Ripas Can Lead Asean In Facial Makeover Surgery
By Finaz Daniel

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ripas hospital Maxillo facial Technology services has all the potential to emerge as a leader in Asean with the sultanate currently being the only country in the Southeast Asian region to supply these services.

Dr N Ravidranathan, Administrative Head and Specialist Surgeon at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic were optimistic about the prospects in this field.

Maxillofacial technology is a highly specialised technical craft providing important support services for facial reconstructive surgery.

The very advanced maxillofacial technological service centre can be found within the Department of Maxillo Facial/Facial Plastic Surgery set up in March 1993.

There are currently only three technologists working for the department at Ripas hospital who have been trained in the United Kingdom and Europe: Hj Abdul Momin Hj Jaafar, Principal Maxillofacial Technologist; Muhammad Nizam @ Morni Hj Jumat and Hj Kamaruddin Hj Abdullah.

These technologists provide scientific and advisory services to patients for their rehabilitation by restoration using implants, splints and prosthesis. They also provide a vital service to patients receiving treatments for injury, disease or congenital deformity to the head, neck and other body parts.

'It is a very rewarding job," technologist Haji Kamaruddin told The Brunei Times.

The Maxillofacial Technological service centre provides services that are unique in Asean, which includes the replacement of anatomically missing parts of the face, such as replacement of ears, noses, eyes or-even half a face.

These losses can be due to an accident, a birth defect or, more commonly, removed due to cancer.

Other services include preparation of planning and analysis for realignment of facial bones, replacement of large components of face and supporting services for planning, construction and fabrication of metal frame for oral implants.

The service centre also does construction of: splints for temporomandibular joint disorders, alignment appliances for children born with cleft lip and construction of 'obturators' when the teeth bearing segments of the jaw bones are removed.

Hj Kamaruddin revealed that the centre also receives requests for plastic surgery from local patients. "However, cancer and accident patients get top priority," he said. The centre started off with only 95 patients when it first set up in 1993 and has increased to 296 patients last year.

The professional level of these services has also attracted individuals from overseas, with hospitals and clinics from Singapore recommending the Maxillofacial Technological services in Ripas to their patients.

An example of this is Robin Lokman, a 60 year old Australian female who lost her ear due to cancer.

"I am a very satisfied person," Robin told The Brunei Times. "I can wear my hair short now."

"Nobody could spot the articial ear," she said. "The technologists have done a good job and were very helpful." -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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