Standard PEEK is outdated: It can cause chronic swelling (!)

[Neverland]

Because soft tissue cannot truly attach to smooth PEEK, the body treats it as a foreign object and forms a scar capsule around it.

It can cause chronic facial swelling and a bloated, puffy jawline that pops up every now and then (something like every 3 to 6 months, but it usually becomes worse over time).

I experienced this problem myself and I had to replace the implants with PEEK mixed with Hydroxyapatite. First time it occurred I thought I had an infection (drove me crazy). I did not know what caused it until I met other people who had the same problem.

The solution (at least, for now), is mixing PEEK with Hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral found in human bone. By fusing it with PEEK, the plastic is 'transformed' into a biocompatible structure that mimics real bone, so that the body does not create signals that it's a foreign object.

I don't know exactly how it works, but from what was explained: By engineering the implant's surface, the soft tissue grip and adhere to the structure, while the implant osseointegrates more with the natural bone.

Very few surgeons and designers offer this optiom (in fact, most surgeons and patients STILL use silicone). But there is a chance it becomes the new standard to avoid the above mentioned problem.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

[monecel]

Can you give me a source for the so called chronic facial swelling

 

[Neverland]

The problem is probably the lack of integration with surrounding tissue and bone.

Note that the use of PEEK for facial implants in the cosmetic field is relatively new. So it's only now that the industry starts to become more aware of this, as more people have been doing it. This issue has been confirmed to me by two surgeons. I also saw it on two other people. The chronic inflamation has been reported in the past on jawsurgeryforums.


Ai's take on this:

PEEK (polyetheretherketone) facial implants can occasionally cause prolonged or chronic swelling, though PEEK itself is considered highly biocompatible and chemically inert.

Chronic or delayed-onset swelling around a facial implant is usually not a direct toxic reaction to the PEEK material, but rather the result of secondary physiological or mechanical factors:

• • Low Tissue Adhesion and Fluid Accumulation: PEEK is bioinert and does not actively integrate with surrounding bone or soft tissue (poor osseointegration). Instead, the body forms a thin fibrous capsule around it. This potential space can sometimes accumulate persistent fluid (seromas or delayed fluid collections) or experience micro-motions that irritate the local tissue, triggering chronic low-grade inflammation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Mechanical Irritation or Bulkiness: Custom PEEK implants are rigid and stiff. If an implant is bulky, lacks smooth transitional edges ("feathering"), or mechanically interferes with dynamic facial or masticatory muscles (like the masseter) and lymphatic drainage pathways, it can lead to chronic lymphedema or soft tissue thickening in the area. [1]

 

[Neverland]

Here is one interesting study:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006423002089

Highlights​

• •
  The FBR produced by PEEK implantation in the body leads to the formation of fibrous capsule and inhibits the binding of PEEK to bone.
• •
  The drug molecule delivery system constructed on PEEK surface can steadily release anti-inflammatory drugs for a long time, and inhibit the inflammatory response and the formation of fibrous capsule after implantation.
• •
  The surface chemical modification technique improves the surface properties of PEEK while retaining the structure and properties of the PEEK body.
• •
  Nanopore structure can change the surface roughness of PEEK and convert mechanical signals into biological signals to further modulate the local immune microenvironment.

 

[Lookologist003]

Wow, a unique topic in 2026. Imagine. I used the search bar for a bit, I don't think this has ever been a topic, so congrats on hymening this topic.

HA-enhanced PEEK. This is future tech. What do they name it? "HAPEEK?" This thing I would probably call HAPEEK.

...If only Giant were still with us to chime in here. Alas we are only plebs.

Very few surgeons and designers offer this option

So how did you get yours. What was the process like? Where on your face are your implants? Most pressingly, does this kill us who are poor and boneless—how much were you out of pocket for the replacement?

 

[Neverland]

Wow, a unique topic in 2026. Imagine. I used the search bar for a bit, I don't think this has ever been a topic, so congrats on hymening this topic.

Thank you. Yeah, there are still alot of things people don't know yet. Because alot of things are kept secret, because people need to make money, because few indepth case reports are known, and for several other reasons.

What alot of people don't know is that the revision rate of jaw implants is a staggering 70 percent. This was told to me by a well known surgeon.

There are different reasons for this, and I will post more topics in the coming weeks to explain more things. One of the reasons is that precision is super important when it comes to the face and implants, especially with the jaw. It's one of the most difficult procedures to get it right (this means: improving the looks).

Yesterday, i stumbled upon an old topic here, and someone else mentioned the same percentage, but he was talking about facial implants IN GENERAL.

So how did you get yours.

I've been doing cosmetic procedures since a long time. I've seen and experienced the good, the bad and the worse. I've also had jaw and chin implant and revised them a couple of times.

What was the process like?

I've been to different surgeons all over the world. I know alot of designers and surgeons, some of them did procedures on me.

Most pressingly, does this kill us who are poor and boneless—how much were you out of pocket for the replacement?

Depends on the country and surgeon. I've been to European surgeons and American surgeons. Upcoming countries now when it comes to facial implants are Latin American countries like Colombia and Mexico. They are cheaper overall and offer a far better service and aftercare.

Most pressingly, does this kill us who are poor and boneless

If you do several things, and things as many times as me, it's going to kill you financially. It's been a hell of a ride, and not always in a pleasant way. But life is never easy, everyone suffers, even chad. That is the true blackpill.

 

[Jgns]

Holy i can’t believe this is acc being talked abt. I could’ve sworn giant talked a bit abt it, but i’ll try to get his opinion on it when i consult him this month (hopefully). The scar tissue bubble has been smt ive been nervous abt, espc in an area that needs the most grip it can fet like the inframalar area(which is what I’m planning on augumenting). If the revision percentage is as high as 70% in an area like the jaw due to those reasons I’m wondering how bad it us for the more delicate inframalar region, pretty scary. How are ur implants doing now, and whats the timeline been like.

 

[Neverland]

How are ur implants doing now, and whats the timeline been like.

Everything went down the drain in my case when I revised it the first time. The surgeon fcked up a nerve, fcking up my soft tissue, I got an infection and had to take everything out, and when doing it again with another surgeon, I I had another infection, and after that the surgeon was not able to achieve my peak look partially due to shitty design, and now I have to revise it again. But I'm an oldcel so it doesn't really matter anymore tbh. I went down 2 points and now I have to cope by sharing my knowledge and the fact that everyone dies ugly anyway.

If the revision percentage is as high as 70% in an area like the jaw

It's not always the surgeon's mistake (but most of the time it is a technical mistake). Alot of patients who do this shit are extremely critical and many people are trapped in the hedonic treadmill. They do and redo and find new flaws etc. Other reason is that there can be a different view on what looks good between the surgeon and patient or designer and patient. One other reason is that it's very difficult to predict how the end result will be. You can have a design ON PAPER that looks good, but turns out too big, too small, too high, too low, too asymmetrical, etc.

There's also an underrated factor which is almost never discussed, and it has to do with the social effect. You can go up in looks, win in aestethics, mog people, but loose in other areas like becoming more agressive looking and look more low trust, which can cause people to be too intimidated etc. instead of causing easy communication.

Also, soft tissue plays a role. A good filler injector can create great results, cause it's easier to create an optimal jaw and chin through the soft tissue. Implants are more unpredictable. But fillers wear off very fast in most people. More like a couple of weeks instead of months.