Is Vaser liposuction a viable way to remove silicone injections from face?

Hi Roamer,
In my opinion treating hundreds of patients for silicone removal (buttocks, face, breasts), no kind of liposuction can remove this product. I have a few videos on my Instagram account illustrating this- the body walls off this foreign body with individual little scar capsules. Neither the size of the silicone granulomas, nor the scar tissue can fit through the hole of a liposuction cannula. I've performed revisionary procedures on patients who have first attempted treatment via this method, and many patients report that liposuction has actually made the problem much worse.
I wish you the best of luck in your search for treatment!
-Dr. Nik

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

Hello, I would NOT suggest VASER suction to remove injected "medical grade 1000" silicone from the face, cheeks, and jawline. The VASER uses ultrasound to break down the scar tissue around the silicone. After the scar tissue around the silicone is broken, the exposed medical grade 1000 silicone is removed. The problem is that the VASER may burn your skin. The VASER is simply too strong and unpredictable, even on the lowest settings. Therefore, I would not use the VASER on the face to remove silicone. Rather, I would suggest a facelift approach for the removal of silicone on the upper cheek bone. An inconspicuous incision is placed around the ear and the face, cheek, and jawline is approached. I have had significant success with this technique. Removal of silicone from the face and cheek is best performed under general anesthesia. The procedure takes about 3 to 4 hours. recover is about 2 weeks. I specialized in silicone removal and subsequent reconstruction with fat grafting and/or implants. I am the lead investigator and founder of the Silicone Removal Institute. Since removing silicone is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in removing silicone. Do your research. Make sure they have performed many 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, silicone removal surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, 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.)