Facial Contouring in Orthognathic Surgery: The Role of Facial Implants
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Research Question
- Population (P): Patients undergoing orthognathic surgery
- Concept (C): Facial implants (custom-made or conventional)
- Context (C): Simultaneous placement during orthognathic surgery.
2.3. Eligibility Criteria
- Involved human patients who underwent orthognathic surgery with simultaneous placement of facial implants (in a single surgical procedure)
- Included study designs such as case reports, case series, observational studies, clinical trials, and reviews
- No restriction on publication date or language.
- Studies focused exclusively on orthognathic surgery without reporting any details regarding facial implants
- Narrative reviews without primary data
- In vitro or animal studies
- Studies involving syndromic patients (e.g., craniofacial syndromes).
2.4. Information Sources and Search Strategy
- A.
- Study Selection and Data Extraction Process
- B.
- Data Charting and Synthesis
- Author(s), year of publication, and country
- Study design
- Patient demographics (age, sex)
- Type of facial implant used (e.g., custom-made, stock)
- Purpose and anatomical region of the implant
- Indication for implant placement (esthetic and/or functional)
- Associated orthognathic surgical procedure
- Clinical and esthetic/functional outcomes
- Reported complications
- Main conclusions.
- C.
- Risk of Bias and Quality Assessment
3. Results
3.1. Included Studies and Data Extraction
3.2. Anatomical Regions and Implant Materials
3.3. Follow-Up Periods
4. Discussion
4.1. Indications
4.2. Implant Materials
4.3. Intraoperative Technical Considerations
4.4. Outcomes
4.5. Summary and Future Perspectives
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Author (Year) | Implant Material | Anatomical Region | Key Distinctive Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marano et al. (2025) [7] | Polymethylmethacrylate | Mandibular angle to the chin | (1) Lower-third volume augmentation with Le Fort I, stable at 1-year follow-up. (2) Following virtual implant design, positive and negative muffle templates were 3D printed using light-curing biocompatible resins |
| Ramieri et al. (2025) [10] | Titanium (PSI) | Inferior border of the mandible and the posterior margin of the ramus | (1) Simultaneous correction of mandibular advancement, transverse widening, and vertical ramus augmentation. (2) Mean mandibular width gain of 18.1 ± 6.2 mm, with vertical ramus increases of ~6 mm bilaterally. |
| Rios et al. (2025) [30] | Titanium (PSI) | Mandibular angle implants | (1) BSSO tends to increase intergonial distance → must be considered in implant design. (2) In orthognathic surgery, inserted at the end, after occlusion is established. |
| Genc et al. (2022) [25] | Porous Polyethylene | Mandibular body and angle implants | (1) BSSO performed first to correct malocclusion. (2) Prefabricated Medpor implants trimmed according to the surgical template. (3) Implants heated in 90 °C saline and molded to fit the mandibular cortex |
| Kerkfeld et al. (2022) [26] | Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) | Mandibular, maxillary, temporal, zygomatic, periorbital | (1) PEEK implants were virtually planned in a second step (mirroring/superimposition strategy). (2) All patients underwent bimaxillary surgery (Le Fort I + bilateral sagittal split osteotomy), and after the PEEK implant placement |
| Olate et al. (2021) [21] | Medpor (stock) and PEEK (PSI) | Mandibular angle implants | (1) Stock implants: Triangle shape with ramus and body coverage. size confirmed with a template; implant modified when necessary. Fixed with 1–2 titanium screws. (2) Patient-Specific Implants: Adaptation obtained directly from CAD/CAM (no template needed). Fixed with 1 titanium screw. |
| Lutz et al. (2020) [11] | High-density porous polyethylene | Malar implants | (1) Simultaneous placement showed no significant difference, but delayed placement was preferred (2) Rationale: gradual facial change, reduced infection risk, short operative time (3) Implants support the lower eyelid in older patients → rejuvenating effect |
| Findikcioglu el al. (2018) [24] | Porous polyethylene | Genioplasty (chin) | (1) Horizontal sliding osteotomy with 8 mm advancement plus an implant adding 9 mm projection. (2) Mean soft-tissue advancement of 13 mm at the menton region. |
| Fattahi et al. (2017) [23] | Silicone | Infraorbital rim | (1) It was chosen using sizers (small or medium) for harmony with maxillary osteotomy correction. (2) Implant inserted and positioned as superiorly as possible to augment the entire infraorbital rim length, may rest on Le Fort I fixation plates and secured with titanium screws. |
| Menezes et al. (2016) [28] | Porous polyethylene | Improvement of the paranasal area | Effect of implants: significant improvement in nasolabial angle and columella inclination in cases of midface hypoplasia |
| D’Agostino et al. (2016) [18] | Porous HA granules | zygomatic region | (1) Shaping is performed at the end of the Le Fort I orthognathic procedure. (2) Pockets created within the zygomatic bones match implant size (prevent displacement). (3) No internal fixation needed to stabilize implants. |
| Scolozzi et al. (2015) [32] | polyetheretherketone-PSI | Chin and mandibular defects. | (1) Rapid workflow: Models reviewed, marked, and approved by the surgeon before final manufacturing. (2) Intraoral incision and implants matched bone defect dimensions perfectly; no modifications required 3. Fixation with 1.5 titanium-plate lag screws. |
| Kwon et al. (2014) [27] | Porous polyethylene | Paranasal | (1) Sub-periosteal reflection performed in the paranasal/piriform area, no need to reflect the anterior nasal spine (2) Thin margins trimmed for anatomical fit; smooth graft transition verified (3) Fixation with 7–9 mm miniscrew |
| Nocini et al. (2011) [19] | Porous polyethylene | Improvement of the malar area | (1) Clinical parameters for indication: marked mandibular excess, midface hypoplasia, retropositioned upper lip, severe bimaxillary discrepancy, infraorbital shadows (2) Analysis tool: grid-plan midfacial analysis (developed at Verona University). |
| Stringer et al. (2009) [33] | TiMesh titanium mesh | Mandibular angle | (1) Implant positioning: Medial aspect of mesh tray locked along the medial surface of the posterior border of the ramus and the inferior border of the mandible. (2) Fixation: Only 2 screws required. Minimal forces were applied to the titanium mesh implant. |
| Nocini et al. (2009) [29] | Porous polyethylene | Improvement of the malar area | (1) Advantages: stability, lower infection risk, fixation with titanium miniscrews, easy to insert and shape (2) Disadvantages: wider intraoral incisions sometimes required (for multiple areas), risk of exposure in thin or scarred skin under tension. |
| Robiony et al. (1998) [31] | Porous polyethylene | Malar implants | (1) Clinical evaluation and positioning reference by Mladick’s Method (2) Subperiosteal placement via incision from Le Fort I osteotomy and fixed with screws (3) Insertion: anteromedial, anterolateral, or both. The average implant size was 4 ± 0.5 mm. |
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Brito, G.C.; de Moraes, M.; Faverani, L.; Olate, S. Facial Contouring in Orthognathic Surgery: The Role of Facial Implants. Craniomaxillofac. Trauma Reconstr. 2026, 19, 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/cmtr19010002
Brito GC, de Moraes M, Faverani L, Olate S. Facial Contouring in Orthognathic Surgery: The Role of Facial Implants. Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction. 2026; 19(1):2. https://doi.org/10.3390/cmtr19010002
Chicago/Turabian StyleBrito, Gabriel Conceição, Márcio de Moraes, Leonardo Faverani, and Sergio Olate. 2026. "Facial Contouring in Orthognathic Surgery: The Role of Facial Implants" Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction 19, no. 1: 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/cmtr19010002
APA StyleBrito, G. C., de Moraes, M., Faverani, L., & Olate, S. (2026). Facial Contouring in Orthognathic Surgery: The Role of Facial Implants. Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction, 19(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/cmtr19010002

