What's the downtime & side effects of removing silicone injection from my face? (Photo)

Hi Modest,
I have seen many patients in my office with the same concerns. Yes, the silicone material appears to "grow" as the body's inflammatory system reacts to the foreign body substance. Some patients report migration of the material to other areas of the face and body. I perform silicone removal procedures in a hospital setting through a patient's health insurance. When removing from the face, there are a few approaches that can be taken in order to minimize visible scarring. I've going though a traditional facelift style incision (tucked in the hairline and behind the ear) which hides very nicely. See to it that your physician is a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in this kind of treatment. You can read about my Silicone Removal Center in the link below. Most importantly, I want you to know that you are not alone and that treatment is possible. Good luck to you!
Dr. Nik

Thank you for your question regarding what's the downtime & side effects of removing silicone injection from your face. I am sorry that you are experiencing problems and complications due to the illegal injection of silicone to the face. I would highly suggest removing as much product as quickly as possible from the face. Migration is a difficult problem to treat. I've seen product migrate from the face down to the chin and down to the neck. I have also seen silicone migrate throughout the face. First, I would suggest you obtain an MRI of the face to locate the extent and the amount of illegally injected silicone. Then, during the consultation, strategic incisions can be planned to remove silicone and associated granulomas. Typically for the lips, an incision is made from one corner to the other corner, both top, and bottom, to remove the silicone directly. In addition, for the product in the cheek, an incision can be placed like a facelift incision or inside the mouth. For chin injections, incisions can be made from the mouth to the anterior chin. The cost depends on your surgeon and geographic location. Please consult with plastic surgeons to determine a specific price. The downtime is approximately 2-3 weeks. However, that should not matter. The most important thing is to have the product removed as soon as possible. Side effects of illegal silicone injections include chronic pain, migration, and the creation of granulomas. Granulomas become more challenging to treat because of the excessive scar that is being created.
I specialize in silicone removal and subsequent facial reconstruction. I am the Director and chief clinical investigator at the Institute of Silicone Removal. Since removing silicone from the forehead is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in removing silicone from the face. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 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, 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.)

Facial silicone biopolymer injections are commonly performed and very difficult to treat. I personally manage hundreds of patients who have undergone this procedure and live with the aftermath. The options to remove the filler are many, but the fact is that these fillers are permanent and removal of filler from certain parts of the face would produce too much scarring to even consider.

The idea of using a facelift approach to silicone removal seems good but in reality, is limited. I prefer to remove silicone from specific areas of the eyes, lips, and submental areas and to address the cheeks and nasolabial folds with serial injections of combination corticosteroids.

We have options and the best treatment is begun with an examination and consultation. Visit my office and discuss options for partial removal. It is close to impossible to remove all of the filler at this time.

Our office is a National Center of Excellence in biopolymer removal and we can schedule in office or virtual consultations.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Usually chin silicone can be removed in the office under local anesthesia with return to work within a few days. Cheek removal is more complicated and may require general anesthesia and 1-2 weeks of downtime.