Can I Get Skull Or Facial Implants If I Into Contact Sports?

Q: Dr. Eppley, If you are an active person and are into contact sports like mma or football, are the implants still safe to have? For example, I am really into CrossFit and we do a lot of handstand push-ups where my head hits the floor each rep. Can this cause complications long term in a skull implant?  Provided that I take the proper post op rest and recovery precautions getting back to training.

A: This is a common and understandable question. Once healed I do not see any contraindications to contact sports with either skull or jawline implants. They are very much like placing ‘bumpers’ on the bone which provides some added protection. It would take an incredible amount of force to ever displace them. That being said, repetitive and avoidable trauma to an implanted skull or facial area should be avoided as no one can predict every adverse effect that could occur.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana