Why Could My Medpor Implants Not Be Able To Be Removed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, A surgeon attempted to remove my twenty-year-old Medpor cheekbone implants and was unable to do so because the implant osseointegrated with the cheekbone and remained fixed. Does “osseointegration” definitely indicate that the implant must remain to avoid facial deformities? Also, if the implant could somehow be removed, would replacing it with another implant be the only way for the area to appear normal?

A: In my vast experience with removing Medpor facial implants I have never seen any evidence of bony ingrowth into the implant. Only at the jaw angles have I seen some bony overgrowths (not ingrowth). In the cheek area in particular I can not imagine bone ingrowth and even if there was the implant should still be able to be removed.

Whether any implant is needed after the removed Medpor implant or not to look ‘normal’ depends on numerous factors such as the size of the removed implant, how much tissue dsag exists and what you define as looking normal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon