Silicone-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Silicones, sometimes known as polysiloxanes, are polymers that are used for a host of industrial and household purposes. These include sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, and thermal and electrical insulation. Silicones come in several forms, such as oil and grease.

You might wonder how silicone might end up in your body, but the answer is quite simple: a deluded quest for beauty and too little money to pay for it.

Reassuringly called injectables, unqualified people criminals use cheap over-the-counter silicone as filler for body contouring (lips, butt or breast plumping). The results are often disasterous. As the FDA warns 'injectable silicone can move throughout the body and cause serious health consequences, including death. Large-scale injectable silicone for body contouring and enhancement can also result in a painful and hard, gravel-like substance that stays permanently beneath the skin[1].

Silicone injections are particularly dangerous if used to give patients a bigger butt, according to the FDA. "When injected into areas with many blood vessels such as the buttocks ('butt'), silicone can travel through those vessels to other parts of the body and block blood vessels in the lungs, heart, or brain," the FDA said. "This can cause a stroke or even death."

The body wants to get rid of these foreign substance and it usually triggers an auto-immune reaction. Siliconosis, calcinosis cutis with hypercalcemia and chronic kidney disease have all been reported in association with silicone injection[2]. But it seems that your kidneys in particular are taking the brunt of the assault. Your kidneys can fail, even decades after the illegal silicone injections[3].

We would like to suggest to call this particular variant: Mercury-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

[1] FDA: The FDA Warns Against Injectable Silicone for Body Contouring and Enhancement: 14 November 2017. See here.
[2] Barilaro et al: ASIA syndrome, calcinosis cutis and chronic kidney disease following silicone njections. A case-based review in Immunologic Research – 2016
[3] d'Ythurbide et al: Reactive amyloidosis complicated by end-stage renal disease 28 years after liquid siliconeinjection in the buttocks in BMJ Case Reports – 2012