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Temporal peek implants

Temporal peek implants

Table of contents:

Custom-made PEEK implants for the temples

Besides the forehead and the area around the eyes, the most important feature of a female face is its contour. This is largely determined by the shape of the temples. Sunken temples give the forehead an hourglass-like, masculine appearance. Something that many women consider unattractive. Placing custom-made PEEK implants at the temples can be a good solution as part of facial feminization.

Before-and-after temporal PEEK implants

What are 'PEEK' implants?

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a synthetic material initially used in spine and hip surgery. It has the following properties:

  • biocompatibility;
  • resistance to thermal and ionizing radiation;
  • and biomechanical similarity to cortical bone.

These beneficial properties have led to an increased use of PEEK implants for craniofacial defects, which remain a major challenge in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. 

Gender of the temples

The male temples are often sunken. They are more likely to be 'hollow'. Female temples are fuller, making the face look more oval. 

Feminization of the temples

Having custom-made PEEK implants placed at the temples can make the face appear more oval by filling the hollow space at the temples. Placing the PEEK implants is usually combined with recontouring the forehead, because there is already access to the area where the implants are to be placed.

Preparation for the procedure

In preparation for the operation, a CT scan of the skull must be made. For specifications of the required CT scan, see here.

Dr. van de Ven, in collaboration with the manufacturer of the implants, will make you a proposal regarding the shape of the implants. You will receive the proposal by email, so you can see what the implants will look like. 

After we have received your approval, the implants are then made.

Procedure

  • General anesthesia—Normally, general anesthesia is chosen for the placement of the custom-made PEEK implants.
  • Incisions—Usually an incision is made along the hairline. The incision is made as during a hairline lowering. If you have not opted for a hairline reduction, the so-called “bicoronal” incision is a better option (behind the hairline).
  • The forehead skin is pulled forward to expose the bone
  • The temporal muscle is released from the bone as necessary to place the implants. These are then fixed using titanium screws.
  • The skin is closed per layer as usual.

Recovery

  • Hospital—You will spend one night in the hospital after surgery.
  • Pain—Pain may occur for several days and is controllable with normal painkillers.
  • Work—Many patients can return to work within two weeks of this surgery (as a stand-alone procedure).
  • Sports—Avoid physical activity that would increase heart rate or cause sweating for eight days.
  • Sutures—Sutures are self-dissolving. They dissolve in about a week.
  • Forehead numbness—Expect your forehead to be numb for about 3 months.

Complications

  • Altered sensation of the scalp—Because the skin is loosened from the bone during the procedure, the sensation in the scalp may change. In most patients, the feeling returns to normal within a year, but some patients indicate that the feeling is no longer 100% the same as before. Most do not experience this as a problem, but rather report it as an observation.
  • In theory, infection of the implants is possible, but so far this has never happened. In such a case, antibiotics would be administered. In the worst case, this does not stop the infection and the implants must be removed.