Can your body “remove” Silikon 1000? (Photo)

We have been using Silikon-1000 for well over 20 years to provide permanent and natural looking lip augmentation. Based on your photo, you appear to have a pleasing upper and lower lip appearance. It's not clear to me why you required for treatments, however, I would need to see a photograph of your pre-injected lip appearance. Generally, two to three treatments are necessary to achieve a desired result. But sometimes for unnecessary inpatients with extremely small lip appearances. Thank you so much for this question! Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Hello Corrine75, and thank you for your question about Silikon 1000 and its effects on your lips.

Silikon 1000 is a permanent filler, meaning it is not metabolized or broken down by the body like temporary fillers such as hyaluronic acid. If you are not seeing a lasting difference after four rounds of injections, it is highly unlikely that your body is "removing" or "clearing" the silicone. Instead, the filler may be migrating from the injection site or becoming encapsulated by scar tissue, both of which can diminish the visible effects.

When silicone is injected, the body may react to it as a foreign substance, creating fibrous scar tissue around the filler. This encapsulation can make the injected area feel firm or lumpy and reduce the overall aesthetic improvement. Additionally, migration—where the silicone shifts to adjacent areas—can also occur, especially in a highly mobile area like the lips. These complications are not uncommon and highlight the risks associated with permanent fillers like Silikon 1000.

Adding more silicone to try to achieve better results can actually worsen the problem. Repeated injections increase the likelihood of excessive scar tissue formation, chronic inflammation, or visible deformities. If complications develop, the only way to address them is through surgical removal, which often requires excising part of the lips. This can result in permanent changes to the size, shape, or contour of the lips.

If you metabolize fillers quickly and are seeking a more noticeable and reliable result, I would recommend avoiding additional silicone injections. Safer alternatives include hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers like Juvederm or Restylane, which can be adjusted or dissolved as needed. Another option to consider is fat grafting, where your own fat is used to add volume. While some of the fat may be reabsorbed over time, it offers a longer-lasting and natural solution without the risks associated with permanent fillers.

I hope this helps clarify the situation and provide some guidance on next steps. Please consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who specializes in filler complications to evaluate your options.

Sincerely,
J. Timothy Katzen, MD

Unfortunately this filler cannot be dissolved with Vitrase / hyaluronidase. A combination of fractional laser or radiofrequency, Venus Legacy treatments, and 5FU/steroid injections could help with the lump. Otherwise, aside from waiting to see if it goes away, the only other permanent option is surgical removal. I suggest getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer.

First off, Silikon 1000 is approved for use in the eye; it is NOT approved for use as a dermal filler. Secondly permanent agents, such as Silikon 1000 and Bellafil, which is approved for use as a cosmetic filler, are termed permanent bc they are foreign materials for which the body possesses no natural enzymes to metabolize them away, unlike the case with natural HA fillers, which can be dissolved with a natural enzyme called hyaluronidase. Surgical removal of permanent fillers is actually surgery, that, like all surgery, risks the development of disfiguring scars. What's more, once a permanent filler has been injected complications have been known to occur not only shortly afterward, but even five, ten or twenty+ years later, especially when the treated tissue is manipulated as can occur with dental work. . Additionally, even if there are no untoward reactions following treatment with a permanent filler, the subsequent use in the same area of a natural filler can potentially trigger complications of nodules and granulomas even if performed years later. For all the foregoing, I do not use, nor recommend using, permanent fillers, especially when we have natural HA fillers that can provide reasonable durability of response and can be dissolved if ever necessary or desired. I hope this information helps and also serves as a cautionary note to other readers. .