How Difficult Is It To Remove A Medpor Chin Implant Replacement?

Q: Dr. Eppley, How much more difficult is a Medpor chin replacement vs a virgin implant? Should I be concerned that 90% of doctors seem to say it is impossible?

Should I consider replacing it with silicone instead of Medpor?

How long do I need to wait? If we replaced the exact implant, could we expect very similar results to what I had? I am done with surprises. 

Thanks in advance for info. Your website is helpful.

A: In answer to your chin implant replacement questions:

1) While Medpor facial implants are more challenging to remove than non-adherent silicone facial implants, they can always be successfully removed. Any surgeon that would say otherwise is either inexperienced, lacks an understanding of implant biology or both.

2) You have to replace your current implant with an implant material of which you feel most comfortable. But what your facial implant experience has shown is that ease of reversibility of what is put in the face is an important implant feature that is often under valued. Since one can never be completely assured of any aesthetic outcome, the ability to easily modify or change it is important. Tissue ingrowth into an implant would be of great value if one knew that the need for secondary surgery on it again for any aesthetic reason would never be needed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana