Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Facial prosthesis after orbital exenteration | CION Cancer Clinics
An orbital prosthesis is a custom-made silicone piece that covers the socket after an orbital exenteration. It carries an artificial eye, eyelids and skin matched to your face. It is fitted once the area has healed, and is held on with medical adhesive, a spectacle frame or small implants in the bone. It restores appearance, not sight. This page explains how it is made, cared for and chosen. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MM
Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- What is an orbital prosthesis after exenteration?
- How does the prosthesis stay on the face?
- What are the steps to getting a prosthesis made?
- What do the words in your notes mean?
- What do people believe about facial prostheses, and what is true?
- What does living with an orbital prosthesis involve?
- Who is a prosthesis not right for, and what can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about facial prostheses after exenteration
The short answer
What is an orbital prosthesis after exenteration?
An orbital prosthesis is a custom-made silicone piece that covers the empty socket after an orbital exenteration (removal of the eye, eyelids and the tissue around them). It carries an artificial eye, eyelids and skin coloured to match your face, and it is made after the area has fully healed.
Why it is different from an ordinary artificial eye
After an eye alone is removed, the eyelids and muscles stay, and a thin shell sits behind the lids. After an exenteration, there are no lids and no muscles left to hold anything. The socket is a hollow lined with skin or a flap of tissue. So the prosthesis has to rebuild the whole area on the surface of the face and be held on from outside.
Who makes it
It is made by a maxillofacial prosthodontist or an anaplastologist, specialists who build facial parts from silicone. They work with your surgeon, and often with your radiation oncologist, because the timing depends on healing and on any radiotherapy. Not every cancer centre has this specialist in-house, so ask your surgeon early who will make yours and where.
A prosthesis does not move or blink, and it does not give sight. It restores appearance, not vision.Holding it in place
How does the prosthesis stay on the face?
There are three main ways. The choice depends on the bone around the socket, any radiotherapy and how you want to manage it each day.
Medical adhesive
A skin-safe glue holds the edges to the skin around the socket. It needs no further surgery and is often the first option.
Things to know
- Sweat and heat can loosen it
- Some skin reacts to the glue
- The edges wear with daily removal
Attached to spectacles
The prosthesis is fixed to the frame of a pair of glasses. The frame helps hide the edges. It suits people who already wear glasses, though it moves if the glasses slip.
Bone-anchored implants
Small titanium posts are placed in the bone around the socket. Once the bone has grown onto them, the prosthesis clips or clicks on with magnets. It sits firmly and goes on the same way every time.
Things to know
- It needs a further, smaller operation
- Radiotherapy to the bone can make implants less reliable
- The skin around the posts needs daily cleaning
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistFrom surgery to fitting
What are the steps to getting a prosthesis made?
-
Healing after the operation
The socket must heal fully first. If radiotherapy follows, the skin needs extra time to settle afterwards. In the meantime many people wear a patch or dark glasses.
-
Checking the socket
Your surgeon examines the area and confirms it is ready. This check also looks for any sign of the cancer coming back.
-
Taking a mould
A soft material is gently pressed over the area to capture its exact shape. It feels cool and takes a short while. You breathe normally throughout.
-
Sculpting and colour matching
The specialist shapes a wax model, matching your other eye and eyelids. You may come back to try it and adjust the look. The skin colour is matched in daylight.
-
Fitting and learning to use it
The finished silicone piece is fitted. You are shown how to put it on, take it off and clean it, and how to spot problems with the skin underneath.
On your report
What do the words in your notes mean?
- Orbital exenteration
- An operation that removes the eye, the eyelids and the tissue in the bony socket around the eye.
- Orbit
- The bony cup in the skull that holds the eye.
- Skin graft or flap
- Skin or tissue moved from another part of the body to line or fill the socket so it can heal.
- Osseointegrated implant
- A titanium post that the bone grows onto, used to anchor a prosthesis firmly.
- Anaplastologist
- A specialist who makes realistic facial parts from silicone.
- Maxillofacial prosthodontist
- A dental specialist trained to rebuild parts of the face and jaw with artificial pieces.
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Commonly believed
What do people believe about facial prostheses, and what is true?
"It can be fitted straight after the operation."
The area has to heal and settle first, and longer if radiotherapy follows. Fitting too early can damage fragile skin and give a poor fit. A patch or glasses fill the gap in the meantime.
"Once it is made, it lasts for life."
Silicone fades in sunlight, the edges wear and the face changes with age and weight. Most people need a new one made from time to time. Ask the specialist how long yours is likely to last.
"Wearing it hides the cancer if it comes back."
A removable prosthesis lets your doctor see the socket clearly at every follow-up visit. That is one reason surgeons often prefer a removable cover to closing the area permanently. Take it off before each check.
"Nobody will want to be seen with me."
A well-made prosthesis with glasses is often hard to notice across a room. Many people return to work, family events and travel. The worry is very common early on. Talking to a counsellor helps many people through it.
Day to day
What does living with an orbital prosthesis involve?
It becomes part of your daily routine, much like dentures or spectacles. Most people put it on in the morning and take it off at night so the skin underneath can breathe.
Caring for the prosthesis
Wash it gently with mild soap and water and dry it well. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat, as both fade and warp silicone. Store it in its case, away from children and pets. Remove old adhesive carefully so the thin edges do not tear.
Caring for the socket
Clean the socket as your team shows you. A crust, a bad smell, a discharge or bleeding needs a call to your surgeon. So does a new lump, a sore that does not heal, or pain that is growing. Tell the team about any rash where the glue sits.
Hot, dusty days
Sweat can loosen adhesive, which matters in a Hyderabad summer. Keep a small kit with you: adhesive, a mirror and a soft cloth. Wraparound glasses help keep dust out.
Being straight with you
Who is a prosthesis not right for, and what can this page not tell you?
A prosthesis is a choice, not a requirement. Some people prefer a simple eye patch or dark glasses and find that easier to live with. That is a reasonable decision.
When it may not suit
Adhesive may not suit people with very sensitive skin or who work in heat and dust all day. Bone-anchored implants may not suit someone whose bone has had high doses of radiation, or who cannot manage daily cleaning around the posts. If the cancer is still active or likely to need more treatment soon, the team may advise waiting. Your surgeon and prosthesis specialist weigh these together.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you which method suits your face, how natural yours will look, or when you will be ready for fitting. Those depend on the shape of the socket, the healing, any radiotherapy and your own preferences. Ask your surgeon who makes prostheses, whether they have seen their work, and what happens if the fit is poor.
Bring a family member to the planning visit. Two sets of ears help when there are choices to make.Questions we are asked
Common questions about facial prostheses after exenteration
How long after exenteration can I get a prosthesis?
Usually a few months, once the socket has fully healed. If you have radiotherapy after the operation, the skin needs more time to recover before a mould is taken. Your surgeon decides when the area is ready. A patch or dark glasses can be worn in the meantime.
Will the prosthesis move or blink like a real eye?
No. After exenteration the muscles that move the eye and lids are removed, so the prosthesis stays still. It is made to match your other eye when you look straight ahead. Glasses with a slightly tinted lens help make the lack of movement much less noticeable.
Does taking the mould hurt?
No. The mould material is soft and is laid gently over the area. It may feel cool or a little heavy while it sets, and you breathe normally throughout. If your socket is still tender, tell the specialist beforehand so they can take extra care.
Can I sleep or bathe with the prosthesis on?
Most people take it off at night so the skin underneath can rest and stay healthy. Water and soap can loosen adhesive, so it is usually removed for bathing too. Your specialist will tell you what suits the way yours is attached.
Is a bone-anchored prosthesis better than one held with glue?
Not better for everyone. Implants hold more firmly and go on the same way every time, but they need another operation and daily cleaning around the posts. They may be less reliable in bone treated with radiation. Adhesive needs no surgery. Your team weighs which fits your situation.
What if the skin under the prosthesis becomes red or sore?
Leave the prosthesis off and call your team. Soreness can come from the glue, a poor fit or pressure on the skin. A sore that does not heal, a new lump or bleeding should also be checked, as the socket needs regular review for any sign of the cancer returning.
Will I need a new prosthesis later?
Yes, from time to time. Silicone fades, the edges wear, and the face changes with age and weight. How long each one lasts depends on care, sun exposure and daily use. Ask your specialist what to expect, and plan for replacements when you think about cost.
Is it covered by Aarogyasri or insurance?
The operation is often covered within cancer packages. Whether the prosthesis itself is covered varies by scheme and policy. Ask the scheme or insurance desk before it is made. Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS and cashless insurance each have their own rules, and the helpline can help you check.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for eye cancer
- American Cancer Society — Surgery for Eye Cancer
- National Cancer Institute — Eye Cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Eye cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Orbital Exenteration: Removing the Whole SocketWhat the operation itself involves and why it is doneHow Natural Does an Artificial Eye Look?What to expect from the look, up close and across a roomCost of Enucleation and Prosthesis in HyderabadWhat goes into the bill and what schemes may coverWound, Stitches and ScarsLooking after healing skin before a prosthesis is madeThe Emotional Side of Cancer SurgerySupport for the change in how you look and feel
Talk to us
Planning life after an exenteration?
Tell us what has been done so far and what you want to know. We will help you reach the right surgeon and prosthesis specialist. One helpline serves every CION centre.