Answers to MEDPOR FAQ
When considering MEDPOR® microtia ear reconstruction surgery, patients often wonder about implant safety, durability, and aesthetic results. Dr. John Reinisch is happy to address these questions for patients who are considering treatment. If you have additional MEDPOR FAQ, Dr. Reinisch can assist you further during a private consultation at our Beverly Hills, CA, medical office. After evaluating your child's unique needs and your goals, he can design a customized mictrotia treatment plan for optimal results.
We have safely and successfully placed MEDPOR implants for many patients, improving both appearance and quality of life.
Is MEDPOR safer than rib cartilage reconstruction?
It is inappropriate to label one treatment safer than another, but MEDPOR is less invasive than rib cartilage reconstruction and requires fewer surgeries. As a less invasive procedure, MEDPOR has an inherently lower risk of complications.
Rib cartilage reconstruction is incredibly safe, but it has a longer timeline than MEDPOR, and is a multi-step process. It also carries some risk of chest wall deformity at the sites of harvested cartilage as the patient continues to grow. MEDPOR, on the other hand requires only one surgery and does not require us to harvest natural cartilage. Fully understanding the differences between these two procedures can help you make an informed decision.
Questions Parents Ask
Dr. John Reinisch answers: Will an ear implant placed in a child need to be replaced when the child grows older? Can children who have an ear reconstruction lead a normal life? Will ear implants last a lifetime?
Will a MEDPOR implant look natural as my child grows?
The MEDPOR implant is designed to be very lifelike, so it moves and feels very much like natural ear cartilage. It will not, however, grow with your child. To make sure the implant is an appropriate size for most of your child’s life, we base the size of the implant on the projected size of the other ear at its full state of development. To determine this size, Dr. Reinisch can take into account anatomical growth chart projections, the current size of the other ear, and the size of the biological parents’ ears.
To make sure the implant is an appropriate size for most of your child’s life, we base the size of the implant on the projected size of the other ear at its full state of development.
In most cases, these measurements are accurate, and there is no noticeable discrepancy between the size of the two ears. Most people do not realize that children’s ears reach their full adult size by about six years of age, so any minor size difference between the implant and natural ear will not last long. We have many patients who are satisfied with their final appearance after using MEDPOR implants.
Can the body reject a MEDPOR implant?
When the body rejects implanted human tissues, such as a heart or kidney, it does so in response to the living cells present in that organ. Since polyethylene implants are not alive, they are no more likely to be rejected than any other synthetic implants.
Unlike other implants, however, the MEDPOR polyethylene implant was designed to be porous, rather than walled-off from living tissues. This means the soft tissues surrounding the implant will grow into its surface over time, effectively fusing the implant with the surrounding living tissue. This ensures a more natural-feeling, natural-looking reconstruction.
Are MEDPOR implants susceptible to injuries?
Just like a natural ear, all reconstructed ears are susceptible to injury by direct trauma. That said, the materials used in MEDPOR are as flexible as natural tissues and have shown no greater propensity to be damaged by trauma than human cartilage. Traumatic injuries that damage polyethylene implants are very rare. It is more common for patients to bruise or cut the tissues that cover the implant, but these injuries usually heal naturally on their own in much the same way a natural ear would. In the event that a MEDPOR implant does fracture, we can replace it during a simple surgical procedure.
Contact Our Office to Learn More About MEDPOR
Contact us at (310) 385-6090 or send us a message online to learn more about microtia and MEDPOR implant surgery. Our staff can answer any general questions you may have about MEDPOR implants, and refer you to Dr. Reinisch for questions specific to your individual case.
