Why Silicone Butt Injections Are a No-No: In this article, we discuss the risks associated with silicone injections for buttock augmentation and provide information on safer treatment alternatives, such as plastic surgery and fillers. On the aesthetic side of things, silicone butt injections can easily end up not providing the fullness or desired look, causing complications such as scarring, tissue damage, infection at the injection site, or even more severe dangers, affecting the appearance of the treated area and the overall patient experience.
Silicone has many legitimate medical uses. It’s an amazing product that is often used harmlessly within body parts such as blood vessels, lungs, and tissues. After all, it’s used to create breast, buttock (BBL), and even facial implants. In addition to cosmetic medicine, it’s used to treat medical problems such as retinal detachment, inflammation, and infections in specific cases.
So it’s understandable that people, particularly women, might assume that silicone is a perfectly fine substance to use as an injectable filler in various ways, particularly as a filler to enhance the buttocks and face area for the purpose of attaining a more pronounced look.
In reality, though, silicone butt injections are a major no-no. They aren’t remotely safe and have led to death, pain, and disfigurement for some patients, according to various reports. The FDA hasn’t approved silicone injections for any cosmetic purposes. If you see someone offering butt enhancement with silicone, your best bet is to say no and run straight to a board-certified plastic surgeon instead, seeking their advice on alternative, safer treatments. Here’s why silicone injections are so dangerous– and some options you might want to consider instead, such as carefully controlled plastic surgery procedures and the use of approved fillers.
The Risks of Silicone Butt Injections
One of the biggest risks and concerns surrounding silicone butt injections is that the injections are often performed by people who aren’t medical professionals. They’re not surgeons or doctors, and they might not even be nurses or aestheticians. This lack of proper training can, in turn, increase the likelihood of injection-related complications as seen in numerous video reports.
Since they aren’t medical professionals, the people who offer silicone butt injections usually aren’t working at a medical practice or even in a particularly clean or sterile environment. The injections are commonly performed in hotel rooms or even out of the person’s home or apartment, increasing the risk of infection at the injection site.
Another considerable risk associated with the injector’s lack of medical training is that they might not inject the material into the right spot, causing the silicone to migrate to other tissues. There have been instances of poorly injected silicone traveling from the buttocks to other areas of the body, such as the thighs, brain, or heart. If the injector hits a blood vessel and the silicone travels to the brain, there’s a major risk of stroke or embolism. If it travels to the heart, there’s a risk of a heart attack.
On the aesthetic side of things, silicone butt injections can easily end up not providing the fullness or desired look. There’s a chance that the silicone will harden under the skin, forming unattractive bumps and lumps, leading to granulomas and other side effects. In addition to these aesthetic concerns, the amount of care necessary in dealing with complications resulting from silicone injections can be significant, further emphasizing the importance of choosing safer treatment alternatives for buttock augmentation. Another potential problem with silicone butt injections is the fact that the silicone itself might not be designed for use in the human body. While medical-grade silicone is available, in many cases, the stuff unlicensed, non-medical injectors are using is the same stuff you’d pick up at the hardware store for use in your bathroom or kitchen. This is just one of the types of silicone that can vary in volume and quality, depending on its intended use and location.
Where Does the Silicone Come From?
There have also been cases of rogue injectors substituting materials that aren’t silicone at all and causing disfigurement or even death. Some of the mystery, definitely-not-FDA-approved materials used have included mineral oil, tire sealant, and cement. Ensuring that your treatment provider is reputable and operates in a safe medical environment is critical.
If you’re not supposed to get silicone injections to enhance your buttocks, then what should you use instead? You actually have two options if you want to increase the size of your butt. The first is butt implants, similar to breast augmentation using silicone implants, but they are placed in the buttocks. Another option is liposuction followed by surgery using fat from your own body as a type of filler. This process is known as body contouring, and while it may come at a higher cost, it is a safer way to attain the desired results.
What is the Brazilian Butt Lift?
The second option is more popular and comes highly recommended by plastic surgeons for those who want natural-looking butt augmentation results as they age. It’s the Brazilian butt lift, which is a form of the popular fat transfer procedure.
The procedure uses fat from your own body to augment the buttocks, such as from your tummy or hips. This can be seen as a two-in-one procedure, like a tummy tuck combined with butt augmentation. To perform the procedure, your doctor will first harvest the fat from one area of your body where you have fat to spare. He or she will clean and sterilize the fat, then inject it into your buttocks until they reach your desired size and shape.
Unlike silicone, which is a foreign substance that your body could reject (or worse), the fat injected during a Brazilian butt lift comes from your own body. It’s a familiar substance, meaning there’s no risk of rejection. While you may need to adjust your diet and exercise habits to maintain your results, the benefits of using your own fat far outweigh the risks.
Recovery after a butt lift will take a couple of weeks. During that time, you’ll want to avoid sitting or placing pressure on your backside as much as possible. Your surgeon might recommend a special cushion to sit on to minimize pressure.
While a Brazilian butt lift is generally a lot safer than silicone butt injections, it’s important that you work with the right surgeon if you’re considering the procedure. You want to find a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing the Brazilian butt lift and other enhancement procedures, such as botox or breast augmentation. Your surgeon should be able to show you evidence of their work, such as before and after pictures of previous patients or even videos.
Choosing a Surgeon for a Brazilian Butt Lift
In the Houston area, Dr. Paul Vitenas is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than two decades of experience. He regularly performs Brazilian butt lifts and other body enhancement procedures at his practice, including the removal of silicone injections. To learn more about the benefits of using your own fat to enhance the size of your butt, call 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas today.
In the Houston area, Dr. Paul Vitenas is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than two decades of experience. He regularly performs Brazilian butt lifts and other body enhancement procedures at his practice, including the removal of silicone injections. To learn more about the benefits of using your own fat to enhance the size of your butt, call 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas today.
