What is the Long-Term Outcome from Hip Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Is it a very short sighted decision to get hip implants when in say 20 years they may look terrible or need taking out? My skin now is very good and quite thick, I worry that as I age the implants will start to show?

Thank you.

A: Your question is a good one and I am afraid no one knows that answer because such procedures have not been done with decades of experience. So that risk is really not known. But in speculating about it I would not predict that would be an issue for you because the implant size (load to the tissues) is relatively small and the edges would be very feathered. With the perfusion holes in it is also merges with the tissues rather than just be an unattached object in a smooth tissue pocket. But I would think that might be an issue in patients with much bigger implants, just like large breast implants do in women with little skin coverage/thickness.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana