72-Year-Old Gets Double Surgery for Implant Issues

A 72-year-old woman had to undergo a second round of surgery on both sides of her face. She needed the eye sockets rebuilt with tissue taken from her own skin.

First, doctors performed two staged operations to take out her natural eyes and place porous polyethylene implants that have built-in stitching platforms. Those procedures were done about 18 months before the new surgery.

Several factors could have caused the implants to show up outside the socket. Her age, the surgical technique used, and the way the implants were designed might all be reasons.

Because the evidence is still thin, researchers say we need longer follow-up studies to see if this kind of implant is more likely to cause problems later on.

If the implants stay hidden, the patient can avoid pain and further surgery. But without proper monitoring, hidden problems could grow and make things harder to fix.