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Facial Implants
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Facial implants - either a chin, jaw or cheek implant are used to restore balance and enhance certain features of your face. Facial implants are designed for augmentative or reconstructive surgeries. These implants do come available in a range of sizes and styles for the chin, jaw, nose and cheek areas.
Location of Facial Implants: A chin implant is either placed internally through the lower lip or externally under the chin. As with the cheek implant, the chin implant sutures will depend on whether the incision is external or internal. This procedure takes approximately 30 - 60 minutes. This implant is normally placed inside the lower lip. The incision site is secured with dissolvable sutures - and the procedure can last one to two hours. A cheek implant is surgically placed internally through upper lip or externally through the lower eyelid. This procedure can take approximately one hour and the type of sutures will depend on the location of the incision.
There are several different types of facial implants used today. There are facial implants such as Gore-Tex, Mersilene, Mesh, MedPor, etc. where there can be tissue in-growth. And there is also the type of implants that are made of solid silicone which doesn't allow any tissue in-growth, but forms a capsule around the implant. The biggest obstacle with facial implants is finding the right type for the patient.
The SoftForm facial implant is indicated for the treatment of deep facial furrows or creases - commonly called the nasolabial folds or smile lines. The nasolabial folds run from the nose to the corner of the mouth. SoftForm facial implants are also indicated for deep frown lines and definition of the lip vermilion border. SoftForm facial implants are permanent but yet are removable.
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SoftForm Implants
Unlike some other materials, ePTFE is not "rejected" by the body, so implants made with it can remain in place permanently.
Alloderm is used successfully as a surface skin graft for various types of surgeries, including skin loss from burn injuries or cancer excisions (breast reconstruction after mastectomy) and also as an "implant" which is inserted under the surface of the skin to correct soft tissue. Alloderm is used both as a surface skin graft for replacing skin loss, from burn injuries or cancer excisions, and as an implant inserted under the surface of the skin to correct soft tissue defects. When Alloderm is applied as a surface skin graft, a thin auto-graft of the patient's own tissue is placed on top. This provides similar skin coloration and texture to the implant itself. Alloderm used as an implant to repair or replace damaged or loss tissue, the product itself is folded, rolled or stacked to provide the amount of tissue needed. Alloderm has been used as a surface graft and also as an implant on almost every single area of the body successfully.
Solid Facial Implants - Silicone or Porex Facial Implants
Silicone facial implants are constructed of medical grade solid silicone for strength, durability, and elasticity. Silicone facial implants are sewn into the pocket, and although there is no tissue ingrowth per se that occurs, a capsule will form around the implant (like a breast implant) to stabilize it. Silicone implants can be easier to remove than Porex implants and also tend to be the most compatible with the body. The silicone facial implant is made of a hard silicone which is very different from breast implants. This type of silicone implant that is used in the face will not leak or break and it is very easy to place or remove if necessary. A disadvantage of silicone implants is that they might cause some bone erosion or could possibly migrate. Silicone facial implants have a very long track record of safety and reliability.
Porex implants, as the name implies, are porous like a sponge, but solid to the touch, and allows tissue to in-grow into the implant to help stabilize it. Porex implants can also be screwed into the bone and or carved to shape. Methylmetacrylate has a long history of implantation with very low percentage of problems. Medpor, porous polyethylene, has a low risk but in terms of rejection appears higher than silicone. Porex is harder to insert and very difficult to remove, because of the soft tissue growth into the material. The advantage is that it has less bone erosion, is harder, and looks more natural. Each type of implant has its pros and cons, and each patient is unique with their needs of what will work best for them. Silicone and Porex facial implants are available in a wide range of designs and sizes to meet diverse patient needs and to achieve individualized aesthetic results. Specific chin, nasal, and cheek implant styles are available. Having all the different sizes available makes it easy for the surgeon to find the right implant that will provide the best look for you.
Solid Silicone Facial Implants
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