Reconstructive Prosthetics Services

Facial prosthetics
Prostheses are fabricated specifically for each person to replace facial features with artificial replicas, such as eyes, ears, noses, parts of the mouth and cheek. A prosthesis is an artificial body part made from a rubber silicone and/or acrylic material. They are coloured to best match the skin tone and blend in with the surrounding area.
Prostheses may be attached in a number of ways depending on each person’s health and needs, including via medical adhesives, head-bands, spectacles or implants.

Body prosthetics
Body prostheses are fabricated with aim to restore contour of the body shape, such as following chest, calf, buttock, thigh, nipple and breast tissue loss. These prostheses sit externally between the skin and clothing.

Burns splints and scar management devices
Splints are fabricated to aid the healing process after burns to help prevent contraction. Similarly, scar splints are fabricated and continually adjusted to aid reducing scar contraction.

Surgical support
Custom splints and stents are fabricated to support a variety of surgical procedures, such as nasal stents to keep the nostril aperture open during healing.

Cranial plates
Custom titanium, acrylic and silicone implants are designed and fabricated to replace bone lost in the skull to restore protection and contour. The implant is the provided to the surgeon for implantation.

Gold eyelid weight assessment and fabrication
A tantalum weight is applied externally to your upper eyelid to assess the appropriate weight required for lid closure. A gold eyelid weight is then manufactured and provided to the surgeon for implantation.

Surgical planning
State of the art 3D technology is used to plan complex reconstructive surgery and design custom implants and surgical guides for additive manufacture (3D printing) in titanium. These guides and implants are used in surgery to aid the surgeon with intricate and complex reconstruction.

Plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and cranial splints
Bespoke splints are fabricated and fitted for suitable paediatric patients referred to us by specialist consultants. Clear helmets are used to help improve aesthetics of paediatric patients with misshapen heads. Helmets may also be used for post-surgical applications.

Reconstructive Prosthetics at Southmead Hospital are an accredited training unit for the Scientific Training Programme (Reconstructive Science) as part of the South West Consortium, in conjunction with Gloucester Royal Hospital, Poole Hospital and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.