Head and neck prosthetics
Contact
- Outpatients appointments
- 020 3311 1470
Visitor Information
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Our head and neck maxillofacial prosthetics laboratory provides bespoke prostheses and splints for defects and injuries to the head and neck. These are usually required as a result of ablative surgery, injury or congenital problems.
A prosthesis can be used to restore function to a part of the body and to help improve cosmetic appearance to increase confidence.
Conditions and treatments
We treat head and neck injuries, post-ablative tumour resection defects and congenital defects by providing bespoke prostheses for indwelling eyes, orbitals, ears, nose or combinations.
Our laboratory can also produce non-weight-bearing body prosthetics, such as fingers, part hand, nipple, part breast, leg contour or infill prostheses.
Construction of the prosthesis or splint is performed in a clinical laboratory setting.
Patients will usually have to attend a number of appointments, including the following:
- assessment of required prosthesis and tissues of fitting area
- impressions of the area to carry the prosthesis/splint
- mock-up and try-on of prosthesis, usually in wax, to be altered accordingly
- colour matching of materials to patient’s tissues
- packing of mould in patient's presence to locate specified colour
- fitting of the prosthesis
- reviews and adjustments of the prosthesis
Clinics
Head and neck maxillofacial prosthetics laboratory
Address
Oral surgery unit
First floor
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London W6 8RF
Hours
09.00 to 17.00, Monday through Friday
Contact information
Tel: 020 3311 1470
Email: sarah.jones37@nhs.net
Meet the team
Head and neck maxillofacial prosthetist
Sarah Jones - MIMPT LCGI consultant (technical)
Patient information
Before your appointment
We see all our patients with 12 weeks of GP referral. You are welcome to bring a relative, close friend or carer with you to your appointment.
Remember to check your appointment letter for anything specific you have been asked to take with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:
- Your full address and telephone number(s)
- Your appointment card and appointment letter
- Your GP’s name and address
- Money to pay for any prescriptions, or an exemption card
- A list of questions you may want to ask your consultant
- A list of your current medication
Any gowns or aprons that are required during impression stage or outpatient appointment will be supplied.
During your appointment
When you arrive please report to the eye and oral reception desk on first floor, south wing.
Take a seat as advised by reception staff and wait to be called into the head and neck maxillofacial prosthetics laboratory clinic area.
We try to see patients at the time given, but on rare occasions due to complexity of some patients we may overrun, in which case you will be informed of how long you should expect to wait.
Appointment times can vary depending on your requirements. We will advise you of the approximate length of your appointment in your appointment letter.
Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.
Most patients will usually have a series of outpatient appointments in the laboratory clinic area, where impressions will be taken to enable us to start constructing your bespoke prosthesis. Further appointments will be given for mock-up try-ons, adjustments, colour matches, fitting and reviews.
We strive to create a relaxed and informal atmosphere, to keep you at ease, and allow for fabrication of a natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing prosthesis.
After your appointment
Your prosthesis or splint may require alteration or replacement from time to time, either because of wear and tear or changing tissue dimensions.
You may also need to attend the laboratory for maintenance of your supplied prosthesis, for example an indwelling artificial eye will need protein debris removal and wax replenishment on an annual basis and replacement every five to seven years.
Due to wear and tear of the materials or ongoing tissue changes, a silicone prosthesis that is attached with skin adhesive or implants may need to be replaced every 12 to 18 months. You will be advised accordingly during your follow-up appointment.
For maintenance of prostheses
For maintenance of an existing prosthesis that has been provided by the Trust you may telephone for an outpatient appointment for a review of your current prosthesis. This may lead to you contacting your GP for a letter of referral for replacement prosthesis.
Refer to this service
Due to ongoing commitments of surgical splint making, planned clinics and the theatre list, the head and neck maxillofacial laboratory can only receive written referrals. These are assessed by the team and appointments booked according to the patient’s needs.
For urgent referrals:
Phone: 020 3311 1470
Fax: 020 3313 0471 FAO Mrs Sarah Jones MIMPT LCGI
Referrals can also be posted to:
Consultant head and neck maxillofacial prosthetist
Head and neck maxillofacial prosthetics laboratory
First floor
South wing
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8RF
All referrals require patient details, current medication and history of defect site.
GP advice
Tel: 020 3311 1470
Email: sarah.jones37@nhs.net
Secondary care
Secondary healthcare organisations can refer to this service by means of a written referral to the above address.
If urgent splints are required post surgery, the referring team should contact the laboratory by phone/email (above) to discuss planning and fabrication time for patients' requirements.
Self-referrals
For maintenance of prostheses
For maintenance of an existing prosthesis that has been provided by the Trust you may telephone for an outpatient appointment for a review of your current prosthesis. This may lead to you contacting your GP for a letter of referral for a replacement prosthesis.
For replacement or new prostheses
A GP or medical consultant will be required to provide a written referral to the above address.
Additional information
This is a very specialised service with a high reputation, often providing specialist prosthetics to patients from around the UK and abroad.
Replacements
In general a silicone facial prosthesis or small body prostheses will often require replacement every 12 to 18 months due to perishing material. However, if you have ongoing health changes, or have had recent surgery, this may affect the fit of the prosthesis, requiring replacement prostheses. A written referral from the GP will be required.
Artificial eyes in a paediatric patient should be replaced annually, in an adult every five to seven years. Ongoing tissue changes or recent surgery may also require replacement prostheses. The indwelling eye prosthesis requires regular maintenance which varies from patient to patient according to general health and age, previous eye conditions, and could span from every four to 12 months.
For any replacement prosthesis a written referral from the GP will be required.
Obturator patients must be referred to the appropriate Trust medical team and will work in conjunction with the head and neck maxillofacial laboratory.