Silicone as a Semi-Conductor in Cosmetic Surgery is highly preferable. The reasons are not far to seek. Silicone is highly durable and can retain flexibility and strength in extreme hot and cold conditions. The unique property of silicone is its bio-compatibility and biodiversity that distinguish it for bio-instrument and medical devices, which are used in contact with the different parts of the human body. The bonding energy of Si-O bonds in silicone is 444 kJ/mol much higher than the C-C bond, which provides stability against UV radiation. Silicone elastomers are stable up to 200oC before going into the plastic region only due to its chemical structure.
Abundance of Silicone
The most prolific semi-metallic element is silicon present in the earth’s crust. This shiny semiconducting element having atomic number 14 located just below the carbon in the modern periodic table. It is present in the form of silica, silicates, silicon dioxide, or quartz in nature. Silicon is the base component not only for semiconducting devices but also use in the fabrication of glass, ceramics, and silicones.
Silicone (polydimethylsiloxanes) is an organic polymer made of a smaller unit of silicon and oxygen skeleton (-R2Si-O-SiR2-, where R = organic group) called monomers. The physical properties of the silicon can be modified by creating cross-linking or changing the length of the primary chain. These can be useful in surgery aid and different applications. In solid form, it is like plastic, but it can be synthesized as liquid, gel, or rubber (elastomers).
Applications of Silicone
Silicone has a wide range of applications from kitchenware products (due to its high heat resistance property) to the medical purpose (non-toxicity and bio-compatibility). Additionally, it is also used in lubrication for automobile parts and in industries for sealing of pipes and containers. In the electronics sector, it is used to make protective covering and shield for the delicate electronic devices from the shock and other calamities. One of the recent and most advanced utilization of silicone is in the medical sector for augmentation of different body parts, implants, contact lenses, catheters, bandages, etc. Even in daily used items like body lubricant, shaving creams, shampoos, and facial cream.
Silicone is used in roughly 50% of all cosmetic items for hair, skin, and underarms. Cosmetic surgery comes into the picture after the first world war to protect the young soldier. The equipment like incision drains is used in cosmetic surgery. Nowadays, cosmetic surgery is common to rectify or modify any physical imperfection of the body parts, especially to enhance the appearance.
Silicone in Cosmetics
The cosmetic industry uses silicon as a filler material in their surgery. The main benefit is that it gives permanent results, unlike the other industry filler materials.
In numerous cosmetic surgery like lip augmentation, scars treatment, Rhinoplasty (defect of the nose) sagging skin around eyes or to smoothen wrinkled and frown, etc. are utilizing medical-grade silicone oil and gels. In ophthalmology, the replacement of the lens is done through silicone for cataract surgery. So there is a widespread increase in the applications of medical grade silicones into various surgical fields.
New cosmetic silicones such as cetyal-dimethicones (C21H48O2Si2) and peg-dimethicones (C2H6OSi)n come into the market for their demand in the industry for different cosmetic surgery and beauty products for the skin.
The physical properties of silicones are altered by adding fatty acids, glycerol, amino group, and some other organic additives. These silicones are much reactive and faster in healing topical over the skin. Specific properties are derived by modifying the silicone. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used for the augmentation of the chin, malar, and nasal bones. Due to its versatility in hardness, its ability to be easily molded and shaped, and it’s biological inertness.
Use in ENT
In surgeries related to the ear, silicone rubber has been used for various purposes. The thin sheet has been used to place over perforation of the eardrum. Silicon thin sheets are used as a mastoid dressing, middle ear covering, temporal canal lining in tympanoplasty (eardrum repair), and myringoplasty (closure of the perforation of the ear). The healing is far better than any other dressing techniques.
Scar therapy
Silicone gel sheeting is a type of viscoelastic material having a rubbery texture. It is used in scar therapy. It acts as a hydrating and regulates oxygen levels in the worn-out tissue maintaining the moisture content in the area. This process is known as homeostasis, which finally gives strength and elasticity to scars tissues. Additionally, it controls the production of collagen at the scar location.
At the time when an individual gets an injury, epidermal keratinocyte and fibroblast cell create a vast amount of collagen- an axillary protein to reconstruct the harmed skin. It if unchecked collagen development can promote an unpredictable scarring region as a result of keloids and hypertrophic scar formations at the site injury. By applying silicone gel sheeting or silicone treatment to the scar bed, fibroblast action is downsized, and collagen creation can be standardized. It results in the impact of straightening and smoothing scars assisting and mixing with the nearby tissue.
Breast Augmentation
There are two types of breast augmentation or implant devices that are used for breast reconstruction. First is the use of a saline implant filled with a sterile saline solution. Second is the silicone Implant filled with viscous silicone gel. In both types of implants, silicone can be used as an outer shell. Silicone just feels like the characteristics of breast tissue. It is done by inserting the silicone shell just behind the breast tissue or under the chest muscles.
After Effects
Breast implants do not last forever. The average age of patients who undergo any sort of breast surgery is 34 years, while their lifespan implant is about 10 to 20 years. After a fixed interval of time, checkup should be done, or any problem arise directly concern with the health center. Since there are several health risks are associated with it, like infection, hematoma, silicone leakage, pain, etc. US- FDA approved the breast implant in women age 22 and above under their own will.
Alienation to FDA Instructions
Silicone implant incompatibility syndrome (SIIS) refers to a silicone reactive disorder condition. In certain countries like the USA, the FDA (food and drugs administration) restricted and some cases banned the use of liquid silicone for cosmetic purposes as filler materials for any part of the body. Except in some instances where liquid/ gel contained inside a shell or skeleton where it is not in contact with the body part just like in breast implant. Only in these cases, the FDA has approved the use. Due to short term advantage without thinking of the long term effect of silicone gel, the cosmetic surgeon is using them against the FDA instructions.
They suggested that injected silicone fillers may go into the body, causing several health issues. It can even result in death in the long term. The research over the effect of silicone with the body tissue is in the nascent stage. There is a constant debate over the acceptance and restriction of cosmetic surgery through silicone sheet/gel/oil with the human body. Recent research literature shows us that silicone gel can go into the blood vessels, lymph nodes, or in body organs like lungs, heart leading to several health issues.
Silicone can come into direct contact with tissue as the result of leakage from an implant or cutaneous injection for cosmetic purposes. Its presence in tissue provokes an inflammatory reaction with foreign body giant cells. The figure shows the interaction of silicone with the body cells.
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Featured Image: Silicone as a Semi-Conductor in Cosmetic Surgery
Research Scholar
Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Dept.
Indian Institute of Technology, Patna
M.Tech, Mechanical Engineering
