Polymeric materials and processes to produce facial reconstruction implants: A review

Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Central University of Technology, Free state, South Africa

^* Corresponding author: rmohutsiwa@cut.ac.za

Abstract

Many patients are affected by facial deformities due to trauma or congenital disorders. Reconstruction using bone transplants has been the standard procedure to address many of these defects. In modern times, synthetic materials such as polymers have become widely used in facial reconstruction as medical implants to reconstruct the defective facial bony features. Conventional manufacturing methods can be used to produce polymeric implants, but literature has shown them to be limited in their applications. Many of these limitations can now be overcome by additive manufacturing technologies. This review paper presents an overview of different processes and polymeric materials that can be used to produce cosmetic facial implants.