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Liquid silicone breast cosmesis—pros and cons of a conversely discussed material in a case report of silicone pneumonia in a transsexual male

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Abstract

Despite safe use of medical purity grade silicone, several reports on complications exist in literature. The Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about health risks involving adultered or impure silicone in the 1960s. However, this potentially lethal practice by not-medical professionals is still widely spread. Most complications concerning liquid silicone injection in breast tissue are in the transgender patient population. Most individuals were seeking low cost– maximum result treatment. Resulting silicone pneumonia is only one possible life-threatening complication that, when diagnosed too late, can lead to death. Early treatment using systemic steroids and antibiotics is mandatory. We are presenting the case of an 18-year-old male to female transgender, presenting with silicone pneumonia after injection of liquid silicone into the breast tissue. The pros and cons of silicone and a short outline of the history of silicone are presented; diagnostic tools and treatment options are illuminated.

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Acknowledgment

This report was made possible by a generous donation from the Department of Plastic Pediatric Surgery, The Children’s’ National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, The Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Christian Weinand

  2. Department of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, The Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave., N.W, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Ananth S. Murthy

  3. MedStar Research Institute, 110 Irving Street NW, Rm 3B61, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Christian Weinand

Authors
  1. Christian Weinand
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  2. Ananth S. Murthy
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Correspondence to Christian Weinand.

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Weinand, C., Murthy, A.S. Liquid silicone breast cosmesis—pros and cons of a conversely discussed material in a case report of silicone pneumonia in a transsexual male. Eur J Plast Surg 32, 209–212 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-008-0310-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-008-0310-7

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