What is craniofacial prosthesis?

Think of a facial prosthesis in the same way you think of special effects make-up. A prosthesis is an artificial replacement for a part of the body. It could be that it is missing or disfigured. A facial prosthesis is an artificial device. It is for replacing a missing or malformed facial feature.

The term Craniofacial means Head and Face. This is best performed if the facial and skull bones have reached physical maturity. It generally occurs in late adolescence. People who need this may have lost part of their face as a result of cancer, trauma, or a congenital birth anomaly.

This medical procedure can often achieve a very realistic look. It helps ease the anxiety associated with a casual social encounter. The prostheses are being created by an anaplastologist. They are experts who have special training in art, anatomy, and material sciences.

Common face features for facial prostheses include:

• Ear
• Nose
• Orbital (eyes)

How is the prosthetic face is made

The prosthesis is sculpted first. It is then molded to custom-fit the individual’s needs. Anatomical landmarks, facial proportion, and symmetry are important factors to consider for a convincing and life-like facial feature. Silicone rubber is commonly used. It is because this prostheses material can be tinted to match the pigmentation of each individual. 

After that would be the need to keep it in place. A facial prosthesis is held in place by one of two methods:

Adhesive method

Used to secure masks and camouflage make-up just like in the movies. It requires the individual to apply a medical-grade adhesive to the back of the prosthesis to hold it in place. Certain skin types or situations may cause it to come off at an inopportune moment. These may be high humidity, oily skin, or profuse sweating. Because of this, the prosthesis must be removed and cleaned, along with the underlying skin regularly.

Implant method

This is a more method for securing the retaining a facial prosthesis. Osseointegration, or the use of bone-integrated implants, requires at least two minor surgeries. The first is the implanting of little titanium fixtures or implants into the bone. This would need a few months of recovery for the bone to grow around the implants to securely hold them in place. The second is the abutment. It extends the implants above the skin surface. It is done by using an intermediate titanium extension. The abutments can then be used to either hold a gold bar. It is so that the prosthesis can be clipped into place or magnets can be used. Osseointegration enhances the retention of a prosthesis. It also enables the anaplastologist to achieve better aesthetic results. This form of prosthesis also needs to be removed overnight and cleaned along with the underlying skin on a regular basis.

Who can avail of a prosthetic face?

Unfortunately, not every individual in need of a facial prosthesis is a candidate. Craniofacial surgery with or without facial implants is best performed if:

• Physically healthy
• Non-smoker
• You have specific goals in mind for the improvement of facial contours

Once you are confident and aware of the procedure, you may have such parts printed with us. 

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