What’s the safest material for a facial implant?

Question

I’ve heard of adverse reactions to silicone, like people getting sick and only getting better once their implants were removed (these were testimonials from breast implant patients but still). So what is the safest and most reliable facial implant? Is there a way to stop the body from negatively reacting to the foreign object, I.e. in this case an implant?

Timothy Osborn, MD · Answer

So it does depend a little on what type of implant you are looking for.  Aside from silicone, MEDPOR implants are commonly used, and are usually well tolerated by the body.  (If you are looking for a chin implant, would recommend looking into a genioplasty first). If an implant does become an issue, it is usually a sign the body doesn't like it, and will most likely have to be removed. There is no proven way of telling how your body will react to the "foreign object" but for the most part, surgeons only use products that are well tolerated by people.

Michael P. Morrissette, DDS, FACS · Answer

I personally prefer solid silicone implants for the face but there are other FDA approved implant materials in the United States. The relative ease of placement and removal make silicone a good choice. I have never seen an adverse reaction with silicone in 30 years. If you are simply wanting to change your chin projection, you should consider a genioplasty and avoid any need for an implant.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

All facial implant materials that are commercially available are safe and their infections risks are similar. They are solid implant materials which should not the confused with a breast implant which is a gel material in a containment shell. That is a completely different implant type with its own unique risks.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The majority of foreign bodies placed during surgery and never excepted by the body. Instead the body will form a thin membrane of scar tissue to seal off the substance called a capsule.

Issues with silicone implants I’ve never been the solid silicon shell the damn plant is made out of but rather the liquid or a gel silicon inside the implant.

Chin implants are made out of solid silicon very similar to what breast implant shells are made out of.

There is no liquid or gel silicone in a chin implant so there is nothing to leak.

Reactions to implants containing solid, liquid and gel silicon have been proven scientifically to not cause any type of medical illness and this has been confirmed numerous times with very large international studies.

The placebo effect can be powerful and if someone believes that silicon is making them sick then they probably will start feeling sick.

The science show says silicon implants are safe and the FDA who once removed silicon a breast implants put them back on the market because they were convinced there is no harm in placing these products.

That is not to say that these procedures don’t come with out complications or issues.

For example, a chin implant will eventually start eroding the bone of the mandible  to some degree.  This is not a chemical reaction from some toxic aspect of silicon but simply from the foreign body putting pressure against the bone.

Medpore uses anon silicon material for their implants which is porous. This material allows in growth of tissue.

These implants have some advantages and some providers favor them.  they can be technically difficult to remove because of the ingrowth of tissue.

The majority of plastic surgeons use solid silicone implants for facial work.

And alternative procedure which avoids any implant other than titanium fixation is a sliding genioplasty.

I suggest having a few in person consultations with local oral surgeons and board-certified plastic surgeons to learn more about these procedures and to confirm if you’re a good candidate or not.

In the end choosing the most talented and experienced provider is probably the most important variable.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

What’s the safest material for a facial implant?

Answers (4)

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