The healing process for an implant differs from a natural healing process because the implant has to be surgically placed into the body and it is not possible to remove. After the surgery, the implant is covered with a semi-permeable membrane that allows fluid to flow in and out of the body. The membrane also helps to protect against infection. A natural healing process can take anywhere from weeks or months depending on how severe the injury is and how quickly it heals. With an implant, it can take as long as two years for a patient’s body to accept it completely.