Silicone Migration after Buttock Augmentation

Safety and Efficiency of Minimally Invasive Buttock Augmentation: A Review

BACKGROUND

Volume restoration and enhancement of the gluteal region appearance has become nowadays a popular concern in particular for many women. Several options are available, none however are without complications and side effects. Volume enhancement with soft tissue fillers of the gluteal region is emerging as a highly attractive minimally invasive modality. It has led unfortunately to more unlicensed, nonmedical practitioners administering illicitly injections for buttock augmentation at relatively low costs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To determine safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of mostly used soft-tissue fillers for buttock augmentation, a systematic literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase was conducted to identify the mostly used fillers for gluteal augmentation. It was complemented by searching for each of the identified filler material separately to retrieve any missed reports. References of clinical studies and trials, reviews, and consensus reports were reviewed as well for the same objective.

RESULTS

In the final analysis 12, mostly strongly biased clinical reports providing a low level of evidence, were identified for inclusion in the review. Two studies involved Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), 5 Poly-L-lactic acid, 1 Calcium hydroxyapatite and 4 hyaluronic acid filler injection. No studies were identified involving liquid silicone or Polyacrylamide hydrogel. The little available evidence provided by this review indicates that a specific brand of PMMA in Brazil has a demonstrable relatively good safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness record superior to surgical alloplastic gluteal augmentation or to lipofilling only when injected by experts.

CONCLUSION

Gluteal augmentation with soft tissue fillers is not as simple and innocuous as advertised. Serious complications may occur. Moreover, optimal buttock contouring entails not only volume augmentation but also volume removal; thus, volume augmentation with soft tissue fillers may not be ideal. Popularizing this modality must also be approached with great care. Serious complications do occur; they become inevitable when performed illegally by non-specialized, non-authorized, and unscrupulous practitioners in non-accredited facilities. Patients must be warned that adherence to regulations is critical and that only well-trained certified experts practicing legally in accredited facilities can address safely and efficiently their concerns.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Poly-L-Lactic Acid for Minimally Invasive Gluteal Augmentation

BACKGROUND

There is increased emphasis on the importance of the gluteal region in the perception of beauty. Biodegradable fillers provide a nonsurgical method of augmenting and rejuvenating this area.

OBJECTIVE

To review pertinent aspects of anatomy, patient evaluation, injection technique, and complications for gluteal augmentation using injectable biodegradable fillers.

METHODS

The authors review the literature for poly-L-lactic acid-based gluteal augmentation.

RESULTS

Like many aesthetic procedures, there is a paucity of literature on this emerging treatment modality (Level 4, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Oxford). However, the collective clinical experience is that poly-L-lactic acid fillers are an effective treatment for patients seeking noninvasive gluteal enhancement with minimal downtime. Physicians must understand gluteal anatomy and avoid injecting deeply in the danger triangle to prevent intravascular injection into the gluteal vessels or injury to the sciatic nerve. Other safety elements include the use of blunt cannulas, reduced pressures, smaller volumes, and retrograde delivery.

CONCLUSION

Gluteal augmentation with fillers can safely and effectively improve gluteal firmness, shape, proportion, and projection. Practitioners injecting fillers in the gluteal region must be aware of appropriate patient selection, regional anatomy, and safe injection techniques. Given the increasing demand for this procedure, further high-quality studies are needed.

Silicone pneumonitis after gluteal filler: a case report and literature review

Liquid silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) is an inert material that is commonly used for cosmetic purpose. Silicone embolization syndrome (SES) can rapidly progress to pneumonitis as a consequence of the injection of nonmedical-grade liquid silicone. We describe a case of severe silicone pneumonitis complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome and bilateral pneumothorax secondary to silicone gluteal augmentation. In this case report, we aim to discuss our experience and approach in managing an uncommon case of SES.