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How Common is a Silicone Allergy with Silicone Breast Implants?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 5,717 times
Tags: silicone implant, side effects

I have a lot of allergies and I am concerned that silicone may be a problem for me. Is there any way to test for a silicone allergy? Is it rare or common to be allergic to the silicone implant shell?

14 answers to How Common is a Silicone Allergy with Silicone Breast Implants?

+2

Silicone Allergy is Unknown

While there is really no solid documentation of silicone allergy, there are inflammatory reactions to liquid silicone. Since you have a complex allergy history, consult with your allergist for their advice.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

+2

Very unlikely

It is possible to develop an allergic reaction to almost any product or substance in our surroundings. . However the silicone allergies are very rare and uncommon .Silicone is found in many household items such as hand lotions, polishes, waterproof coatings and even processed foods. Therefore allergy to silicone can one develop even without the existence of silicone breast implants.
Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Silicone

I agree with the physicians below. Silicone is inert and should not be the cause of a true allergy. In addition - almost all needles that are used to perform injections or place intravenous lines are coated with silicone to increase the ease of passing through the skin. If you've had an injection or an IV you may have already had your allergy test. I would like to add that both silicone and saline implants have silicone shells. The exposure to silicone in your body for an unruptured... more
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Silicone Allergy: Rare if at all

Silicone allergy would rare if at all possible. The FDA has studied Breast implants for more than thirty years and it has not identified allergy to silicone as being a concern. By the way silicone is on coatings of some needles, IV catheters are made of silicone as are many other implants in the body, and many antacid/antigas medications taken orally have a silicone derivative as one of its components.
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Severe allergies and breast augmentation

Although most of us believe that silicone is an inert substance that is hydrophobic in molecular structure and safe to use, I would not advise you to undergo the procedure as there are isolated cases of inflammatory reactions arising from silicone or any type of foreign substance.  In your particular case, it seems as though you have a quality of life issue with your allergies and we would not do anything to exacerbate it.   I maintain a very conservative approach to elective... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Silicone Allergy

This is a very intriguing question, and as far as I know there are no blood tests nor skin challenge tests for Silicone Allergies. A tremendous amount of scientific energy and resources have been put into researching the interactions of silicone with the human body, especially with respect to breast implants and there silicone polymer shells. We continue to research implantable prostheses such as this and use our data to take the best care of our patients possible...thus the very important re more
John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

There has never been an antibody to silicone demonstrated in humans (no allergies)

I have never read of an antibody to silicone in humans.  An antibody is a requirement for a true allergic reaction.  The body does recognize silicone as a foreign object which is why capsules form around breast implants.  Silicone does not have an organic moiety (an antigen) that triggers the body to produce an antibody.  Silicone is useful because the foreign body response is very tame.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Silicone and allergies

To answer your question regarding allergies and silicone implants, you need a little background regarding silicone. Silicone comes in different forms based on its molecular structure. This ranges from a low viscosity liquid form to a stable solid form. A common misconception is that silicone is inert. This is partially true. Solid silicone such as silicone rubber, the silicone elastomer shell of a breast implant, and silicone facial implants are inert. However, liquid silicone is intensely... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

+1

Silicone allergy

I believe that silicone is an inert substance and there is no known allergy to the product. The studies that were requested by the FDA prior to approval clearly support the evidence that silicone implants do not cause autoimmune disorders.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

No such thing as silicone allergy.

Hi. There is 40 years of research on silicone breast implants, and silicone does not cause allergies.  In fact, the best evidence is that silicone does not cause any diseases.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

True allergy to silicone does not occur

I agree with my colleague- Silicone is an inert substance, and testing is not performed or necessary. What you may be referring to is the formation of a tight scar capsule around the implants, known as capsular contracture. The formation of a layer of scar tissue around your implants is normal, and is just the body's way of "walling off" the implant, which the body recognizes is not part of itself. This scar tissue "capsule" formation is normal, and happens any time a... more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Allergy to silicone is extremely rare

Having done thousands of breast implants both saline filled and silicone gel filled over 30 years I have never had a patient develop an allergy to silicone. About 20 years ago I saw another surgeon's patient who appeared to actually be allergic to the implants. While I don't believe it would be necessary to do before you had surgery, you could have a contact test by having a piece of surgical silicone taped to your skin to see if there is any reaction.
Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD

Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Silicone allergy extremely rare

Silicone is one of the most biocompatible materials, which is why it is the chioce for many types of implants such as pacemakers and artificial joints. Various tests have been promoted in the past but results of these have not been confirmed to provide any useful information. Allergy is one type of a family of conditions known as autoimmune diseases, and silicone was suspected as being a trigger for that; however, numerous large-scale studies have conclusively shown no association of... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Silicone is inert

While patients with polyurethane coated silicone implants exhibited allergic reactions to the polyurethane, silicone itself is an inert compund. Talc on gloves used to be a source of allergies, as could suture materials, or irrigation solutions containing certain antibiotics or iodine-based solutions. There is a natural response to a foreign body producing a collagen capsule but problems attributable to allergic reactions to the silicone gel implant are usually merely an infectious process,... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

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