Will I need to see a plastic surgeon to determine if there was silicone injected into my body?

Question

In 2022, I had my first round of butt injections. To my knowledge, they were hyaluronic acid fillers. The lady who operated on me has went to jail for practicing without a medical license and I've been scared that she put silicone in my body. So far, I have no complications. Many girls I know who've been seen by her got bbls after and their doctor stated that no silicone was found. I'm still really nervous. If I were to get an MRI, do i need to go see a PS or will a PCP be fine?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding concerns about silicone injections. Given your situation, I recommend coming in for a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. While your primary care provider (PCP) could order an MRI, interpreting the scan specifically for potential silicone injections requires experience that many PCPs may not have. Plastic surgeons who specialize in silicone removal, like myself, have a trained eye for identifying signs of silicone in MRI results and can provide expert guidance.

I've been removing silicone injections for over ten years, and I can better assess your options and determine the next steps after reviewing your MRI results. A specialized consultation will give you peace of mind and ensure any necessary follow-up is handled effectively.

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD

I've been removing silicone injections for over ten years, and I can better assess your options and determine the next steps after reviewing your MRI results. A specialized consultation will give you peace of mind and ensure any necessary follow-up is handled effectively.

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD

Jose Telich, MD · Answer

Dear Lina, your concerns are completely understandable. Even if you’re not having any symptoms right now, it’s smart to check things out for peace of mind.

You can start with your primary care doctor. They can order an MRI or ultrasound, which sometimes show if there’s silicone or another filler under the skin. Make sure the radiologist knows you’re concerned about possible silicone so they can look closely for that.

If anything unusual shows up on the scan, or if you ever notice pain, hardness, or changes in the area, then it’s best to see a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience dealing with biopolymer or silicone injection cases. They’ll know exactly what to look for and can guide you through your options.

Jeremy S. Nikfarjam, MD · Answer

Hi Lina2lov3888!

Thank you for sharing this — it makes total sense to feel anxious, especially given the situation with the injector. You’re absolutely right to be cautious and proactive. An MRI with and without contrast would be the best imaging for any soft tissue disorder or to determine what was injected. An MRI, especially silicone-sensitive sequences, can often help distinguish between hyaluronic acid (which is water-based) and silicone (which is hydrophobic and shows up differently). However, interpretation is key — so it's important to ensure you're getting the right imaging and the right specialist to review it. This can be ordered by your primary care physician to start or a plastic surgeon. However, your primary care physician would be a good starting point to determine the substance. From there, if it turns out to be silicone/biopolymer, then I would suggest consulting a Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon who specializes in silicone removal. I am a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in New York with a specialized focus on silicone and biopolymer removal. Over the years, I have dedicated my practice to safely addressing complications arising from these materials. Recognizing the unique challenges they pose, I developed a two-stage surgical excision process followed by a reconstructive phase. This approach is designed to ensure the most complete removal possible while minimizing risks and optimizing patient outcomes. Please give us a call if you would like to schedule a complimentary virtual or in person consultation (516) 279-2616.

We're happy to help if you need us. Best of luck.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Based on your question, any doctor can write you a prescription for an MRI of the buttocks to see what type of possible injection was done to the buttocks. But there are no definitive answers with MRI only that there might be hyper loosen areas in the injected buttocks, it does not say exactly what type of material was used. Usually capital HA injections last 18 months to two years. so over two years and you still have product in the buttocks for on the MRI most likely an illegal injected substance. You can still have a BBL and removal of those areas under ultrasound during surgery using the ultrasound that has color adaptation. Best virtual consult with. Expect fees to arrange $10,000-$20,000.

Will I need to see a plastic surgeon to determine if there was silicone injected into my body?

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