The long-term host response to liquid silicone injected during soft tissue augmentation procedures: a microscopic appraisal.

Background: Silicone has a long history of use as a soft tissue filler.

Materials And Methods: As a contribution to the clarification of the role and fate of this material when used as a filler in soft tissue augmentation techniques, 35 skin biopsies were examined by light microscopy. These biopsies were obtained from target areas where liquid silicone had been injected in 25 patients between 1 and 23 years prior, for the correction of depressed scars on the face.

Results: The microscopic study revealed in 100% of the cases the continued presence, in significant amounts, of the silicone previously injected into the target areas, where it failed to elicit any significant adverse reaction.

Conclusion: Owing to its high permanence and to its inertness, reflected by the lack of any adverse reaction to its presence in the target site, silicone should be regarded as a valuable filler, at least for the correction of small depressed facial scars.