Medical Art Prosthetics

09/05/2026

39th Anaplastology Meeting in Baltimore: This Time, Not Just Another Meeting

Over 40 years ago, I received an unexpected phone call while working in San Antonio. Someone from Stanford was conducting a survey of people involved in facial and somatic prosthetics and asked whether I would be interested in the formation of an association for those doing this specialized work.

My answer was an immediate yes.

That inquiry eventually led me to San Francisco in 1986 for the first meeting of what became the American Anaplastology Association. I remember many of the conversations from that meeting remarkably well. We discussed the future of our small field, including the possibility of someday establishing professional certification for anaplastologists.

Fast forward 40 years.

This year's International Anaplastology Association meeting was held at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore. The location was especially fitting. Johns Hopkins has established the country's first master's degree program specifically in Clinical Anaplastology, with Juan Garcia and Andrew Etheridge among the primary faculty training the next generation of anaplastologists.

They were also exceptional hosts for this year's meeting.

But what made this meeting especially meaningful to me came at the end of the conference.

For the first time, an additional day was devoted exclusively to Certified Clinical Anaplastologists (CCAs). Eighteen CCAs attended, with each participant presenting and sharing techniques, materials, experiences, and ideas with colleagues.

For someone who remembers those first conversations about certification almost 40 years ago, it was gratifying to see the credential recognized in this way.

The field has changed considerably since that first meeting in 1986. What began largely as an informal exchange among people from diverse backgrounds has gradually developed into a more defined profession, complete with certification and now a dedicated university graduate program.

It was quite a journey from San Francisco in 1986 to Baltimore in 2026.

Read the full story and see photographs from the meeting on the Medical Art Prosthetics website.

06/29/2026

Behind every lifelike facial prosthesis is someone who genuinely cares.

Creating a custom nasal prosthesis is far more than making a medical device. It is a careful blend of artistry, engineering, advanced materials, and compassion.

This series of photographs highlights the meticulous work of Clinical Anaplastologist David Hoehn, who serves patients in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of the Medical Art Prosthetics national network.

Every stage matters.

From refining the wax sculpture and designing the mold to processing medical-grade silicone and matching skin tones, countless small decisions combine to create a prosthesis that feels comfortable, functions well, and restores confidence.

Many of our patients come to us after already receiving a prosthesis elsewhere. They often tell us they are hoping for a better fit, a more natural appearance, improved comfort, or greater stability.

That was true for this wonderful client.

She found Medical Art Prosthetics through our national website and was connected with David, who designed a new magnet-retained nasal prosthesis using her existing implant system. The result was a prosthesis that provided a more natural appearance, a secure fit, and renewed confidence.

Our mission has always been simple:

To connect patients with anaplastologists who devote themselves to the highest level of facial prosthetic artistry and patient care.

Every prosthesis represents hundreds of carefully considered decisions. Every patient represents a life we have the privilege to help restore.

What Our Patient Had to Say:

"My prosthetic nose turned out fantastic! When I look in the mirror I see myself again and people don’t stare at me anymore. All of this thanks to David Hoehn. He is kind and very knowledgeable and was patient with me during the making and coloring of my nose. I never felt rushed and I felt he really cared and wanted to take as much time as necessary to get it right. I am so glad I found Medical Art Prosthetics and David Hoehn!

If you or someone you know is looking for a custom facial prosthesis, we invite you to learn more about our services at Medical Art Prosthetics.

➡️ Visit: https://medicalartprosthetics.com

06/03/2026

How does a prosthetic nose stay in place without adhesive, glasses, implants, or straps?

For one of our longtime patients from West Virginia, the answer has been a uniquely designed nasal prosthesis that gently engages the natural contours within the nasal cavity itself.

We originally created his prosthetic nose in 2019. Since then, it has provided years of comfortable daily wear with only periodic color refinements performed through the mail. This allowed him to avoid repeated trips while continuing to enjoy a natural appearance and secure fit.

After more than seven years, normal anatomical changes gradually affected the fit of the prosthesis. Rather than continue making adjustments, he and his wife traveled to our Madison, Wisconsin facility where Clinical Anaplastologist Julia Schomberg created a new impression and began the process of fabricating a completely new nasal prosthesis.

One of the realities of facial prosthetics is that our faces naturally change over time. Weight fluctuations, aging, and soft tissue changes can all affect the fit of even the most accurately crafted prosthesis. Periodic redesign and refitting are simply part of providing long-term facial restoration.

The result is a new prosthetic nose that fits securely, looks natural, and feels like a part of him.

We are honored by the trust our patients place in us, especially those who continue their care with Medical Art Prosthetics for many years.

"Watch the video to see how this adhesive-free nasal prosthesis is inserted and removed while maintaining a secure and comfortable fit." https://youtu.be/N4NmoqE_bKQ?si=jGlacu7H1l6k4o1S

In the images below the lower right image shows our patient (aqua shirt) demonstrating the secure attachment of his new 2026 nasal prosthesis.

To learn more about nasal prostheses and facial restoration, visit:
www.medicalartprosthetics.com

04/19/2026

When someone loses an ear due to trauma, the impact goes far beyond the physical. It affects confidence, daily interactions, and the ability to feel like oneself again.

At Medical Art Prosthetics, we recently had the opportunity to help a patient who had lived for years with an unsatisfactory prosthesis. After doing his own research, he found our team and made the decision to move forward with a more refined, lifelike solution.

Over the course of several focused sessions, Anaplastologist Maddie Singer created a custom ear prosthesis designed to match his skin tone, contours, and natural anatomy with a high level of precision. Just as important, we ensured the fit and margins allowed the prosthesis to blend seamlessly and feel secure in everyday use.

The result is more than a prosthesis. It is a restoration of confidence and a return to normalcy.

For those exploring options after ear loss, it is important to know that highly detailed, durable, and natural-looking solutions are available.

Our beautiful treatment location in Los Angeles seen in the background is just one of our inviting locations across the country.

We are always here to answer questions and guide you through the process.

🔗 www.medicalartprosthetics.com

04/08/2026

Life After Rhinectomy: What Comes Next?

For patients who undergo rhinectomy, the end of hospital treatment is not always the end of the journey. In many cases, it’s the beginning of a new and uncertain phase.

What many patients are not told is that a nasal prosthesis can play a critical role in restoring appearance, confidence, and quality of life.

Anaplastologist Todd Kubon recently worked with a patient who faced this exact transition. In this post, we’re sharing his story along with a series of images that show the step-by-step process of creating and fitting his custom nasal prosthesis.

This is not simply about aesthetics. It is about restoring identity and helping someone return to their life.

You’ll see:
• The initial condition following surgery
• The detailed anaplastology process
• The final result
• And the patient’s own words about his experience

If you or someone you know is navigating life after head and neck cancer surgery, this is an important perspective that is often overlooked.

👉 View the full story and images here: https://medicalartprosthetics.com/miscellaneous/nasal-prosthesis-after-rhinectomy/

Discover how a nasal prosthesis after rhinectomy can enhance appearance and boost self-esteem with custom solutions and expert care.

03/24/2026

Delivering a Secure, Natural-Looking Ear Prosthesis

When patients or surgeons ask about the reliability of an implant-retained ear prosthesis, this case is a powerful example of what’s possible.

In collaboration with a plastic surgeon and implant team, we created a custom silicone ear prosthesis that is both highly secure and remarkably lifelike. It resists accidental bumps during daily life, yet can be easily removed by the patient when needed.

Equally important, the prosthesis matches the natural ear in shape, color, and translucency—even under different lighting conditions.

This is what modern auricular prosthetics should deliver: stability, realism, and long-term confidence.

Patients travel from across the country—and internationally—for this level of care, and surgeons trust experienced anaplastologists to help achieve predictable outcomes.

This young man received his prosthesis over 10 years ago using the Cochlear Vistafix System. We now use the newest craniofacial implant system with excellent attachment options by Southern Implant Systems.

👉 Learn more about implant-retained ear prostheses: https://medicalartprosthetics.com/miscellaneous/ear-prosthesis-attached/

03/02/2026

Why Preserving the Tragus Matters in Ear Removal Surgery

When planning an auriculectomy (ear removal surgery), there’s one small structure that can make a surprisingly big difference in the long-term success of an ear prosthesis: the tragus

It may look minor, but from a prosthetic design standpoint, preserving the tragus can dramatically improve both durability and appearance over time.

Early in my training at the University of Illinois Medical Center, I learned something that has proven true again and again in practice: the tragus creates a natural visual break in the front edge of an ear prosthesis. When it’s preserved, it shortens and protects the most vulnerable margin of the prosthesis.

Without it, that front edge must extend in one long, thin feathered margin across the cheek. Even when sculpted beautifully at delivery, daily exposure to skin oils, perspiration, facial movement, and adhesive removal can gradually weaken that area. Over time, thinning or subtle opacity changes can make the edge more noticeable.

When the tragus is intact, it helps:
• Reduce mechanical stress on the prosthesis
• Improve long-term blending
• Minimize visible margin transitions
• Increase overall durability

Even with implant-retained prostheses—where adhesives are not a factor—small edge transitions can sometimes become visible due to light refraction. A natural tragal contour helps disguise this as well.

In children born with Microtia, the tragus is often absent or positioned incorrectly. In some cases, surgeons will reconstruct it specifically to improve future prosthetic outcomes. That is surgical and prosthetic planning working together at its best.

Preserving the tragus isn’t just an aesthetic preference. It directly impacts margin control, longevity, optical blending, and ultimately patient confidence.

Small anatomical decisions made in the operating room can significantly influence the long-term success of facial prosthetic rehabilitation.

Collaboration between surgeon and anaplastologist at the planning stage remains one of the most important steps in achieving the best possible outcome for our patients.

If you’re a surgeon, prosthodontist, or medical professional involved in head and neck reconstruction, thoughtful pre-surgical planning truly matters.

01/22/2026

The Slip-On Ear Prosthesis
Ear Prosthesis Wear for a Lifetime

Only people who wear an ear prosthesis know how important a truly accurate prosthesis is in their daily life. An ear prosthesis that fits perfectly, stays on securely all day, and looks natural in its coloration and blending with the skin is not only achievable, but also what we strive to deliver to patients nationwide daily. This is why Gabe has continued to return to us for over 22 years. We knew that Gabe liked wearing his original slip-on ear prosthesis.

Wearing an Ear Prosthesis is Personal

As we became reacquainted Gabe shared, at one point he got a prosthesis from a practitioner based in a Florida medical or dental clinic, but he was very dissatisfied with the aesthetics of the prosthesis that was delivered to him. In his sharing it was apparent that Gabe was sensitive to the artistic and very personal nature of the relationships in the small esoteric specialty of creating lifelike prosthetic ears. So, we were glad that our location in Tampa made it a little more convenient for Gabe to reconnect for a new prosthesis.

Durable Mold Produced Ears for 22 Years!

We got right up to speed quickly using Gabe’s original 22-year-old master mold which was safely archived. From that mold a wax prototype was processed faithfully capturing all the subtle details Gabe had sought after. It was then carefully aligned and adapted to the updated model of Gabe’s ear, since his own ear had grown in size and shape over the course of 22 years. See the photos of his ear from 2003 and 2025.

With all the updated information captured including the new size, shape, and fit of the prototype and the recording of all the colors seen in his skin the next step was back to the laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.

Come back to see Gabe's New Ear Prosthesis

Anaplastologist Julia Schomberg will complete the molding and processing of Gabe’s new ear in our softer silicone material that he prefers. In Gabe's case the detailed laboratory work will take place in the main facility in Madison, Wisconsin. Stay tuned for the final details as Julia prepares and delivers Gabe’s ear prosthesis in Tampa, Florida.

12/08/2025

Our Loyal Client seen in Wisconsin and Florida

Beginning in 2017 our client wore nasal prostheses created by anaplastologists Greg Gion and Jim Hogue in the Madison, Wisconsin facility. In 2021 after 4 years of daily use Gion and his son Alexander, who was exploring anaplastology as a career, met with our client to deliver a new nasal prosthesis and clean and retint one of her prostheses. This session took place in professional offices located in Gainesville, Florida to accommodate our client’s location and that of 2 other patients needing nasal and larger midfacial prostheses. The durability of the prosthesis is evident in the photos which illustrate how well the very thin margins have remained untattered even with 4 years of daily adhesive cleanings. Much credit is given to our loyal client for her vigilant care in maintaining her prosthesis over 4 years!

That was 2021 and now in 2025 another 4 years have passed and so we see her again this time in Tampa, Florida. Tampa is our location previously served by anaplastologist Shay Kilby, MS who now lives and practices in Asheville, NC. This time in Tampa our client was seen by Gion and anaplastology representative Danielle Burgess, CMI, MFA. After our final tinting and fitting sessions, which were both accomplished in just one day, we delivered a new nasal prosthesis which we hope will continue to provide great service for at least another 4 years.

Since this meeting we have already had another Medical Art Prosthetics anaplastologist, Julia Schomberg, MSOP visit the Tampa location to get acquainted with new patients and work closely with Danielle. Please check back soon to learn more about the wonderful anaplastology of Julia Schomberg.

07/25/2025

From courage to craftsmanship — this little superhero now has an ear to match his spirit.
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Swipe to see the transformation: a custom prosthetic ear sculpted, color-matched, and fit with care by our team at Medical Art Prosthetics.⁠
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The journey from surgery to restoration isn’t just about appearance — it’s about confidence, connection, and being seen. ⁠
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We’re honored to walk alongside families like this one. 💜
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