Can the body reject an implant?
Kidney, heart or organs transplanted are sometimes rejected due to a cascade of many complex reasons associated with the body s acceptance or rejection of foreign protein and cellular components. Titanium implants are different because bone thinks that titanium is self and that bone grows up to and into the metal s microstructure without any space or defensive boundary. The successful implant surface has bone cells lying in happy cohabitation right up against the metal. No chrome nickel hip implant or nose ring has such a tranquil environment at a microscopic level. The body s defense mechanism, called inflammation (heat, swelling and discomfort) is similar to a nations army when there is danger of invasion, troops are sent to the border. So too, with implanted materials other than titanium and interestingly, sapphire warrior cells called lymphocytes can be seen surrounding the material, ready to defend. These cells are NOT present around a successful titanium implant suggesting a heal
