What kinds of materials can chin implants be made from?

Question:
My sister got breast implants a year ago (smooth saline). I am not interested in getting a boob job, but I would like to get a chin implant. When my sister was looking into breast implants, she looked in the differences in implant materials. I would like to do the same. What types of materials can chin implants be made from?

Answer:
Congratulations – you are the first person who has ever asked me about types of materials for chin implants. I think this is a great thing to ask about, because I think the difference in chin implant materials are even more important than the differences in breast implant materials.

Traditionally, most chin implants were done with silicone implants. These smooth devices are inserted into a pocket that is dissected to be exactly the same size as the implant, and the soft tissue pocket holds the implant in place. There can be problems with this, and the implant can move and be more palpable, and this type of arrangement probably leads to a higher chance of infection and malposition. If this happens, it is recommended to remove the silicone implant and put in a Medpor implant (firm, porous-type material) and actually use one or two screws to attach it to the bone.

This latter technique is my preference from the start, and I prefer to use Medpor-type implants in all my facial implant cases. Just like silicone implants, they come in different shapes and sizes. Although these are slightly more difficult to place, once they are placed, I feel like there is less to worry about, and patients have been incredibly happy with them.