How Long Can You Wait Before Removing Medpor Cheek Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I got Medpor cheek implants five weeks ago and I am totally unhappy with the result. Is there something like a deadline for Medpor implant removal? I was told that it can be more difficult to remove Medpor if you wait too long.

A: There is no deadline for removal and/or replacement. Does it make it a little more difficult to remove later…yes. But it is not a big problem to remove later in my experience. The issue of bone ingrowth into the implant and being impossible to remove later is a myth. You are better off giving the face time to settle down and shrink around the implant shapes before possibly make a premature decision about revision/removal. My minimum time for facial implant removal/adjustment, particularly in men, is three months.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana