1 year post op - How worried should I be that my doctor used a screw to secure my chin implant (silicone)? (Photos)

I would be thankful that your surgeon used a screw to fixate your silicone implant. The most common problems with silicone implants are malposition (not placing it in the right place) and migration (the implant moving over time). The screw retention with prevent any migration of the implant if properly secured. I have seen implants that were not secured with screws eventually move to the surface and come out through the skin five or more years after placement. It is not common but it can happen. Screws and plates have been used in the face for over 30 years with no reported long term adverse events.

Different surgeons may have some differences regarding fixation of the implants; we telay on tight pockets and do not use screws for fixation. I do not see anything wrong with screw fixation in particular if selected implants are designed for screw fixation; you do not have anything to worry about.

Some surgeons utilize screws to fixation implants, and they should not lead to long-term problems. Although we do not use these in our practice, we have not seen anybody who has had these placed elsewhere have a problem. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Thank you for posting your question here!My answer will be based on the limited information provided, for a detailed and personalized plan I would encourage you to discuss with your surgeon in person.There are different types of chin implants , the silicone ones that are most commonly used are usually placed in a tight pocket to keep them in place or are sutured in place , they are easy to place and take out if needed but are more commonly associated with bone resorption, but for the most part it is rarely consequential. There are other types of implants such as medpor implants that are made of porous material that usually the bone grows into , those implants are a little harder to place and remove and are usually screwed in place. So depending on which implant you have , the screw might have been part of the procedure. I wouldn't worry much about it as those screws are made to last and they are rarely the reason for bone resorption.I hope this helps, best of luck!

As long as there's no infection, and the implant has not been displaced, it's best to leave well enough alone. There's no reason to go in and just to remove a screw. In our practice, we use silicone chin implants manufactured by Implantech, and we secure the implant in place with a dissolvable stitch that takes about two months to go away. We usually perform chin implants under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, which takes about 30 minutes. They can always be removed if necessary.