Artificial Eye Clinic and Facial Prosthetics Center
RealLifeSkin™ Facial Prostheses
Nose Prosthetics – Alloplastic Nasal Reconstruction
RealLifeSkin™ Nasal Prosthesis Technologies Diagram
Custom RealLifeSkin™ nose prosthetics are designed from several exclusive technologies only available at the Real Life Center: The outer hyper-life-like RealLifeSkin™ prosthetic skin, the sub-dermal Intra-Anatomy™, prosthetic sinus cavities and an Intra-sinus particle filter. These technologies are profiled in the Technologies section of the website.
Nose Prosthesis Retention
Retention of RealLifeSkin™ nose prostheses is accomplished by use of our patented Intra-Anatomy™ (also called Internal Fixation Retention- IFR), osseointegration, medical adhesive, use of eye glasses, or a combination of these methods. The above diagram depicts the use of osseointegration, and the Intra-Anatomy™ retention methods. These methods may or may not be used together. During the first Prosthetic Clinic visit, each nose prosthesis patient is evaluated individually to best determine which prosthetic 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, or by clicking on the email hyperlink at the bottom of the page – or simply call the Center on the toll-free number listed below.
RealLifeSkin™
Nasal Prosthesis Airflow Design
Air-Way Replication
For many individuals facial loss is more than skin deep. Depending on the extent of loss, some patients may also require 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.
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 to an alloplastic collecting cavity.
Bone & Tissue Stabilization
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.
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.
Nose Prosthesis
(Nasal Prosthetic Reconstruction)
Ear Prosthetics –
Alloplastic Auricular Reconstruction
RealLifeSkin™ Ear Prosthesis Technologies Diagram
Custom RealLifeSkin™ ear prosthetics are designed from exclusive technologies only available at the Real Life Center: The outer hyper-life-like RealLifeSkin™ prosthetic skin and the sub-dermal Intra-Anatomy™. The diagram above does not depict the Intra-Anatomy™, since this example does not include the need for subdermal reconstruction. These technologies are profiled in the Technologies section of the website.
Ear Prosthesis Retention
Retention of RealLifeSkin™ prosthetic ears is accomplished either by osseointegration (as pictured above), our patented Intra-Anatomy™ (also called Internal Fixation Retention- IFR), medical adhesive, or a combination of these methods. The above diagram depicts the use of osseointegration only.
During the first Prosthetic Clinic visit, each patient is evaluated individually to best determine which prosthetic ear 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, or by clicking on the email hyperlink at the bottom of the page – or simply call the Center on the toll-free number.
Ear (Auricular) Prosthesis –
Alloplastic Reconstruction
Facial Prosthetics/
Hemi-Facial Reconstruction
RealLifeSkin™ Hemi-Facial
Orbital Prosthesis Technologies Diagram
Custom RealLifeSkin™ Facial Prosthetics and Hemi-Facial prostheses are designed from several exclusive technologies only available at the Real Life Center: The outer hyper-life-like RealLifeSkin™ prosthetic skin and the sub-dermal Intra-Anatomy™. These prosthetic technologies are profiled in the Technologies section of the website.
Facial Prosthesis Retention
Prosthetic retention of RealLifeSkin™ orbital and hemi-facial prostheses is accomplished by using our patented Intra-Anatomy™ (also called Internal Fixation Retention- IFR), osseointegration, medical adhesive, use of eyeglasses, or a combination of these methods. The above diagram depicts the use of the Intra-Anatomy™ prosthetic retention method.
During the first Facial Prosthetics Clinic visit, each facial patient is evaluated individually to determine best which facial prosthesis retention method or combination of methods is best for them. Many patients email photographs of their faces for a pre-evaluation to save on travel resources – this can be done through the online Contact Form found under the Contact section, by clicking on the email hyperlink at the bottom of the page, or by clicking on the email hyperlink at the bottom simply calling the Center on the toll-free number.
Tissue Stabilization
After a rhinectomy, orbital exenteration, or other ablative facial surgery, many patients are unaware that the sinus tissue, bone, and surrounding skin will migrate into the facial opening over time unless the opening is stabilized. In many cases, though it may take many months, the body will completely seal the sinus–facial opening through this natural migration process. If the sinus cavity is closed off through natural post-surgical migration, many serious problems beyond basic speech impairment occur. Fortunately, using a custom prosthetic sinus cavity (Intra-Anatomy™) naturally inhibits this serious problem.
Sinus Replication
Exenteration and other ablative surgeries on the face often expose the sinus cavity. The Intra-Anatomy™ prosthesis section can be designed into a prosthetic sinus cavity so that secretions are drained, by gravity flow, into the posterior sinus cavity or, if necessary, into a prosthetic collecting cavity.
Artificial Bone
Bone-like alloplastic removable implants are often designed into the Intra-Antomy™ sinus prosthesis section when it is needed to help improve normal speech resonance. 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 facial prosthesis.
RealLifeSkin™ Orbital / Hemi-Facial Prosthesis Animation Video
Facial Prosthetic Reconstruction
/Hemi-Facial Prosthetics
