Small bead substance during lipo - what could this have been?

Question

1st RD BBL in US. 2nd RD US different Doc. 2nd RD Doc stated he did not do the fat transfer due to finding silicone beads in lower back during lipo. He stated that they were clogging up his tool. Doc stated that he was not familiar with the substance, and that the anesthesiologist called it silicone. I have never had silicone injections!I Got an MRI, no silicone found! Per Radiologist, he POSSIBLY saw necrotic tissue! Small bead appearance was similar to silica gel. What could this have been!?

Ryan A. Stanton, MD · Answer

Indeed, it could have possibly been fatty necrotic scar/cyst tissue from round one BBL.

Nonetheless, you are in good company with many others who had high hopes for BBL but instead received disappointing results (lumpiness, unevenness, lack of projection in the central and/or lower buttock, post-deflation sagging, etc.) as most of the fat melts away. It is not quite as much the quality of the doctor nor liposuction technique but rather the quality of the procedure that is a large part of the problem.  Thus, going back for round 2 BBL most often produces the same disappointing results but at another financial loss.   Buttock implants indeed provide a more reliable, predictable, relatively safe, and permanent result, especially for adding projection to the buttock and often smoothing out lumpiness.  Occasionally a lower buttock tuck may be advantageous for lower buttock fold asymmetries and/or sagging. Please keep in mind that an extremely few number of board-certified plastic surgeons specialize in buttock implants so be sure to consult with one that is reputable and experienced. Unfortunately you may have to travel long and far away from home to find this particular surgeon. Glad to help.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

This is a real issue that is occurring more and more frequently. I usually see this in patients having illegal products injected, ie silicone, bio polymer, hydrogel. The product become "perfectly rounded" spheres or beads or balls, slightly transparent. These are not made from the tissues in the human body since they are usually perfect round spheres. Most patients had admission preoperatively to illegally injected substances but a new subgroup of patients are being discovered without any preoperative knowledge of the illegal injections occurring during a previous BBL surgery, where these surgeons use these illegal products to quickly fill the buttock, to save surgery time, without the patients consent. If this has happened in the USA then that are very serious ethical, standard of care issues. You must be much more specific to proceed. In my practice, I have found these cases but I do continue to inject "new" pure fat to help the healing. This newer surgery is call a BBL Revision, Reduction, Reshaping. Please connect to me if you desire more information.

Small bead substance during lipo - what could this have been?

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Small bead substance during lipo - what could this have been?

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Everything you need to know about Brazilian Butt Lift Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.