Any docs remove Hydrogel injections in butt? I'll travel anywhere. Please help.

The first step would be to assess the amount of inflammation with the Karamanoukian Grading system for soft tissue reaction; followed by a methodical plan to manage medically or surgically. Silicone can be removed. Best, Dr. KaramanoukianLos Angeles

Hi, thank you for your questions regarding the removal of hydrogel from the buttock. I'm sorry you are having complications of hydrogel injections into the buttock. Most foreign body injections into the buttocks do eventually cause problems. You may have an autoimmune disease due to the hydrogel injections called ASIA syndrome. Nonetheless the hydrogel needs to be removed. ASIA syndrome is an acronym that stands for Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants. Adjuvants are agents (like silicone) that modify the effect of other agents (like causing scar tissue and pain). Typically, ASIA syndrome presents about 10 years after the injection. Since ASIA syndrome was first described as recognizable medical disease in 2011, most medical doctors do not know ASIA syndrome even exists. Patients with ASIA syndrome have symptoms due to injectables like PMMA and silicone. Symptoms include muscle pain with or without inflammation or swelling,muscle weakness, joint pain with or without swelling, chronic fatigue, non-restful sleep, sleep disturbance, neurological manifestations (like demylenation or MS), loss of memory, “brain fog”, low grade fever, or dry mouth. You have have some or all of these symptoms. The FDA warns AGAINST silicone injections on their website. The FDA states “Do not get injectable silicone or any type of filler material for large-scale body contouring or enhancement.” Also, the FDA has said Injectable silicone is permanent, with side effects that can occur right after the injection and up to years after treatment. Silicone spreads and migrates easily inside the body, which may worsen adverse events and make surgical attempts to remove the silicone oil more difficult or impossible. Silicone, when injected into areas with many blood vessels such as the buttocks, can travel to other parts of the body and block blood vessels in the lungs, heart, or brain. This can result in permanent damage to those tissues and lead to stroke or death.” I specialize in hydrogel buttock removal and subsequent buttock reconstruction. I am the Director and chief clinical investigator at the Institute of Silicone Removal. Since removing silicone from the buttock is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in removing hydrogel from the buttock. Do your research. Make sure they have performed many buttock hydrogel removal surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.  If you cannot find an experienced, buttock hydrogel silicone removal surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding removing hydrogel from the buttock. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

You're right to seek removal! Hydrogel (often referred to as silicone) injections in the buttocks can lead to serious complications, including chronic inflammation, infection, tissue damage, and migration of the substance to other areas. Unfortunately, hydrogel/silicone are not FDA-approved for buttock augmentation, and removal is often necessary when problems arise. I have seen thousands of patients who have been victimized by illegal silicone injections. The symptoms I see range from mild to moderate to severe- requiring emergent hospital admissions. Most patients report pain in the buttocks, back, and legs. Sometimes this pain is accompanied by intermittent tingling and burning in the extremities. Treatment is possible! After training in hospitals in The Bronx in the early '00s, I saw countless patients present to the emergency room with symptoms related to silicone disease but were not given any substantial treatment. They were given antibiotics and pain medications and sent home. It was then that I decided to pioneer the silicone removal center in New York. You can read more through the link below. Ultimately, I perform a two-stage open removal procedure (through a small incision inside the buttocks crease) with a third stage reconstructive BBL. All three stages are pre-authorized through a patient's health insurance. I only perform these procedures in a hospital setting with a dedicated team that I have handpicked to assist in these unique procedures. I believe this is a medical problem that needs real, medical treatment (in the U.S., in a hospital, with a board-certified plastic surgeon). Of course, the aesthetic component is very important, and as a plastic surgeon, I do everything I can to make sure my patients look great afterwards as well. Please feel free to contact my team to inquire about your particular insurance policy. I'd be happy to see you for a clinical evaluation whether it be complimentary virtual consultation or an in-office appointment to discuss your options. My Silicone Coordinator has undergone silicone removal and reconstruction and would be happy to share her silicone journey with you and see how we can help with yours. (516) 279-2616.

Removal of silicone is possible if the product has pooled into discrete collections.  All of the injected product may not be removable; the silicone becomes surrounded by scar tissue which requires excision of the surrounding tissues as well.  Unless the patient sees the bottle or syringe marked with its contents we are not sure what is utilized by less than reputable injectors. Deformities resulting after removal of injected products typically require repeat procedures to correct.
Antibiotics may help acute symptoms of infection.  Sonogram or MRI are helpful to identify the location and sizeof the injected product.
Please consult in person with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon prior to making treatment decisions.