Risk of Infection After Facial Implant?

Great question. My experience is mainly with ePTFE (GoreTex) nasal implants and silastic (rubberized silicone) chin implants. In either situation, I advise my patients that there is a low likelihood of infection, less than 5% of procedures. If infection occurs, antibiotics may remedy the situation. But if infection becomes recurrent, The nasal or chin implant may need to be removed. In my experience, silastic implants may be easier to remove than ePTFE. Hope this helps.

Dr. Joseph

The risk of infection after silastic implants is extremely rare.  We do place patients on antibiotics before, during, and after the procedure.  Any type of implant with porous holes is much more susceptible to infection and will need to be removed immediately upon becoming infected.  Silicone facial implants are very well tolerated by patients.

Hello

  Infections are a concern that we take seriously with every surgery.  The incidence of infection depends on the location and surgical approach.  For example, placing a chin implant from inside of the mouth would have a greater risk then the same implant placed from an incision under then chin.  However, implant infections should be relatively low, usually around 1-5%.  Generally speaking, it is more common to have concerns with asymmetry, improper size or patient dissatisfaction then it is to have an infection.

  There are many difference between silicone and porex, texture, size, extrusion, ect.  I would not use the risk of infection to base the decision of which implant to use.

Hope this helps.