Craniofacial Prosthesis - Definition, Application, and Benefits
- Craniofacial prostheses are used to rehabilitate individuals with facial defects caused by disease, trauma, or birth defects.
- They can replace parts of the face such as the ear, nose, or eye/eyelids.
- Ocular and hair prostheses can also be classified as craniofacial prostheses.
- Prostheses can be held in place using adhesives, implants, magnets, or mechanical means.
- Their purpose is to cover, protect, and disguise facial disfigurements or underdevelopments.
- When surgical reconstruction is not ideal, craniofacial prosthetics can better restore the form and function of the absent facial feature.
- They replace the physical form and functional mechanics of the absent anatomy.
- Craniofacial prosthetics play a significant role in the emotional stability and rehabilitation of individuals with facial defects.
- They are not solely considered cosmetic but serve a broader purpose in restoring the individual's well-being.
- The prosthetics aim to closely resemble the natural anatomy of each individual.

Anaplastology and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics
- Anaplastology and maxillofacial prosthodontics are the fields in which individuals are trained to create craniofacial prostheses.
- These professionals have the necessary expertise to medically assist in the rehabilitation process.
- They specialize in addressing facial defects caused by disease, trauma, or birth defects.
- Their training enables them to design prostheses that closely match the natural anatomy of each individual.
- Anaplastology and maxillofacial prosthodontics contribute to the overall success and effectiveness of craniofacial prosthetics.

Related Fields and Resources
- Anaplastology is a field closely related to craniofacial prosthetics.
- Prosthetic technology and techniques are utilised in the creation of craniofacial prostheses.
- Prosthodontics is another field that plays a role in the development and application of craniofacial prosthetics.
- Various organizations and associations, such as the International Anaplastology Association and the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, provide resources and information on craniofacial prosthetics.
- Research articles and publications, such as the one by Keerl et al., contribute to the knowledge and advancements in craniofacial prosthetics.

References and Further Reading
- Aetna.com provides information on facial prostheses.
- Noridianmedicare.com offers an end user agreement related to craniofacial prosthetics.
- The International Anaplastology Association is a valuable resource for information on craniofacial prosthetics.
- The American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics provides resources and support in the field.
- The research article by Keerl et al. in Skull Base Surgery offers insights into prosthetic rehabilitation after craniofacial surgery.

Craniofacial prosthesis (Wikipedia)

This article is about medical use. For entertainment or recreational use, see Facial prosthetic.

Craniofacial prostheses are prostheses made by individuals trained in anaplastology or maxillofacial prosthodontics who medically help rehabilitate those with facial defects caused by disease (mostly progressed forms of skin cancer, and head and neck cancer), trauma (outer ear trauma, eye trauma) or birth defects (microtia, anophthalmia). They have the ability to replace almost any part of the face, but most commonly the ear, nose or eye/eyelids. An ocular prosthesis and hair prosthesis can also be classified as craniofacial prostheses. Prostheses are held in place either by biocompatible drying adhesives, osseointegrated implants, magnets, or another mechanical means (although rare) such as glasses or straps. Prostheses are designed to be as similar as possible to the natural anatomy of each individual. Their purpose is to cover, protect, and disguise facial disfigurements or underdevelopments.

Before (left) and after image of a French man wearing a craniofacial prosthesis, 1918

Before (left) and after image of a French woman wearing a craniofacial prosthesis, 1900-1950

When surgical reconstruction is not ideal, craniofacial prosthetics are favored when they can better restore the form and function of the absent facial feature. Craniofacial prosthetics are not wholly considered cosmetic because they replace the physical form and functional mechanics of the absent anatomy and serve a significant role in the emotional stability and rehabilitation of those with facial defects.