Silicone pneumonitis is closely associated with the silicone emboli syndrome discussed in the previous blog. Silicone pneumonitis is an inflammation of the lung. Injections of silicone in the buttocks have been associated with spillage of silicone in the alveolar space after embolization which spreads to the lungs. Patients typically present several symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, cough, and vomiting blood.
There are two ways (to detect pneumonitis) how pneumonitis presents itself. Most patients present an early response usually a few days after the injections, including shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes loss of consciousness. The second response is later after the injection, most typically after 6 months of the injection. Patients present local swelling at the injections’ site and mild respiratory symptoms.
Pathological examination supports the theory that silicone injections result in migration of silicone to the blood stream affecting the lung and causing an inflammatory response resulting in either a lung inflammation or pulmonary vessel blockage.
This blog has explained another reason why silicone should not be injected for butt augmentation.