Cartilage Chin Implant Replacement

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a cartilage chin implant for 13 years and it was ok. A doctor convinced me to replace it for a silicone implant which I had for 15 years and caused bone loss and chin ptosis. I didn’t want a replacement but no plastic surgeon would remove it without a replacement. I had a plastic surgeon replace it with a Medpor chin implant which was AWFUL so three months later it was replaced with another Medpor chin implant with four screws. I have had two chin pad resuspensions as well. Now seven years later I am seeing my chin get pointy and believe it is due to bone loss. My body is not liking this implant. Would you be able to remove this Medpor chin implant without another synthetic chin implant. Do you do cartilage chin implants or is there something else I can do as my chin might look deformed?

Thank you.

A: While I don’t know what you look like or the size of your existing chin implant, a synthetic chin implant can be replaced by either an autologous (your own tissue) or allogeneic (cadaveric) cartilage or bone grafts.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana