Closed Silicone Removal Technique After Foreign Body Injection Complications*

Painful firmness after buttock injections can happen when foreign material irritates the tissue and creates scar tissue.  Our patient is a 42-year-old Hispanic female who had foreign body injections placed into her buttocks 2 years before surgery.  She came to Dr. Katzen because she was experiencing pain and firmness throughout her buttocks and wanted the injected material removed.  After multiple physical examinations, Dr. Katzen recommended silicone injection removal using the closed technique with ultrasound-guided, VASER-assisted suction.  She was placed under general anesthesia for the procedure.  During surgery, ultrasound guidance helped Dr. Katzen locate the areas affected by the foreign material and tissue reaction.  VASER energy was then used to loosen the firm, injected product, scar tissue, and inflammatory tissue so they could be removed through small access points using suction.  This closed technique avoids the larger incision required for open silicone removal and may be appropriate for selected patients, depending on the location of the material. Photos were taken 2 weeks after surgery, and our patient achieved remarkable results.  This case shows how ultrasound-guided foreign body injection removal can help address buttock pain, firmness, and silicone injection complications.  Dr. Katzen’s goal was to remove as much problematic material as safely possible while improving comfort, contour, and tissue softness during the early recovery after surgery.