How Can I Best Modify My Medpor Chin Implant?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Thank you so much for the quick response. I can have the previous surgeon send my records, as I’m confident that he didn’t reduce the size of the extended wings of my Medpor chin implant, and only the main portion of the chin. 

If that’s the case, I’d prefer to just have the wings altered since I’m happy with the rest and really want to avoid a complicated/risky procedure. 

Please let me know if that’s an option. I hope it is, as I’m terrified to have another procedure and will likely only pursue a mild alteration than an entirely new implant. 

A: What I am trying to say is that with a Medpor chin implant you can’t just trim the wings in place. The tissue ingrowth that this material creates makes that very difficult and dangerous to the branch of the facial nerve which crosses over the tissue right above the implant. It has to be completely extracted to safely do so. And getting it out will likely result in it being removed in pieces. This is the downside to have an implant that has vigorous tissue ingrowth. It is only great if you never need to modify or remove it.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana