Are Skull Implants Permanent?

Q: Dr. Eppley, what material is being used for skull implants? – is there a lifetime for the implants? Doe they need to be removed after a certain period of time? – Can the implants move/ change their position? – what is the chance of rejection of the implants? – what is the chance of alopecia? – as a EU citizen I would like to know how long I need to stay for control/ post-surgery treatment.

A: In answer to your skull implant questions:

All aesthetic onlay skull implants are made of a solid silicone material which is permanent. It can not suffer failure and need replacing like gel-filled breast implants.  While skull implants like all implants have a risk of infection (never seen one yet) there are a completely biocompatible material so there is no risk of rejection. Because of their size and surface area coverage, amongst other factors, they can not shift position or move after surgery. As long as the size of the skull implant is not excessive for the thickness of the scalp there is no risk of long term alopecia.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon