Craniofacial (cranio- combining form meaning head or skull + -facial combining form referring to the facial structures grossly) is a term typically used to describe an area of focus for the study and treatment of certain congenital malformations or facial injuries. According to the Online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the first use of the term was circa 1859. The first pubmed citation with the use of the term Craniofacial was in 1876 by TH Huxley.
Today, the term craniofacial is used to describe an area of expertise where people can subspecialize from various professional backgrounds and interact in multi-disciplinary medical-surgical teams that treat and do research on disorders affecting this region. Organizations with interest in the clinical treatment and management of craniofacial problems exist and bring together basic scientists, geneticists, epidemiologists, molecular and developmental biologists to understand underling causes and mechanisms of normal and abnormal facial development.
Craniofacial surgeons can come from a variety of backgrounds, but most are oral and maxillofacial surgeons, or plastic surgeons who have undertaken subspecialty fellowship training after residency.