Doctor Recommendations to Remove Silicone from Cheeks

Hi 1477anon, Thank you for your question regarding the removal of silicone from your cheeks after the infection started after laser hair removal. It is very important to have your injected silicone product removed. There are many potential complications associated with silicone injections. Silicone injections can cause infections, soft tissue deformities, and the silicone can migrate throughout your body. In addition, your body can form excessive scar tissue, resulting in hypercalcemia, kidney stones, and even kidney failure. There’s also the cosmetic deformities of bruised and purple skin. This can progress to the point where the silicone-impregnated skin dies. Therefore, most experienced plastic surgeons will recommend early silicone injection removal as opposed to waiting until complications develop. There are plastic surgeons that specialize in silicone injection removal throughout the body. Please do your research carefully.
Good luck. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Silicone can dissipate in the tissue and can sometimes cause fibrosis and tissue reaction. The goal of treatment would be to alleviate the subclinical inflammation.  Our office specializes in the surgical and nonsurgical management of silicone injections in Los Angeles. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS

Silicone injections in various parts of the body has been done quite frequently all over the country.  The difficulty with silicone injections begins with the quality of the silicone itself.  I have seen many cases where industrial grade silicone has been injected inside the human body.  This can be a tremendous disaster.  Problems can include infections, granulomas, cellulitis, and persistent skin infections, disfigurement and skin dimpling.  It is very easy to have silicone injected, but very difficult to have it removed.  The removal can frequently be very complex and involved lengthy surgery. Multiple operation is not uncommon.   It is not uncommon to expect scars in locations that would otherwise be undesirable.  If you do have silicone, or are having problem with silicone that was injected by a non-healthcare provider then you should certainly seek medical attention.  Some solutions include IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics and surgery after the inflammation has subsided.  Removing the silicone is not just a cosmetic issue but also an issue of better health.  Depending on the type of silicone injected concerns with autoimmune diseases and infections are foremost.  Taking medications such as ibuprofen or cortisone is only a temporary measure.  The real solution is surgery.  Not all plastic surgeons are willing to operate on patients who have had silicone injected in their body.  Many of these cases are not covered by insurance because they were performed for cosmetic reasons.  My recommendation to anyone that has had silicone injections and wishes to have it removed, is to seek a board certified plastic surgeon who is likely willing to do more than 1 operation as well as willing to do some of these operations in a hospital setting. I have had patients visit me for removal of silicone and the discussion to proceed is never an easy one.

Liquid silicone injections are not a good idea, in general.  There are many delayed, long-term complications that can result from these injections.  If you have silicone granulomas, steroid injections may help to settle them down and soften them. If not, then surgery may be an option.  I recently did a facelift approach to remove a lot of silicone that had been injected into the cheeks, under the eyes, and around the mouth of a woman.  (the orginal injections were done in another country a couple of years ago).

Unfortunately infection is a constant risk with any permanent injectible. I would suggest finding a facial plastic surgeon in your area who can better assess if you are suffering an infection or simply irritation.