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Facial Implants
for Large Furrows and Folds You may click a product name to skip to its summary or you may scroll down for each product summary. Advanta
Facial Implant:
(technically: dual-porosity expanded polytetraflouroethylene {ePTFE})
This is a newer, dual-porosity expanded polytetraflouroethylene (ePTFE) implant
design consisting of a soft, high porosity center integrated with a smooth,
medium porosity outer surface layer. Because of the softness and tissue
integration of the Advanta implant, many surgeons consider this to be a better
alternative to the other ePTFE implants, resulting in a softer, more
biocompatible soft tissue augmentation device. The implant is not tubular,
but it has a softer cores and is surrounded by a slightly less soft jacket. The
implant's dual-porosity structure readily accepts your collagen structure
resulting in a more natural tissue healing response. Advanta facial
implants are available in a wide range of sizes. Advanta implants have an
excellent record of clinical performance with high patient satisfaction and a
low incidence of complications. Gore-Tex:
(technically: expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)) This product is officially called GORE
S.A.M. (GORE Subcutaneous Augmentation Material) and is made from expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), this soft tissue augmentation implant is
manufactured by Gore Advanced Technologies Worldwide. The implant used is
a white, microporous implant made from the same type of material as Gore-Tex
boots and raincoats, but of course a sterile medical grade. ePTFE
is a non-reactive, non-toxic polymer that has been used in medical implants
throughout the body without ill-effects for many, many years. There are
approximately 4 million ePTFE implants, in all forms, being used to date.
The Gore-Tex implant has pores 10 to 30 microns in diameter therefore allowing
the body's tissue to attach itself to the implant. It is extremely strong
and is not likely to tear or disintegrate. Gore-Tex Strands & Multi-Strands: (technically: GORE S.A.M. (GORE Subcutaneous Augmentation Material) Also manufactured by Gore Advanced Technologies Worldwide and made from expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene (ePTFE), this implant may come in individual single threads the size of thin pencil lead, like what is found in a mechanical pencil, yet appearing similar to the elastic found in your waistband. The Multi-Strand variety is an implant made of several of these strands but solid and banded together on the ends. Picture a bundle of small rubberbands melted together on each end. This design makes tissue incorporation more feasible, yet, this could be its drawback. The good thing is this
design allows more mobility due to the flexible structure of the strands.
Although there is a learning curve to either technique, as mentioned before, the
ends may be trimmed in a rounded fashion or increased rejection from
inflammation and palpability are possible. However it's structure may
be its downfall resulting in too much collagen formation or difficulty in
removal. SoftForm:
(technically:
expanded polytetraflouroethylene {ePTFE}) SoftForm was made commercially
available in 1997 by Tissue Technologies, Inc. in San Francisco, California.
The implant is a white,
microporous tubular implant made from the same type of material used to repair
hernias, abdominal wall repairs and utilized
in repairing cardiovascular defects.
ePTFE is a non-reactive, non-toxic polymer that has been used in medical
implants throughout the body without ill-effects for many, many years.
The implant has a hollow core for tissue ingrowth which helps anchor the implant
to keep it from migrating and decreases the chances of rejection by the body. UltraSoft:
(technically:
tubular expanded polytetraflouroethylene {ePTFE}) Also manufactured by
Tissue Technologies, Inc. in San Francisco, California, the UltraSoft implant is
a new and improved implant which is softer than their SoftForm implant.
The company reports that UltraSoft is almost 3 times softer than SoftForm.
These implants were made available July 2001 and have a few slight differences
as all next generation products do, practice makes perfect! It has been
described as feeling like a "marshmallow" by some patients. The
wall of the implant is thinner and reportedly softer than both SoftForm and
Gore-Tex. However it is still an implant and will not feel like your own
tissue, but it is very close. Additional Information
References:
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