Facial Implant Options You Ought To Know

from plastic surgery

Facial implants are made of several different materials. These materials vary in texture, consistency, firmness, and appearance. Each material has benefits and drawbacks. And each poses certain risks, including infection, asymmetry, displacement, bone erosion, and extrusion. Most surgeons prefer certain implants based on their experiences.

Silastic

A flexible white or clear plastic, Silastic has been used for decades in pacemakers, artificial joints, and other medical prostheses. It is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes and is relatively inexpensive. It is easily placed and easily removed. The rate of infection is low. For these reasons, Silastic remains the most commonly used implant for chin and cheek augmentation.

Silastic implants also pose some disadvantages. They do not attach to bone and therefore may move out of position after placement or erode underlying bone. You may also be able to feel the edges of the implant through your skin.

Hydroxyapatite

A strong, light ceramic material, hydroxyapatite may be placed as multiple small granules or as a single large piece. Hydroxyapatite is porous like sea coral. This feature allows in-growth of tissue, bone, and blood vessels. In-growth anchors the implant and prevents it from migrating, extruding, becoming infected, or eroding underlying bone. This material may be shaped before placement to correct for preexisting asymmetries. Once healed, it is more difficult to remove or revise than Silastic.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a plastic polymer that comes in single large pieces. Like hydroxyapatite, it resembles sea coral and carries the same advantages and disadvantages as implant material.

Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is a cross between cloth and rubber. Gore-Tex is soft, pliable, porous, and may adhere to surrounding soft tissues. Because it does not attach to bone, it can migrate, become infected, and cause erosion. It is easily modified prior to placement but difficult to modify once in place. The infection and extrusion rates are low if the implant is not near the incision line. But near the incision line, infection and extrusion may occur and pose significant problems.

Cadaver Bone

Cadaver bone is human bone, obtained from donors shortly after death. After being freeze-dried and processed, it can be used for implants without being rejected. Cadaver bone has many advantages. It adheres to your own bone, and your own bone may even grow to replace it. So the implant is stable and resistant to motion, infection, erosion, and extrusion. Disadvantages include high cost, risk of shrink-age, and risk of acquiring an infectious disease from the deceased donor. Some cadaver bone suppliers have been investigated for illegally harvesting bone without consent. If you choose cadaver bone, be certain your plastic surgeon has confirmed the legitimacy of the bone bank.

Proplast

Proplast is like plastic chewing gum. At one time, it was the most popular implant for facial augmentation. But Proplast caused so many complications that it was withdrawn from the market. The edges of Proplast implants curled and became evident through the skin of the face and the lining of the mouth, causing skin to become red, irritated, painful, and infected.

If you already have a Proplast implant, promptly seek the attention of a plastic surgeon when you develop redness or pain in the area of your implant.