Dr. Pablo Vaquero

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a physician who, after medical school, trains for several more years as a hospital specialist. We diagnose and surgically treat conditions of the mouth, face and neck — from a complex tooth extraction to orthognathic surgery or reconstruction after a tumor. Dentists and maxillofacial surgeons work closely together, and many patients arrive referred by their dentist or physician.

It's the surgical correction of jaw position when a malocclusion or facial imbalance can't be resolved with orthodontics alone. It's planned jointly with the orthodontist and, in my practice, with 3D digital planning ahead of surgery.

A well-planned facelift typically holds its effect for 7 to 10 years, though natural aging continues afterward. My goal isn't to pull the skin as tight as possible, but to work on the deeper facial planes to restore firmness without changing the patient's features or leaving an operated look. That's the approach I set out in the Lifting Surgery chapter of the SECOM CyC reference manual.

It's a microsurgical technique that transfers tissue — skin, bone or muscle — from elsewhere in the body, reconnecting its blood vessels under a microscope, to reconstruct areas of the face or neck after tumor removal or severe trauma. It's the most complex option within facial reconstruction; I trained specifically in it at centers including Hong Kong, Buenos Aires and Charité Berlin, and I currently research tissue engineering for mandibular reconstruction at VHIR.

Yes. Treatment depends more on the cause and the condition of the muscles and nerves than on how much time has passed. In recent paralysis, dynamic techniques that reactivate movement are sometimes enough; in long-standing cases, once the muscle is no longer functional, I turn to static techniques or muscle transfers. I trained in both approaches at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, one of the world's leading centers for facial reanimation.

In the first visit I review the reason for consultation, the exam, and any imaging already available or needed. Based on that I explain the diagnosis and treatment options. If surgery is indicated, the process includes a planning phase (often involving prior orthodontics) and, finally, the surgery and postoperative follow-up.

Pain is usually milder than most patients expect: it's generally well controlled with scheduled medication in the first few days, without needing opioids. What does vary by procedure is swelling and the time needed to return to normal life — from about a week for minor surgery to several weeks for a complex reconstruction. I provide written aftercare instructions and stay available throughout recovery.

I hold private consultations at the Instituto Maxilofacial at Centro Médico Teknon (Barcelona), where you can book directly without a referral; if you're referred by your dentist or doctor, bring any reports or tests you have. As an attending surgeon at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, I also see public-system patients through the hospital's usual channels.