Facial Prosthetics: A Breakthrough

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart,” the celebrated author of The Prophet Khalil Gibran once wrote. While his statement speaks the truth — because it is the inner beauty that matters — we have to admit that our outer appearance still plays a massive role in our lives.
People who have lost some facial features due to a disease or an accident know this. Living with a missing eye socket, contorted nose, or disfigured jaw is difficult. It makes them different from the rest of the world. As a result, there is a high probability that they will lose their self-esteem.
Before that happens, it is essential to boost their morale again by showing them that they can still live normally. Art, medicine, and technology combine to produce life-like and personalized facial prosthetics. These three powerful elements — connected by the ingenious human mind — can transform and leave a life-long positive impact on the lives of facial prosthetics.

 

How Does Facial Prosthetic Surgery Work?

Facial prosthetics are a form of reconstructive surgery that can restore a person’s appearance following an injury or congenital disability. Facial prosthetics often repair facial defects caused by cancer, burns, or accidents.

The most common form of facial prosthetic surgery is using a silicone mask to replace a missing part of the face. The silicone is usually made from medical-grade silicone and has been sterilized before it is used in surgery. The surgeon will then attach the mask to the patient’s face with titanium screws and plates. This procedure can take up to six hours, depending on how much reconstruction needs to be done.

It takes weeks for the patient’s body to heal enough to wear their new mask, but once they do, they will have regained their sense of self-esteem and confidence.

 

The huge shift

Traditionally, facial prosthetics were made using outdated traditional methods that require too much time. Maxillofacial surgeons, or the doctors in charge of creating custom prostheses, have to do it manually.

But today, because of the availability of various techniques like 3D printing, the production of custom facial prosthetics was streamlined and sped up.

 

A breakthrough product of art, medicine, and technology

Facial prosthetics if one of the impressive products of combining art, medicine, and technology.

To create the perfect facial prosthetics that perfectly blend a human’s natural skin, maxillofacial surgeons should have a good grasp of the arts. Every detail is vital to make it more life-like.

Additionally, surgeons should also be knowledgeable about medical fields such as biology, physics, dermatology, maxillofacial surgery, and oncology. They have to determine the patient’s unique needs to produce prosthetics that are visually appealing and make the wearer comfortable.

The presence of technology in the process is also crucial. It allows even non-physicians to collaborate with patients to create facial prosthetics to restore the latter’s anatomical structure. This branch of medicine is known as Anaplastology.

The 3D printing technology offers a faster and cheaper way of creating personalized facial prosthetics. Unlike hand-sculpted, painted, and pigmented prosthetics, which cost up to $15,000 and take several weeks to finish, 3D-printed facial prosthetics are relatively less expensive.

 

Types of Facial Prosthetics:

• The silicone prosthetic nose is the most common type of prosthetic nose. It is made from a mold of the person’s nose and then cast in silicone. It is then painted to match the person’s skin tone.
• A silicone forehead is a type of prosthetic that covers the whole head and can be used to cover up scars or other facial deformities.
• A full head mesh mask, also known as an “Oscar mask,” is worn by actors playing Oscar Wilde in productions such as The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) and The Judas Kiss (2006).
  The full-head mask is an excellent choice for those who want to disguise their face without makeup. Whether you’re a professional performer, actor, or just someone who wants to participate in a themed party, patients can use this mask to give you a unique look.

 

Who Needs Facial Reconstruction Surgery?

Facial reconstruction surgery is usually recommended for patients who have suffered trauma to their face, such as cancer patients, burn victims, and those who have experienced an accident. It may also be recommended for people with congenital deformities or diseases like hemifacial microsomia.

Facial reconstruction surgery has many benefits, including restoring the patient’s normal appearance and function, improving self-esteem and quality of life, and providing psychological relief.

Benefits of Using Medical Prostheses for Plastic Surgery

When it comes to cosmetic surgery, people usually think of the benefits of using medical prostheses for plastic surgery. The benefits are plentiful and varied.

The first benefit is that these prostheses are made from medical-grade silicone molds which makes them safe for use in cosmetic surgeries as well as other procedures.

Another important benefit is that these prostheses are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes so they can be customized to suit the patient’s needs.

Finally, another one of the many benefits is that these silicone molds are resistant to bacteria and other organisms which means they will last longer than other materials and will not need to be replaced often.

 

How does 3D printing works?

Anaplastologists use this technology to scan the undamaged side of the face and use it as a reference.

The defective part is also examined, and the scanned images are combined to create a 3D image of the patient’s face, complete with the pigments of the patient’s skin tone.

 

 

Conclusion: The Future of Facial Prosthetics is in Your Hands!

You are the one who can decide to go under the knife or use a more natural and safer way to improve your appearance. The choice is yours, even if you are in an unhappy marriage or you are a person with a genetic anomaly.

Cosmetic surgery should be done in a way that makes the person feel more attractive and confident and not in a way that makes them feel like they need to change their lifestyle so they can be beautiful. At the end of the day, you have to decide what makes you happy.

The patient’s future is one of the crucial factors in creating facial prosthetics. If done right, it can help the patient live everyday life without being subjected at all times to other people’s searing stares.

In 3D2GO, we are dedicated to crafting excellent facial prosthetics. We have a team of expert designers who can help you or your loved ones 3D print their missing facial features.

 

 

Interested in availing our services? Contact us today for more details.