Would removing silicone injections that have migrated down the legs cause more harm?

Question

I am a52 years old female Weight 120 Height 5’1 I had illegal injections in my buttock around 10yrs. Went 3x to the same injector. Had an MRI done and the product migrated down my legs and back. Pain in my legs and can’t walk for a long time without resting, right arm is bothering me feels numb and tingly at times, have to reposition my self when I’m sitting, etc… I heard removing the product may do more harm! What harm would it cause!? Need to get this poison out ASAP Thank you

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Silicone biopolymers are commonly used in the face and body. They may sometimes cause noticeable symptoms that we gauge using the Karamanoukian Soft Tissue Reaction Grading Scale from I to V. The severity of your complications dictates the interventions needed, ranging from itching and burning to severe necrosis of the soft tissue. Nerve pain and symptomatic swelling is also possible. Insurance may cover your surgery, but that is a discussion that requires you to contact and appeal to your insurance carrier. Options for removal are complex and depend on whether you have the material in your face or body. We reverse BBL with silicone commonly and remove silicone from the lips very commonly. Diffuse silicone in the face is not likely to respond to removal. Filler migration, swelling, and granulomas can cause significant discomfort and cosmetic ramifications. Our office specializes in the use of enzymes and filler reversal techniques without hyaluronidase to help improve the results of botched cosmetic fillers, whether caused by Juvederm, Restylane, or foreign fillers. We can also test for the material to determine the likelihood of silicone granulomas and silicone reaction.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Jeremy S. Nikfarjam, MD · Answer

Hi Intelligent,
In the right hands with the right technique, silicone removal will only help your symptoms!I see hundreds of women each year that have been victimized by illegal silicone injections. I also see many women that have gone for removal procedures elsewhere and the condition has gotten worse because they were "treated" via liposuction. From what I've seen, liposuction cannot remove silicone material and if anything, it will further spread the material around the body. Of the patients I treat, many have experienced some sort of migration such as yourself. Please find a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in this unique condition. Best of luck to you!
Dr. Nik

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding if removing migrated silicone would cause more harm than good. In my opinion, you should remove the product as soon as possible. Over time, the product will probably migrate more and cause even more problems. If it doesn’t migrate, the masses will get larger and just press on the surrounding tissue and cause pain and localized deformities. It will also cause swelling. If the product does migrate further, the products will usually migrate to the ankles and feet. This is a much more difficult surgery to perform than removing product from the thighs and calves. Therefore, in my opinion, removing the product should be done as soon as possible before migration occurs. Thank you for your question regarding whether it’s worth removing product which is migrated to the legs. Good luck.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic 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.)

Praful Ramineni, MD · Answer

In general, silicone is injected into the shallower layers of the tissue. Since it's a fluid, it can migrate down as far as the feet.   It can be safely, however not all the silicone can be removed.  Most of the time, symptoms improve and the aesthetic result is better (and less material means less potential migration in the future).

Would removing silicone injections that have migrated down the legs cause more harm?

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Would removing silicone injections that have migrated down the legs cause more harm?

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Answer: Silicone Removal

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