Silikon 1000 is a pure medical-grade silicone oil made from polydimethylsiloxane. It’s FDA-approved to treat retinal detachment in the eye, but it’s sometimes used off label, as a permanent filler in the nose and lips as well as on pitted acne scars.Â
Silikon 100 is permanent, in contrast to hyaluronic acid fillers, like Restylane and Juvéderm, which degrade over several months or can be dissolved early using hyaluronidase. Many doctors on RealSelf are wary of Silikon 1000’s irreversibility and potential for complications—especially when it’s injected by an inexperienced provider. In 2017, the FDA issued a warning about the cosmetic use of injectable silicone, calling out the potential for serious side effects.
However, some doctors who have used Silikon 1000 for cosmetic purposes for decades believe it can be done safely. Typically, they inject it in tiny amounts (called microdroplets) over two or three sessions, six weeks apart, minimizing the amount they inject in any one session. The silicone diffuses throughout the injected area and prompts collagen to grow around it, which produces the plumping effect. This technique also allows them to gauge your body’s response and deliver the most natural-looking outcome.
If you decide to be treated with Silikon 1000 fillers, trust only a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who’s aware of the risks (particularly in the nose, where they’d be injecting near the arteries that supply blood to your eyes).Â
Injections can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes per treatment area. Some patients request anesthetic beforehand to numb the area, particularly for lip injections, but most don’t need it.Â
Afterward, you might have some tenderness, bruising, and swelling around the injection site. These symptoms generally subside within a few hours, though they can last a few days. Either way, you should be able to return to normal activities on the day of your treatment.
Most patients who have Silikon 1000 for cosmetic reasons see a slight increase in fullness right away, with full results apparent within three to nine months as collagen builds around the filler.Â
The main risk of Silikon 1000 injections stems from the fact that it’s permanent, so you may have to live with undesirable results. Dr. Eric Joseph, a board-certified plastic surgeon in West Orange, New Jersey, explains in a RealSelf Q&A, “Silikon 1000 is a permanent off-label filler, so your results, good or bad, cannot be undone. Our experience with Silikon 1000 for natural-looking lip augmentation has been favorable ... and in our experience, problems are infrequent.”
Related: Are Silicone Injections Ever Safe?
