Is Siliconoma Removal by Laser Treatment Safe?

Question

I currently have silicone granulomas that resulted from Silicone injections to the legs 15 years ago. I looked through the intenet and found that in Malaysia and Colombia,  it's possible to remove siliconomas with Laser treatment. Is it safe? Thanks.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Siliconomas cannot be removed or vaporized with laser using the technologiy available to date.  I would opt for more predictable and plausible alternatives.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question regarding removing thigh siliconoma with a "laser".  At the present time, melting a siliconoma with any laser is NOT recommended.  The laser may melt the silicone, but without suction or excision, the silicone remains.  Also, the associated scar tissue around the silicone needs to removed.  I would suggest you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who is very experienced in silicone thigh removal.  I specialize in silicone removal and have successfully removed silicone from many patients thighs.  Typically, during surgery, the thigh silicone injection sites or thigh siliconomas are isolated with an intra-operative ultrasound.  Then, an incision is placed over the thigh siliconoma and the injected thigh silicone and associated scar tissue are removed.  Please be very cautious.  Siliconomas can turn into cancer.  Chose your surgeon wisely.  I hope that I have answered your questions removing siliconoma from the thighs. Before you make any decisions regarding silicone removal from the thighs , I would suggest you seek consultation with an expert.  Travel out of state if you must to find such a silicone removal  expert. If you have any more questions regarding silicone removal from the thigh, intra-operative ultra-sound guided VASER assisted liposuction or plastic surgery in general, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. J. Timothy Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society Plastic Surgeons, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and Fellow of American College of Surgeons and American Board for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Awardee: RealSelf 100.)

Raj S. Ambay, MD · Answer

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.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I know of no specific laser that can treat silicone granulomas. Sometimes low-dose steroid injections may help the inflammation. The only treatment that I know of that works is direct surgical excision.

Is Siliconoma Removal by Laser Treatment Safe?

Answers (4)

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