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Application of Personalized 3D-Printed Silicone Implants in Rhinoplasty: An Animal Experimental Study
Mengmeng Hou1, Huichen Li2, Yajie Guo2
1The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
Background:
Silicone implants are widely used in rhinoplasty but often face issues such as displacement, tilting, sliding, and translucency. Additionally, their fixed sizes fail to meet individualized needs, and intraoperative carving increases surgical difficulty and time. 3D printing technology offers the potential for precise and personalized silicone nasal implants to address these challenges.
Objective:
To investigate whether 3D-printed silicone nasal implants can reduce implant displacement, sliding, tilting, and translucency, as well as shorten surgical time compared to traditional silicone implants.
Methods:
The dimensions of the implant were determined by measuring the nasal dorsum of experimental animals. 3D CT scanning was used to obtain nasal bone data, based on which personalized silicone implants were designed and fabricated to fit the bone surface. A rabbit nasal implantation model was used to compare outcomes between 3D-printed implants (3D group) and traditional silicone implants (control group). Additional implantation experiments were conducted on beagle dogs.
Results:
The 3D-printed silicone nasal implants showed a tight fit with the nasal bone. Their rough surface and porous design promoted tissue ingrowth, reducing implant displacement. The porous structure also minimized light refraction and translucency. The implantation surgery required no carving, thus reducing operative time.
Conclusion:
3D-printed silicone implants effectively address displacement and translucency issues associated with traditional implants, enable personalized design to meet individual patient needs, reduce surgery time, and improve surgical efficiency.
No Level Assigned:
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