Can the body reject or get sick from jaw implants? How common is this?

Question

I heard the body can get sick or reject implants when they are put in. Is this true? And how common is it? Are implants worth the risk?

Michael Kulick, MD, DDS · Answer

In 30 years of practice I only had one patient with an infected chin implant. The implant was removed, the wound healed and a new implant was inserted without any consequences. So, the risk is very low. In my case, I insert the implant intraorally and the patient opened up the incision when bitting into a whole fruit. Other than the localized infection, the patient had no other symptoms.Hope this helps!Sincerely,

Michael Kulick MD

   Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

   Member of ASPS, ASAPS
   Recipient of the Klingbeil Award from ASAPS – Teaching Safe Techniques and Advanced Technologies

Michael Kulick MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Member of ASPS, ASAPS
   Recipient of the Klingbeil Award from ASAPS – Teaching Safe Techniques and Advanced Technologies

William Portuese, MD · Answer

In our practice, it's extremely rare for a chin  Implant to get infected. We do place patients on antibiotics to prevent it. For over 25 years, we have used Implantech brand of chin implants with an excellent success rate. For more information  and many before-and-after chin implant examples, please see video below

Julia Kerolus, MD, FACS · Answer

Than you for your question. The risk of infection or the body rejecting a chin implant after it is placed is extremely rare. This risk goes up slightly if the implant is placed through an incision in the mouth. If an implant does become infected, it can easily be removed to allow the body to heal. Usually, a new implant can be placed once the infection has resolved. I hope this helps!

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Ali52, I prefer to use a submental approach which reduces the  risk of infection and less chance of any nerve damage causing numbness. 
The submental approach requires limited dissection as it is much closer to where the chin implant needs to be placed. The submental approach is sterile while the intra-oral approach is not.
The intra-oral approach requires dissection all the way down the entire section of the chin in order to reach the same areas for chin implant placement. The attachment of the chin muscle to the bone must be cut during the tissue dissection, the sensory and motor nerves that move the muscles of the lips and mouth have a higher risk of injury due to this dissection.
I perform multiple chin augmentation procedures weekly and I have for over thirty years and I have not had to remove an implant due to infection or had a rejection for any reason using the submental approach.
See many examples in the link and video attached. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Can the body reject or get sick from jaw implants? How common is this?

Answers (4)

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