Silicone Removal

Conveniently located to serve Washington DC, Arlington, Bethesda

What is silicone removal?

Free silicone injections are not legal in the US.   Some patients may have had silicone injected into various areas of their body to increase volume.  This sometimes happens at illegal “plumping parties”.  Sometimes this material is silicone, although most patients do not know exactly what has been injected.  This may be cement or other materials. We have even seen tire repair materials such as fix-a-flat injected.  This material commonly drifts to other areas.

This may initially look good, but over time can cause heaviness, general illness/fatigue, pain, skin darkening, infection or scarring.  Your body’s immune system may continue to attack this foreign material.  If you have received injections in another country or by an unlicensed practitioner, we can help to remove silicone to potentially improve  your symptoms. 

Surgery may require directly excising the area or “debulking” the area with large bore liposuction cannulas or possibly a combination.  This often softens the area, improves symptoms and can improve cosmesis.  It is impossible to remove all the silicone since there is always some in the skin, around nerves/blood vessels or in muscle. Each area requires a customized approach.  We have seen and treated many patients who have had material injected into their buttocks, hips, inner and outer thighs, hands, lips, cheeks, calves, etc.