The association of silicone materials and plastic surgery dates back almost fifty years when silicone oil injections were first used for breast enhancement and facial rejuvenation in the late 1960s. While silicone oil injections have been banned in the U.S. for a long time due to adverse tissue reactions, silicone gel remains as a mainstay component of many modern day breast implants. Silicone elastomers (more solid in form than a gel) are also what all other types of aesthetic face and body implants are made of including cheeks, nose, chin and jaw angles as well as chest, shoulder, arm, buttock and calf implants. Thus it is no surprise that one could envision a body full of implanted silicone materials. Because silicone is generally soft to the touch when made for human implants, it is perceived that it can melt if exposed to heat. And while silicone implants can be made to melt, it takes temperatures close to 300 degrees F to see that happen. Human body tissues would long suffer irreversible damage if exposed to high heat while silicone implants will remain unchanged. Hundred to thousands of years from now human skeletons will be found with soft silicone implants at various locations throughout some bodies…I wonder what future archeaologists will think.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana