Is There a Difference in Prosthesis Results? How do You Judge?
Our locations and prosthetic results make a difference. They increasingly inspire confidence among surgeons, prosthodontists, and our many patients. See our photo galleries.
- Do you want a better prosthetic ear or a new ear prosthesis? We routinely treat microtia and dramatically improve rib cartilage ear reconstructions.
See ear photo gallery - Do you need a new nose or nasal prosthesis? Then we will study your photos and work with you until you are pleased with the size and shape.
See nose photo gallery - Do you need an artificial eye or orbital prosthesis? Then it must match and be symmetrical with your unaffected eye, as well as be manageable for you.
See eye photo gallery. - Did you want a finger or hand prosthesis? Matching to the adjacent fingers and use of highest durability silicones are equally important.
See finger photo gallery - Were you referred for a custom toe or foot prosthesis? Our anaplastologists and certified prosthetist team to address both form and function.
See foot photo gallery
As specialists in silicone maxillofacial, hand, and foot prosthetics we focus on you and commit the time required for your successful prosthetic outcome.
Realistic Ear, Nose, Eye, Hand, & Foot Prosthetics
Medical Art Prosthetics is a recognized destination for the most lifelike eye, nose, ear, hand, and foot prostheses. Patients fly to us for the results we proudly demonstrate with close-up clinical photography. We encourage you to ask prosthetics providers to show good quality close up photos of facial and body prosthetics case results like ours. Professional anaplastologists are generally happy to show a cross section of their results in silicone ear, nasal, oculofacial, hand, and foot prosthetics. We want you to be fully informed with accurate expectations so you can really be happy with your new prosthesis.
Interested in Learning More
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Is there a Difference in Prosthetics Providers?
Yes. Providing lifelike restorations is best when practiced as a full time dedicated specialty. Some things to look for:
- Education or training in the allied medical/health professions
- Previous institutional employment to substantiate clinical experience.
- Publications or presentations that demonstrate professional involvement in anaplastology.
- Before and after photos of the anaplastolgist’s prosthetics results of cases similar to yours.
- Photos showing the anaplastologist’s familiarity with attachment methods or concepts to maximize your success.
Our clinical anaplastologists have sought to distinguish lifelike facial, hand, and foot prosthetics not as an ancillary service to traditional maxillofacial dentistry or extremity orthotics/highly-detailed-prosthetics, but as a flagship service advanced by dedicated professionals. It is our core competency honed through daily practice spanning 5 decades. This accomplishment is unique in the United States.
So, what are some ways to judge the quality of a silicone prosthesis for the face or body? In the photos below, we have used prosthetic ears as an example to illustrate what happens when non-standard materials or techniques are used. The same potential for premature deterioration exists whether you are seeking a prosthetic nose, eye, finger, toe or other silicone restoration, .
The prosthesis on the left was not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. The coloration is plain and monochromatic which makes the ear look plastic and artificial. The replacement prosthesis we provided on the right is characterized with skin-like surface details such as superficial blood vessels, moles, and freckles.
Deeper layering of yellow tones also creates the illusion of antihelix cartilage beneath the skin and a matted ear lobe connotes fleshy tissues that make the final ear prosthesis more natural more real. Ear prostheses should possess the same colors seen in real anatomy such as pink, amber, scarlet, and even lavender all rendered carefully to make your prosthesis look alive.
This ear prosthesis was not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. Although it is deteriorated as will happen to any silicone prosthesis, the photo still reveals poor execution:
- Anatomical forms such as the helix (rim) lack definition and refinement.
- Color is applied mostly on the surface, lacking depth and durability.
- Surface is bumpy and course, lacking a smooth skin-like texture.
The deteriorated bar/clip-retained ear prosthesis was not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. Cracks seen in the silicone suggest use of inferior silicones or fabrication technique.
Our prosthesis (bottom images) includes high performance medical silicone, skin-like detailing, and a mechanically anchored bar/clip substructure for greater durability.
This collage documents a patient’s bar/clip osseointegration-retention system and two prosthesis attempts (red Xs) that she had received elsewhere. Here we see the new prosthesis that she received from Medical Art Prosthetics and a comparison of the ear prosthesis treatments.
The patient’s older implant-retained ear prosthesis (not provided by Medical Art Prosthetics) was fitted with an ordinary samarium cobalt magnet which corroded causing skin irritation and attachment failure. We prepared a new auricular prosthesis with a powerful low-profile neodymium iron boron magnet encased in corrosion-proof inert titanium. All materials used by Medical Art Prosthetics are biocompatible, safe and designed to last years.
This patient wore 2 different older prostheses not provided by Medical Art Prosthetics. They were both fabricated using a non-standard polymer and both lack correct size and color characterization. Both lack the right balance of opacity and translucence. Our prosthesis (bottom) addressed these issues.
Choose Prosthesis Detail Specialists. It Matters!
“I was never happy with my previous prosthesis”, or, “I wish I could improve my prosthesis result”. If you have said this, Let Us Help You!
Many clients come to us unhappy with the prosthesis they received elsewhere. Super accurate and lifelike prosthetic eyes, nose prosthesis, ear prosthetics, and hand/foot prosthetics demand specialized artistic practitioners who sweat the details. We know that details really matter to the final outcome.
Look closely at the work of Medical Art Prosthetics. We specialize in highly life-like silicone maxillofacial, hand, and foot prosthetics. We know about the parameters in judging aesthetic results, and our network team of anaplastologists:
- Have decades of experience with implant-retained prostheses.
- Know the best prosthetic adhesives and silicones
- Employ the most user-friendly fitting strategies
- Prepare you with the best aftercare guidance to maximize your user experience.
Medical Art Prosthetics designs new ear (auricular) prostheses for individuals from across the country who are ready for a new or a better ear prosthesis.
The difference in the level of care and precision that go into the design of your ear prosthesis may be difficult for you and others to appreciate. For this reason we critique some sample ear prostheses that were not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. The sample ear prostheses shown here were created by various practitioners in a variety of settings. We respectfully acknowledge that each prosthetic ear was very likely delivered in a professional manner with great care. We respect the dedication and effort of every professional. But we are confident we can make you happier with your ear prosthesis. The improvements we offer in aesthetics and durability can be dramatic and have a dramatic effect on the way you feel about your appearance. Therefore, we as professionals feel compelled to educate in any way that helps you with informed decision making.
In these comparisons the other provider’s prostheses are not faulted on the basis of their deterioration. All ear prostheses are subject to some discoloration and degradation over time. However, in viewing these prosthetic ears there is evidence of inferior materials selection, anatomical detail, or color definition and surface texture. Patients still often wear their current ear prostheses when they come to our offices, but they always leave feeling that we have improved their experience of wearing an ear prosthesis. We applaud all the efforts of our colleagues in the prosthetics fields, but we specialize. In auricular ear prosthetics that can make a world of difference in your life.
Medical Art Prosthetics has decades of experience in making and fitting extremely accurate silicone eye/orbital prosthetics. We are here to show you the eye prosthesis results that make a diference for you. When we design your silicone eye/orbital prostheses our goal is to achieve maximum accuracy and naturalism in a set gaze. Here we introduce a simple test to demonstrate the basic quality and effectiveness of our typical outcomes in prosthetic orbital eye prosthetic restoration.
Our goal is to achieve what we have termed Visual Integration of the eye prosthesis.
Some wear a larger orbital restorative prosthesis we sometimes refer to as an upper facial prosthesis or a hemifacial prosthesis. These larger versions all include the prosthetic eye (ocular prosthesis), but they also may include the eyebrow or the nose or the cheek area. Knowing this, is the extent of the prosthetic restoration readily obvious? At a glance, would you even detect that the individual wears an orbital prosthesis? If the answer is no, then the wearer can interact confidently knowing they have the most convincing and accurate restoration possible. This accomplishment we call successful visual integration of the prosthesis.
All patients are encouraged to select attractive eyewear for protecting the sighted eye and to enhance the overall effect of the restoration. Glasses, even safety glasses as demonstrated by some in these examples very effectively cast shadows and refract light to obscure transitions and soften the fixed gaze of the eye.
The other main factor in considering what contributes to success in orbital prosthetics is how effectively the prosthesis attaches not just how secure it is, but how easy it is to position, to remove and to care for without undue concern about damaging the exquisite detail instilled in the prosthesis. An orbital prosthesis that is attractive, durable AND manageable by the patient such that it worn most every day has achieved what Medical Art Prosthetics has defined as Functional Integration.
If you have lost your whole nose or a part of your nose we want to help. There is a difference in the training and artistic ability of each type of provider. This difeference may dramatically affect how you feel when you apply your prosthetic nose restoration to wear in public. Our practitioners are specialists in nasal and facial prosthetic restoration, and this will make a life-changing difference for you.
For starters, a little education: You might find these prostheses referred to as a nose prosthesis, nasal prosthesis, midfacial prosthesis, or extraoral maxillofacial prosthetics. These terms should not confuse you. In general all prosthetics to restore the nose are made out of silicone elastomer which is a flexible rubber-like medical polymer material. Next, do you need:
- a partial nose prosthesis to restore or cover the tip your nose
- a partial nasal prosthesis to rebuild the ala or side of your nose
- a small prosthesis to fill a dip in the bridge of your nose
- the entire nose, perhaps part of the cheek too?
Regardless, we know you want it to fit and match perfectly. That is a challenge that many providers attempt, because they want to help. We understand this, but we still believe our commitment to this specialty is unsurpassed, and it makes a big difference. There is a difference in the degree of success in each and every nose prosthesis outcome. We want to share and illustrate the differences that will make a tremendous difference in your confidence each day.
If you need finger, hand, toe, or partial foot prosthetics then Medical Art Prosthetics offers a distinct difference. We act as both a team and a network:
- in case you need collaborative efforts we communicate as a team of 6 clinicians
- we have experience and credentials in both anaplastology arts and in extremity functional prosthetics
- in case you relocate across the country we will be accessible
We are not only anaplastologists. This means you have ALL prosthetic options; both aesthetic AND functional! Extremity prosthetist certification credentials might make the difference if your prosthetic hand restoration or foot prosthesis is considered as a medical prosthetic device requiring medical justification for insurance approval. We are also certified to provide other lines of lifelike prosthetic restorations such as Livingskin by Ossur, in case price makes the difference. The differences with the Medical Art Prosthetics network are:
- 6 member anaplastologist-prosthetist team approach
- 8 or more nationwide locations
- anaplastologist-created highest level of detail finger and toe prosthetics
- optional Livingskin silicone hand and foot prostheses by Ossur Prosthetics
- functioning finger prosthetics and partial hand prosthetics devices (Naked Prosthetics, Point Designs, Partial Hand Solutions)