Are intraoral incisions for facial implants risky because of the possibility of infection?
Question: Are intraoral incisions for facial implants risky because of the possibility of infection?
Answer: There certainly is a very small risk of an infection while placing an implant through the mouth, but we do tend to take as many precautions as we can to prevent this. For chin implants I actually do prefer an incision under the chin since it is easily hidden and then provides for a completely sterile procedure. The malar implants, however, are typically inserted through the mouth simply because it is the easiest access point to the cheek that will not leave any sort of significant scar. I typically soak the implant in antibiotic solution and frequently will even irrigate up into the pocket with antibiotic solution prior to closing the incision and this significant minimizes the risk of infection and makes them extremely unlikely.
