonsils
A smaller than average oral cavity

Tongue reduction is also known as a partial glossectomy which includes eliminating a block of a tongue in order to make it short or small. So, after performing this surgery, the child can eat and breathe while keeping his or her mouth closed. Plastic surgery also improves the speech transparency of the children suffering from Down syndrome. Some people found this surgery to be good and some found no improvement in their condition.

Conclusion

Plastic surgery performed on children having Down syndrome only with the consent of the parents. The parents should gather complete information about the plastic surgeon, which procedure to apply, costs involved and about the risks involved with plastic surgery before allowing his or her child to have this type of surgery.