Challenging Breast Reduction Removes Silicone Granulomas of the Breasts: Raleigh*

Injection of silicone for breast augmentation was originally somewhat popular in the 1960s but has been largely condemned because of multiple complications associated with granulomas creating dense breast masses and deformities of the breasts. Despite this, it was still performed in some foreign countries and in fact is still performed by non-licensed medical practitioners to this day. This patient came in desiring breast reduction. She did have a history of prior silicone breast injections . Her breasts were very dense and mammograms were near impossible to interpret. She was wearing a size 36DDD and wanted to be much smaller. She underwent bilateral breast reduction but because of the extensive granuloma formation it was a much more difficult procedure. A thorough attempt at removing all silicone was made however it was so embedded throughout the tissue that preserving nipple viability via breast pedicle was near impossible. She underwent initial removal of approximately 400 g of breast and silicone material per side. She actually had a second procedure since further resection of silicone material threatened compromise of blood flow to the nipple. During the second procedure additional tissue was more safely removed with removal of nearly all of the silicone material. She was very pleased with the much smaller breast cup size that she had hoped for. Silicone injections in the breast or buttock is a dangerous procedure and it is not recommended.