Standard PEEK is outdated: It can cause chronic swelling (!)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

 

[Jgns]

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.



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.

Holy fuck dude thats horrible, I’m sorry to hear all that. How old are u now tho, and when did u have them put in. Sorry to hear abt the infections tho dude.

Yeahh the designer problem seems hard to solve, like we do have giant but ive yer to see a good design out of him personally. He does seem to be like the bezt in the field tho. Ig a bit of it comes down to knowing what objectively looks good, cometic surgery beauty trends are super retarded. I’m super worried abt that fact tho, kinda been rotting for years so anymore time wasted is just so depressing man.

Yeahh thats super underated, rehabroom spoke a bit abt this. My vision when it comes to aesthetics is to built both towards beauty, but with dimo, kinda like a jojo character. Alot of guys invest too heavily into strikingness and forget like simple prettyness, which is what girls really go for.

Yeahh honestly filler mogs so hard, i wish i could just simply go for it, itd be so fire. Unfortunately i want to do eyework and have horrible infra deficiency so i gt get an implant, and I’m getting a bimax anyways as a class 2 so yk. The constant touchup seems like hell too

 

[Neverland]

1)

Holy fuck dude thats horrible, I’m sorry to hear all that. How old are u now tho, and when did u have them put in. Sorry to hear abt the infections tho dude.

Yeahh the designer problem seems hard to solve, like we do have giant but ive yer to see a good design out of him personally. He does seem to be like the bezt in the field tho. Ig a bit of it comes down to knowing what objectively looks good, cometic surgery beauty trends are super retarded. I’m super worried abt that fact tho, kinda been rotting for years so anymore time wasted is just so depressing man.

Yeahh thats super underated, rehabroom spoke a bit abt this. My vision when it comes to aesthetics is to built both towards beauty, but with dimo, kinda like a jojo character. Alot of guys invest too heavily into strikingness and forget like simple prettyness, which is what girls really go for.

Yeahh honestly filler mogs so hard, i wish i could just simply go for it, itd be so fire. Unfortunately i want to do eyework and have horrible infra deficiency so i gt get an implant, and I’m getting a bimax anyways as a class 2 so yk. The constant touchup seems like hell too

Sorry to hear abt the infections tho dude.

It's always a risk but they don't happen as often. It's like 15%. Also, it's not a very big deal. I mean yeah, it's a psychological burden and you don't want it to happen. But it's not the end of the world.

With some surgeons, they take them out, you wait 4 weeks, and they put them back in. The area needs to be 'dry'/no fluids.

How old are u now tho, and when did u have them put in

I don't want to display much personal information tbh, but I began with silicone years ago, when silicone was the standard and few surgeons were known. You had Yaremschuck and Eppley. Both did procedures on me.

I saw some of Giant's results. He works with Pagnoni. I know him too.

Fillers wear off very fast. I did them too but in other areas than jaw and chin. Imo it's not worth it if they wear off so fast.

Alot of guys invest too heavily into strikingness and forget like simple prettyness, which is what girls really go for.

Absolutely. If you want strikingness, if you don't want to be an npc, jaw is law and dimorphic fearures are important. In certain environments like clubs, you need to stand out. Women tend to go out more during their ovulary period and (in general) go for more masculine, rough looking guys in those social gatherings.

When it comes to online dating, you need to stand out even more as everyone knows. You need to have total package online: youth, face, body, frame, height, etc.

In every day life and when it comes to relationships, alot of women prefer more 'normal' looking guys.

I’m super worried abt that fact tho, kinda been rotting for years so anymore time wasted is just so depressing man.

Everything in life is a trade off. For example, suppose you decided to do things, and you get more girls, there will be a time that you'll lose that, due to ageing for example. It will be difficult to cope with that. So whatever you win in life, it will be balanced out by losing it sooner or later, or losing something else in another area.

 

[monecel]

What about Ti

 

[Neverland]

What about Ti

What you mean with that?

 

[cocoloco:3]

What you mean with that?

titanium

 

[monecel]

What you mean with that?

Titanium implants

 

[monecel]

Also something: What if the surface of the PEEK implant is made textured?

 

[Neverland]

I don't know about titanium to be honest. PEEK is a good material. It often looks more natural than silicone. Silicone can give a shiny skin effect. Sometimes, in certain lights, you can 'see' the implant, which has been reported on this forum by some people too. PEEK needs to be mixed with the above mentioned. At least, that is what has been told to me by experts in the field and the reasoning and research behind it sound quite logical.

 

[Neverland]

Also something: What if the surface of the PEEK implant is made textured?

This question, I will ask to my designer. I remember asking him this too and he gave a lengthy response but I forgot half of it.

 

[monecel]

I don't know about titanium to be honest. PEEK is a good material. It often looks more natural than silicone. Silicone can give a shiny skin effect. Sometimes, in certain lights, you can 'see' the implant, which has been reported on this forum by some people too. PEEK needs to be mixed with the above mentioned. At least, that is what has been told to me by experts in the field and the reasoning and research behind it sound quite logical.

My current plan is PEEK inframalars and Titanium jaw angles, I think the combo is decent. Titanium is pretty based

 

[Neverland]

My current plan is PEEK inframalars and Titanium jaw angles, I think the combo is decent. Titanium is pretty based

Is Ti a smooth or rough surface?

 

[monecel]

Is Ti a smooth or rough surface?

It can be mesh (which I'd get) so it's more rough

Here's an example

 

[kingofkings]

Lot's of misinformation, I will correct you

1. All such implants cause a scar capsule to form around it. This is not unique to PEEK or your case.
2. Hydroxyapatite can also cause chronic swelling. See other posts I've written on this matter. It can also turn lumpy when used for jaw augmentation as per scans from a member here
3. Best approach is what Giant does with perfusion holes in the implant to encourage integration and blood supply to the underlying bone
4. PEEK is the gold standard. Perfusion holes, feathering, granulation of the surface etc improve it. This is why Giant is way ahead, he's learned all this stuff through trial and error on his guinea pigs

Any foreign object put in your face is a risk and has potential to cause swelling/irritation/infection etc, no matter what you do.

 

[Usurper]

Lot's of misinformation, I will correct you

1. All such implants cause a scar capsule to form around it. This is not unique to PEEK or your case.
2. Hydroxyapatite can also cause chronic swelling. See other posts I've written on this matter. It can also turn lumpy when used for jaw augmentation as per scans from a member here
3. Best approach is what Giant does with perfusion holes in the implant to encourage integration and blood supply to the underlying bone
4. PEEK is the gold standard. Perfusion holes, feathering, granulation of the surface etc improve it. This is why Giant is way ahead, he's learned all this stuff through trial and error on his guinea pigs

Any foreign object put in your face is a risk and has potential to cause swelling/irritation/infection etc, no matter what you do.

Isn't giant using Ti ?

I am interested on these topics, I am currently udergoing pre-op ortho and will get DJS in about a year and a half. Haven't discussed implants (I would benefit from malar and infras) with my surgeon yet, he offers PEEK. WIll research and bring these concerns to him.