What Is The Best Material For Custom Jaw Angle Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Thank you for your website which provides an extremely useful series of information on most areas of plastic surgery.

In relation to custom jaw angle implants, I understand there are a number of choices of material including MEDPOR and Silicone. If one is going to carve custom lateral jaw angle implants, to account for hemifacial microsomia, what sort of durometer of silicone is the best to use in this area – soft, medium or firm? Clearly, one would not want the same sort of flexibility or softness that one would expect of a breast implant for example, in the jaw area. Also, which material is better to use, silicone or MEDPOR?

A: When it comes to custom jaw angle implants, there is currently only material that is available to be used…silicone. It is my understanding that custom facial implants are no longer available as the manufacturer has chosen not to provide that service anymore. In using silicone for facial implants, the standard durometer would be firm or extra firm. Even the softest durometer for facial implants is much firmer than what is used in silicone gel breast implants. (that is for a soft tissue reconstruction not a bone reconstruction)

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana