Ask Dr. Pane: Can I Get a BBL After Silicone Injections?

During a recent Instagram Live session, Dr. Thomas Pane, founder and Chief Medical Officer of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, was asked a number of questions regarding Brazilian butt lift procedures. One in particular interested Dr. Pane because it’s a common question, and also because it speaks to a serious safety issue which too many patients are unaware of. User Karla With the Pretty Eyes asks, “Can I get a BBL after silicone injections to the buttocks?”

The short answer, Dr. Pane says, is “It is possible.” The trouble, he added, is that while it’s possible to have a BBL or other cosmetic surgery after silicone injections, it’s not necessarily a good idea.

Many patients who want quick buttock augmentation results but worry about the expense of implants vs. silicone butt injections turn to the “alternative” method to help plump and shape the area.

The trouble with receiving silicone injections for this type of butt augmentation is that the FDA has not approved any silicone injectable fillers for use in the buttocks, cheek augmentation and so on. One reason for this is because there is a robust body of study concerning silicone implant technology and what patients can expect from it. Another is because there is currently no medical grade injectable silicone filler, which is a very serious concern. Dr. Pane is only one reputable board certified plastic surgeon out of many, such as Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes, MD of Los Angeles, CA who have published literature and commentary in an effort to warn people against utilizing the services of people claiming to use injectable fillers for augmentation purposes.

This type of filler is commonly used by either fly-by-night doctors or laypeople in the United States, at hotels and private residences, often pandering to out-of-town patients who hope to save some money, have been refused conventional body surgery for any number of reasons or aren’t thrilled with the honest answer to the question, “How long do you have to wait to sit after a BBL?” Their “treatments,” and we use the term advisedly here, may be billed as “silicone parties,” “plumping parties” and other harmless-sounding euphemisms implying nonsurgical procedures. If the attendees are lucky, they will get what they paid for in the form of silicone caulk or similar substances, which are not medical grade at the best of times; if they’re unlucky, they may be injected with cooking oil or other substances which are decidedly NOT intended for injection into the human body! Every so often, you may hear a story in the news about a shady doctor or an untrained layperson getting busted, heavily fined and sentenced to hard prison time for conducting such parties and procedures, often after one of the attendees is either irrevocably maimed or dies outright as a result of complications arising from the use of improper procedures, techniques and substances on the attendees.

How long do silicone injections last?

Depending upon the type of injection, where it was placed, how long ago it was placed and whether the patient experiences any problems or side effects, a “silicone” injection could last anywhere from a few years to the rest of the patient’s life—although that could be a much shorter timeframe than it sounds like!

What are the side effects of silicone injections?

For the reasons we’ve already gone over, Dr. Pane’s default answer to the question of whether silicone injections are a good idea is a resounding NO. Additionally, some of the potential complications, such as fatty tissue death, can be fatal. Likewise, a BBL after undergoing silicone injections is a delicate and dangerous procedure which must be evaluated on an individual basis, more so than with many other forms of cosmetic surgery. In many cases, because the silicone is not medical grade, it can cause extensive scar tissue formation and otherwise damage or destroy the tissues, necessitating silicone removal surgery and dead fat removal. It can also impinge on the blood vessel network and cause other problems.  

Can you remove silicone injections?

Dr. Pane notes that in West Palm Beach, he has successfully undertaken this sort of procedure before, especially in situations where the silicone was injected deep and out of the way enough to allow access to the area without undue difficulty. However, at the surgical center Dr. Pane and ACA use in Miami, Dr. Pane says that sort of procedure wouldn’t fly, because of concerns about dislodging bits of silicone to travel through the body, causing issues similar to blood clots and their complications. The only way to be absolutely certain you’re a candidate for this sort of surgery is to meet Dr. Pane for an in-person medical evaluation and detailed medical history, but it would be wise not to get too attached to the idea.

When you’re considering taking action to alter the shape or appearance of your body, it’s very important to make sure the person performing the procedure, the techniques they are using and the care you will receive both during and after the procedure are the best possible. For that reason, ACA and Dr. Pane strongly encourage patients to vet their healthcare provider for any procedure, from nonsurgical cosmetic treatments to full body lifts. It could literally mean the difference between a beautiful life and a horrible death.

Dr. Pane and ACA offer cosmetic surgery treatments and procedures including, but not limited to:

• breast augmentation and lift
• breast augmentation with fat grafting
• brow lift
• buccal fat removal
• butt implants
• calf augmentation
• chin augmentation
• compression garment
• ear pinning
• fat grafting
• fat removal
• female and male body contouring
• hair loss
• inverted nipple correction
• labia reduction
• lip lift
• liquid facelift
• loose skin
• male liposuction
• male tummy tuck
• neck lift
• nose job
• pectoral implant
• scar tissue remediation
• skin tightening
• vaginal rejuvenation

If you have a question about any facet of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Pane and the staff of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics welcome your inquiries. To learn more about how ACA and Dr. Pane can help you achieve the look you want, click here to contact us or give us a call at (561) 513-4763. You can also submit questions for Dr. Pane and the ACA staff through our social media channels including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Remember, at ACA we believe the only bad question is the one you DON’T ask!