Silicone is a chemical polymer derived through a heating and refining process from the element silicon--which is more commonplace than you might realize. In fact, the sand on the beach is made from a combination of silicon and oxygen called silica.
Silicone can be produced in a wide variety of forms, including liquids, gels, rubber-like “elastomers”, and hard/solid forms similar to plastic. In these forms, silicone is used for many different consumer products (such as lubricants, adhesives, waterproof coatings, cleansers, antiperspirants, suntan lotions, makeup, hair care products, processed foods, chewing gum, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers, and more.)
In addition, medical-grade silicones are used in numerous medical devices approved by the FDA, including cardiac valves, IV tubing, finger joint prostheses, contact lenses, syringes/needles, and many other products. In 50 countries, medicine-filled silicone capsules are routinely placed underneath the skin as a way to deliver various drugs and hormones (as in birth control).
In plastic and reconstructive surgery, silicone is still the material of choice for many types of solid implants used to enhance or reconstruct the cheeks, chin, and jaw. Semi-solid (cohesive) silicone implants are also used for the augmentation of the breasts, male chest (called pectoral implants), calves, biceps, and even sometimes the buttocks.
Want to Learn More About Silicone?
For more information about the many uses of silicone in plastic surgery, including safety information, read The Truth About Silicone.
Sources:
Interview with Robert Kotler, MD, FACS, facial cosmetic surgeon in private practice, author of Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon; Beverly Hills, CA, conducted on August 31, 2009
Liquid Injectable Silicone for Soft Tissue Augmentation; Prather CL, Jones DH; Dermatol Ther. 2006 May-Jun;19(3):159-68
Silicone Implants, Consumer Information Presented by the Breast Implant Task Force (a joint effort of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)
Workshop on Innovative Systems for Delivery of Drugs and Biologics: Scientific, Clinical, and Regulatory Challenges; United States of America Food and Drug Administration; July 8, 2003
