Should I just Leave the Silicone in my Booty since I have no Complications?

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

Hi Sensible969961, and thank you for your inquiry!
The question of whether to remove asymptomatic silicone/biopolymer injections is one in which that must be fully explored and the patient be properly examined and then determined to be asymptomatic. As a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I’ve seen many patients over the years that come in “asymptomatic” but upon examination, are determined to be in fact symptomatic. Silicone disease symptoms include a wide range but I will say, the most common symptoms are: discomfort with prolonged sitting, the need to shift buttock weight from one side to the other (weight shifting), difficulty performing exercise (squatting especially), nighttime low-grade fevers, itchiness, chronic fatigue, along with other aches and pains that are present due to silicone disease. Upon examination of patients who’ve reported to be asymptomatic, I’ve found that patients have nodularity, discoloration, hardness or change of skin texture and still report no symptoms. If all the above are not present, it then becomes a decision only to be made by the patient. However, if the patient does have symptoms or if they are asymptomatic but have skin thickening, nodularity or discoloration on buttock exam, these are valid reasons to pursue silicone/biopolymer removal in a staged open approach with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in silicone disease and its complex removal procedures.
I hope this answered your question. Best of luck.

Thank you for your question. I understand your concerns and the fear you have regarding the potential complications of silicone injections. It's not uncommon to feel uneasy about the possibility of anesthesia, as well.

However, it's crucial to understand that silicone injections can pose long-term risks. Even though you have not experienced complications thus far, it's generally a matter of time before these occur. In my practice, I have treated thousands of patients who have had silicone injections and many of them initially didn't have symptoms, much like yourself. Typically, we start seeing symptoms around 8 to 10 years after the injection, but it can vary.

The best course of action, generally, is to have the silicone removed while you're as young and healthy as possible, even though it's true that it's often impossible to remove every bit of it. The goal is to remove as much as we can to reduce the potential for future complications.

Remember, every case is unique, and your ultimate decision should be made after a thorough consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in removing silicone injections. They can provide a more personalized approach based on your health status and the specific details of your case.

Thank you again for your question. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen