Would It Be Better to Use Absorbable Pins in Facial Contouring Surgery? About the Types, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Fixation Pins!

Hello, I’m Dr. Jo Hyun-woo of 3D Plastic Surgery.

Today, let’s look at standard fixation pins and absorbable pins used in facial contouring surgery.

Absorbable screws

Absorbable pins used in contouring surgery are made of sugar-based components similar to some substances in the body,

and their biggest characteristic is that they break down over time and are absorbed into the body.

After surgery, they are absorbed by the body after about 6 months, so there is no need to remove the pins, which is an advantage.

When taking an X-ray, the pins are not visible, so these are sought by people who do not want fixation pins to show in dental treatment or imaging of other facial areas.

However, absorbable pins also have drawbacks. Due to the nature of the material, there is a risk of breakage.

Appearance after removal of standard titanium fixation pins

In facial contouring surgery, how securely the bone is joined determines the surgical result.

Shaping the bone well is important, but allowing the bone to heal properly after surgery is also a very important process in contouring surgery.

3D cheekbone reduction surgery (left) before surgery, (right) after surgery

Bone fixed with standard fixation pins (titanium) goes through a process of bone union over about 3 to 6 months.

In cheekbone surgery, the cheekbone area has the masseter muscle, which pulls strongly.

The titanium screws commonly used are very hard and strong, but the cheekbone area is subject to a force strong enough to break even these titanium screws.

Therefore, if absorbable pins are used for cheekbone surgery, there is a high possibility that the pins may break.

If you are considering absorbable pins, I recommend that you have sufficient consultation with a specialist before using them.

In general, when I perform 3D cheekbone surgery, I do not recommend using absorbable pins in the 45-degree area,

and in the 230-degree cheekbone surgery performed at our clinic, the posterior fixation area does not require strong fixation,

so I believe there is no problem using absorbable pins.

230-degree cheekbone reduction surgery (top) before surgery, (bottom) after surgery

In 230-degree cheekbone surgery, the 45-degree area is not completely osteotomized, so there is no need to use fixation pins in that area,

and if only the posterior fixation is done with absorbable pins, there is no need for pin removal surgery, so it can be a good option for patients who do not want pins to be visible on X-rays.

Usually, the reason people want to use absorbable pins or have fixation pins removed is psychological—the feeling that a foreign body remains in the face—and the fact that fixation pins are visible on X-rays.

Standard fixation pins are usually made of a metal component called titanium, and they are safe materials commonly used not only in contouring surgery but also in other surgical fields, such as dental implant procedures and heart stent procedures. Also, fixation pins are non-magnetic and cannot be detected by metal detectors.

However, if you do not want fixation pins to appear on X-rays during dental treatment or if they are bothering you, they can be completely removed through pin removal surgery. Sometimes, a long time after facial contouring surgery, bone may cover the fixed pins. In such cases, the pins may not be removed 100%, so if you definitely want the fixation pins removed, it is best to do so within 6 months to 1 year, which is the period it takes for the operated bone to fully unite.

Thank you.