Do you think silicone can travel to my stomach?

Question

I just got silicone butt injections yesterday and this morning I'm experiencing sharp stomach pains.. . I haven’t eaten since yesterday around 1 pm. Should I go to the hospital??

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello.
Thank you for your question regarding whether I think silicone can travel to your stomach after buttock injections the prior day. No, I do not think buttock injections can travel to your stomach this quickly. Silicone injections are very dangerous. The raw silicone can be injected into an artery, vein, or soft tissue. If the raw silicone enters an artery, the silicone can travel quickly and lead to an embolism or clot, restrict oxygen delivery and cause subsequent tissue death. If the raw silicone enters a vein, the silicone can travel to the heart and cause a heart attack. Alternatively, the silicone can travel to the lungs and lead to a fatal pulmonary embolism. If the silicone is injected into the soft tissue (like the buttock), the silicone can travel throughout your lymphatics; however, this can take weeks or months to occur.  I think it would be almost impossible for your buck injections to travel to your stomach. Instead, I think you are having an inflammatory response to your buttock injections. You must realize that the silicone is a foreign body and your body is reacting to this foreign body. Your body is creating an auto-immune response through your innate and humeral inflammatory response. With time, your body creates antibodies to the silicone. These antibodies can cross react with other body tissues and organs. The side effects of the inflammatory response can be stomach cramps, nausea, headaches and even diarrhea.  If the stomach cramps become worse I would suggest you go to the hospital. However, I do not think the stomach cramps are related directly to silicone migration, but rather as a cause of the silicone injections.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding whether I think silicone can travel to your stomach after buttock injections the prior day.  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 specialized in silicone 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 silicone from the buttock.  Do your research.  Make sure they have performed at least 100 buttock silicone 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 silicone removal surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. 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.)

Jeremy S. Nikfarjam, MD · Answer

Hi LettyTheDon, and thank you for your question. The injected product (silicone/biopolymer) is not in a capsule (like an implant) which allows the material to travel throughout the soft tissues to an area that it was not originally injected to. At my private practice in New York, as part of my pre-operative workup for my silicone removal patients, I require MRI imaging to identify the extent of silicone/biopolymer material present and the infiltration of this material throughout the soft tissues in the areas of concern. I have seen this material migrate throughout the subcutaneous tissue and muscle layers of the buttocks, and travel to areas outside of those originally 'treated' or injected (for example: hips, lower back, abdomen/flanks, etc.). MRI imaging will show exactly where the substance has migrated to, so that I am able to effectively remove the substance from those specific areas. Please keep in mind that because this is a free-standing substance (not encapsulated), silicone/biopolymer cannot be removed 100%. I will also add that many silicone removal procedures are covered by a patient's health insurance. Best of luck!

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

When injected into areas with many blood vessels such as the buttocks, silicone can travel through those vessels to other parts of the body and block blood vessels in the lungs, heart, or brain. This can cause a stroke or even death. Large-scale injectable silicone for body contouring and enhancement can also result in a painful and hard, gravel-like substance that stays permanently beneath the skin.

Jaime Pachon, MD · Answer

Biopolymers migrate in the first 72 hours of administration by the lymphatic route or through the blood vessels. normally this happens as a consequence of direct needle puncture on the day of administration of the product. Migration to organs or systems only occurs in the previously situation described or if there is a manipulation of the product with methods such as cannulas or heat technologies that decapsulate the product since more than 1,000 degrees Celsius are needed to melt the silicone and this would only destroy the tissues. also high impact sports, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish baths or extreme heat could favor product migration, If you have any doubts about this, you should consult immediately to carry out the respective studies.

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