What Is The Cost Of Remaking My Custom Facial Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had custom facial implants placed recently and it looks like they’ve been infected and need to be removed. The initial cost for these implants was $5500. Assuming I would like the same set manufactured, would it incur the same charges? Lastly, if I wanted them slightly modified, would it be considered starting over from scratch, and would I have to pay the full fee again?

A: Fortunately, I have never had a set of custom facial implants get infected but I have had patients who want to modify their existing custom facial implants for new ones for aesthetic reasons. In these circumstances, I have had the manufacturer (Implantech) make new ones at a reduced fee over the original implants even with a few modifications of the original design. The manufacturer has no obligation to do so and whether that is a universal policy I do not know. Each case with any surgeon must be determined on an individual basis in discussion with the manufacturer.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana