ABSTRACT

Introduction: The use of industrial liquid silicone for correcting defects and for soft-tissue augmentation is associated with several complications such as infection, tissue necrosis, and product migration through the lymphatic and/or venous systems or even by gravity. Objective: The main objective of the present study was to clarify the harmful effects that this product may have on the body, such as major scars and aesthetic and functional sequelae. Methods: Eleven patients with siliconomas (7 men and 4 women, including 3 transgender individuals) were treated at the Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora or at the Clínica Plastic Center, Minas Gerais, Brazil, between January 2005 and December 2010. Conservative treatment was attempted through systemic administration of corticosteroids and steroidal infiltration into the nodules. The surgical treatments ranged from direct resection of nodules to elevation of skin flaps and skin grafting. Patients with extensively affected body area underwent liposuction, and a patient with breast involvement underwent bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy followed by silicone gel implantation as a single surgical procedure. Results: All the patients reported that the material had been injected into their bodies by lay individuals in nonhospital settings. The most common affected organs were the eyelids, malar and deltoid regions, breasts, buttocks, and lower limbs. Each patient underwent 1-3 surgical procedures, depending on the extent and location of the affected area. Histopathological examination of the resected material revealed no malignancy, and the material removed by liposuction was confirmed to be silicone. Conclusions: Monitoring of early and late complications shows that the treatment is long, and multiple surgical procedures are necessary to correct functional and aesthetic sequelae.

Keywords: Silicone oils/adverse effects. Silicone oils/toxicity. Silicones.

RESUMO

Introdução: O silicone líquido industrial tem sido introduzido no organismo humano de forma clandestina, com a finalidade de corrigir defeitos, depressões, irregularidades e para aumentar volumes, tanto em mulheres como em homens ou transgêneros. Com tal uso, podem ocorrer várias complicações, tais como infecções, necroses teciduais e, mais tardiamente, a migração do produto, pelo sistema linfático, venoso ou mesmo pela força da gravidade. Método: Foram avaliados 11 pacientes portadores de siliconomas, pertencentes ao ambulatório do Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital Universitário da UFJF e da Clínica Plastic Center, em Juiz de Fora, MG, no período de janeiro de 2005 a dezembro de 2010. Desses, 7 eram do gênero masculino e quatro do gênero feminino, sendo que desse total, 3 eram transgêneros. Todos os pacientes referiam com clareza o material injetado em seus organismos e todos fizeram o procedimento em ambiente não hospitalar e por indivíduos leigos. Conclusão: Este artigo tem como objetivo maior esclarecer as consequências danosas que esse produto pode causar no organismo, como cicatrizes de grandes proporções e sequelas estéticas e funcionais.

Palavras-chave: Óleos de silicone/efeitos adversos. Óleos de silicone/toxicidade. Silicones.