Surgery to take out as much previously injected silicone as can be done safely, so the area swells less, feels less firm and looks less distorted — helping you feel more at ease and more confident in your own skin.
Facial silicone removal is surgery to take out silicone that was injected into the soft tissue of the face in the past. There is one important thing to say plainly from the start: when liquid silicone is injected into tissue, it tends to spread and scatter through the surrounding area, binding tightly to the tissue layers, so it usually cannot be removed completely. Because of this, the realistic goal of this surgery is to remove as much as can be done safely, reducing the amount of silicone and easing complications such as swelling, inflammation, lumps or distortion — not to return the face to exactly how it looked before the injections. Here is how to picture whether you fall into the group this suits.
Everything begins with an examination and consultation. A specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery — the same doctor who will perform your operation — asks closely about your history: what you were injected with if you know, when, in which areas, and what symptoms you have now. The doctor examines your face to find out how far the silicone has spread, judges the degree of inflammation and distortion, and in many cases will order imaging or an ultrasound to see clearly how much silicone is in the tissue and where it lies. This step matters, because it decides how much can be removed safely and which approach to take.
Based on the examination, the doctor talks openly with you about a realistic plan — including how much may be removable, whether one or more procedures might be needed, the planned incision, and what may remain afterward. You also have routine pre-operative tests and a review by the anesthesiologist. Before the day of surgery, you will be advised to stop certain medications that can cause bleeding, such as those containing Aspirin, and to fast as directed if needed.
Depending on the location, the amount of silicone and the degree of complication, the procedure may be done under local anesthesia with sedation, or under general anesthesia, meaning you sleep through the whole operation. The surgeon makes an incision placed in a discreet spot where possible, then exposes the area of tissue holding the silicone. Because liquid silicone usually does not gather into one neat lump but soaks into the tissue, the surgeon removes the silicone along with the tissue most heavily soaked by it, carefully and with restraint. This is the heart of the matter: the surgeon balances removing as much as possible against keeping the surrounding healthy structures safe — rather than trying to clear it all out at the cost of damaging healthy tissue.
Throughout, the surgeon works carefully around the important structures of the face — including the branches of the facial nerve that drive the facial muscles, the blood vessels, and the salivary ducts — because scattered silicone can lie close to or stick to these structures. After removing the silicone, the surgeon rinses the area, stops the bleeding and closes the wound. In some cases a closed drain is placed for a short time to let fluid out, and the surgeon may plan to address any shortage of tissue in a later stage if needed.
This surgery aims to remove some of the injected silicone and ease the complications that come with it, so the area swells less, feels less firm and looks less distorted. It is a treatment to address a problem, and how much it improves depends a great deal on the amount of silicone, how widely it has scattered, and the state of your own tissue. So that you hold the right expectations, here are a few things it does not set out to do.
Recovery after facial silicone removal varies quite a bit with how much was done — removing a small amount from a shallow area is far gentler than removing a large amount from an area that has been inflamed or has scarred down. The first days usually bring swelling, bruising and a tight, full feeling at the surgical site. The stages below are rough guides — everyone heals at their own pace, and if the silicone covers a wide area or has already caused complications, progress may be slower.
Facial silicone removal is surgery that addresses an already complicated situation, in an area with important nerves and blood vessels, so there are risks worth knowing in advance — and knowing them clearly helps you decide well. Your surgeon will talk through with you the specific risks that apply to your case.
Facial silicone removal is harder than it looks, because liquid silicone usually does not stay in one tidy place but soaks into and binds to many layers of tissue, at times right beside the branches of the facial nerve and the blood vessels. What matters is judging correctly how far the silicone has spread, removing as much as possible while keeping the healthy structures safe, and being honest about what remains afterward. For this reason, the operation should be performed by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, at a hospital licensed for aesthetic surgery. These conditions are tied to your safety, not side details.
At The Gioi Dep, the person who examines and advises you is also the one who performs your operation, so what the two of you discuss about your silicone injection history and your symptoms goes straight into the plan. The doctor will be honest about a realistic goal — to remove some and improve, not a promise to clear it all — and about the chance that more than one procedure, or adding tissue later, may be needed. Before surgery, you have a pre-anesthesia review by an anesthesiologist, a step that helps reduce the risks that can arise during anesthesia, and you are monitored afterward to hospital standards.
Usually it cannot all be removed. When liquid silicone is injected into the face, it tends to work its way in and soak into the tissue layers, binding tightly to the surrounding area, so the surgeon can only take out as much as can be done safely. The realistic goal is to reduce the amount of silicone and the problems it causes, not to clear it all out. This is something the surgeon will make clear to you from the consultation onward.
The first few days the area may be swollen, bruised and tight, to a degree that depends on how much was removed and where the surgery was. Most people manage well with the medicine the doctor prescribes, and it feels noticeably more comfortable once the swelling begins to ease.
This surgery needs an incision to remove the silicone, so it does leave a scar. The surgeon tries to place the incision in a discreet spot where possible, and the scar usually fades over time. The surgeon will explain the planned incision for your case at the consultation.
Many people consider returning to work in about one to two weeks, depending on how much was done, the nature of the job, and how much swelling remains. Because the area may still be swollen in the early stage, it is wise to plan for a comfortable amount of time off.
This can happen and is a real concern. When silicone is removed along with the tissue it has soaked into, the area can be left short of tissue, hollowed, or changed in shape. Depending on the case, the surgeon may discuss adding tissue or revising it in a later stage. The surgeon will talk this possibility through with you before surgery.
You do not need to know for certain before you come in. The surgeon will ask closely about your history, examine the face, and in many cases use an ultrasound or imaging to assess it. Working out the type of substance, the amount and where it sits helps the surgeon plan treatment that suits you and keeps you safe.
You might. Because the silicone usually cannot all be removed in one go, some cases need more than one procedure, or a further stage to add tissue where it is short. The surgeon will talk through a realistic plan with you from the start, depending on the amount of silicone and how widely it has scattered.
Depending on the location, the amount of silicone and how much is being done, you may have local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia, meaning you sleep through the whole operation. The anesthesiologist will examine you and talk with you beforehand to choose the method that suits you.
Usually it is not advisable to operate while the area is in an active flare of inflammation or infection. The surgeon usually prefers to settle the inflammation with medication first, then consider surgery at a more suitable time. It is wise to come in early so the doctor can assess and treat it promptly.
There is no rigid age limit. What matters more than the number is your overall health and the specific state of the area that was injected with silicone. The surgeon will weigh these factors at the examination to help you decide together whether the procedure suits you and is safe.
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The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.