PRE-SURGERY:

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(For Cranio-facial Prosthetic Patients): It is highly desirable for patients needing craniofacial reconstruction to be referred to Real Life before undergoing surgery. During a pre-surgical evaluation, one of our alloplastic reconstruction specialists can explain the procedure and demonstrate its positive results. A 3d surface scan or impression of the entire face will also be taken during this visit and later used to recreate the detail of the soft tissue removed at the time of surgery. Close-up photographs made during this visit will demonstrate details of the skin and be kept for later reference, becoming part of the patient’s medical record.

 

POSTOPERATIVE PROCEDURE: 

 

(For Cranio-facial Prosthetic Patients): The patient’s first postoperative visit is usually scheduled for the sixth week after surgery. A second impression is made of the wound and remaining anatomy. Or, preferably, the patient can provide us with a new CT scan which can be used to create the intra-anatomy removal implants and prostheses. If a CT scan is not available, the sinus patencies are packed to prevent the impression material from filling the patent sinus cavities. The impression must be extensive enough to reach normal tissue surrounding the wound. After the impression material congeals, a thin layer of cast stone plaster is poured on top of the impression to prevent it from binding or bending. The entire impression mass is then removed. The impression is then filled and a positive replication of the wound is obtained. Photographs are taken again to compare with the pre-surgical photographs. Tissue distortion produced by tumor masses or distortion from the surgical procedure can be identified by this comparison, and this information can be used in subsequent procedures.

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FACIAL PROSTHESIS RETENTION:

 

Retention of RealLifeSkin™ prostheses is accomplished by use of our patented Intra-Anatomy™ (also called Internal Fixation Retention- IFR), osseointegration, medical adhesive, use of eyeglasses, or a combination of these methods. During the first clinic visit, each patient is evaluated individually to best determine which retention method or combination of methods is best for them. Many patients email photographs for a pre-evaluation in order to save on travel resources – this can be done through the online Contact Form found under the Contact section.

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AIR-WAY REPLICATION:

 

For many individuals, facial loss is more than skin deep. Depending on the extent of loss, some patients may also require a part of the pharynx replicated. An artificial pharynx, sinus cavity, and entire sub-dermal sinus cavity prosthesis can help restore the natural humidity of the area and improve both the voice resonance and the air control affecting speech articulation. In cases such as these, before the prosthesis is fitted, speech articulation often resembles that of a person with a cleft palate because a substantial volume of air is forced out through the open wound after it passes through the larynx. The prosthesis and its sub-dermal prosthetic structures redirect the airflow to a normal pattern. A side benefit to the patient is the absence of prosthesis “blow-outs” (caused by coughing or sneezing) that occur in cosmetic prostheses designed without functional sinus cavity reconstruction airways.

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SINUS CAVITY REPLICATION:

 

Exenteration and other ablative surgeries often expose the sinus cavity and may remove sections of the sinuses. The Intra-Anatomy™ can be designed into sinus pathways so that secretions are drained, by gravity flow, into the posterior sinus cavity, or if necessary, into an alloplastic collecting cavity.

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BONE AND TISSUE STABILIZATION FOR FACIAL ANATOMY:

 

After a rhinectomy, orbital exenteration, or other ablative facial surgery, many facial patients are not aware that the surrounding skin, bone, and sinus tissue will slowly migrate into the opening left after surgery. In many cases, the body will completely seal the sinus opening through the body’s natural migration process. If the sinus cavity becomes closed, many serious problems beyond basic speech impairment occur. Fortunately, the use of sinus cavity Intra-Anatomy™ naturally inhibits this serious problem from occurring.

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ARTIFICIAL BONE: 

 

Bone-like alloplastic removable implants are often designed into the Intra-Anatomy™ when it is needed to help improve normal speech resonance and improved fit. In cases such as these, artificial bone can also act as a retentive aid and help maintain the integrity of the entire sub-dermal section of the prosthesis.

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EYE REPLICATION:

 

Custom impression-fitted prosthetic eyes are created from FDA-approved methylmethacrylate and our unique RealLifeEye™ technology.  See the Prosthetic Eye Page for more information.

 

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