Is there a constant risk of infection with infraorbital rim implants, or is the risk period only in the initial few weeks?

Question

I'm very interested in infraorbital rim implants, however the one thing pushing me away is the risk of infection. It would be devastating to me if an implant were to be infected. I'm wondering, is the risk of implant infection lasting for the rest of the patient's life, and can happen spontaneously, or is the risk only present in the initial post-operative period before becoming zero afterwards (unless something happened eg capsule puncture) Thank You

Stephen H. Fink, DO, FAOCO · Answer

Any artificial material in the body has a risk of infection especially if porous.  This is even true for liquid implants like fillers. Although the greatest risk is in the first several weeks after surgery (usually from intraoperatuve  contamination), future circulating infections can settle in the implanted material. Because the face has good circulation, it less likely to have an  initial  infection compared to other parts of the body.   But precautions should always be taken to minimize the risk with implants. The risk with a solid silicone is low and these implants can  be fairly easily removed if necessary making them a common choice.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

The risk of infection is highest in the initial weeks of the surgery although much less risk remains throughout the life of the implant.

Charles Nduka, MD · Answer

All foreign implants have a risk of infection. Infection does not always come from the surgery itself. With regards to the face, there is relatively a small risk of an acute infection following surgery. Appropriate precautions should be taken before and after surgery to prevent any occurrence of infection.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

The occurrence of infection in most facial implants, if it was to occur, is between two to six weeks after surgery. It occurs in a much more delayed time period than most patients think. The infection risk in facial implants is highest when they are placed from inside the mouth not not through an external skin incision. Infraorbital rim implants by virtue of being placed through a lower eyelid incision have a very low infectivity risk. That risk can never be zero but I have not to date yet seen one from this type of facial implant.

Is there a constant risk of infection with infraorbital rim implants, or is the risk period only in the initial few weeks?

Answers (4)

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