Silicone Injections: Not What You Think!

For many, silicone brings to mind breast implants, but did you know that people are allowing the substance to be injected into their faces and other parts needing a boost? It's a process called pumping, and it uses various grades of silicone to plump up areas like the lips, cheeks, buttocks and legs. But this silicone isn't a good substitute for the conventional dermal fillers, like Juvederm and Restalyne, that plastic surgeons use. In fact, these products and others that plastic surgeons use are approved by the FDA. Liquid silicone injections are not FDA-approved at all; the only approved use silicone has is in breast implants. "Pumpers" may not even be doctors or nurses but still perform the injection process. Many times, pumpers will hold "pumping parties" in which he or she will bring lots of silicone to plump lots of parts on lots of people.