Painful Butt Injections Treated With Open and Closed Silicone Injection Removal*

Chronic pain from migrated silicone injections can affect far more than appearance, which is why complex reconstructive surgery is sometimes needed to restore both comfort and contour. Our patient is a 43-year-old Hispanic female who came to Dr. J. Timothy Katzen because she was suffering from severe localized pain in her buttocks after previously receiving foreign body injections. Over time, significant scar tissue developed in the buttocks, and the injected material migrated into the anterior thighs, creating additional areas of concern. To address these complications, she underwent a posterior butt lift with silicone injection removal of the buttocks using the open technique, along with silicone removal from the thighs using a closed technique with VASER-assisted suction. Performed under general anesthesia, the open technique allowed Dr. Katzen to directly access the buttock tissues, remove problematic silicone and scarred tissue, and reshape the area for a smoother and more lifted contour. For the thighs, the closed VASER-assisted approach helped break up and suction out migrated foreign material through smaller access points, allowing targeted removal while contouring the affected areas. This combination of open and closed silicone removal techniques is especially valuable when foreign body injections have spread beyond the original site and caused pain, deformity, and tissue damage. Her photos were taken 14 months after surgery and show remarkable long-term results with improved contour, smoother thighs, and relief of most of her pain. Her outcome highlights how advanced silicone removal surgery can restore both function and form.