Early rehabilitation of facial defects using interim removable prostheses: report of two clinical cases.

Abstract

Postsurgical facial defects often pose a challenge to patient rehabilitation. Such defects can have a severe adverse effect on patient perceptions of body image and self-esteem. When immediate surgical repair of the defect is not feasible, an interim removable facial prosthesis may be considered. This prosthesis can be fabricated and placed as soon as several days after surgery to provide a cosmetically acceptable appearance, permitting the patient to more comfortably and confidently resume social interactions during the postoperative healing period. This article presents two case reports describing the use of interim facial prostheses to provide rapid patient rehabilitation.