Silicone (medical and surgical uses)
Silicone has found a variety of uses in medical technology and as a surgically implanted material.
Physical and chemical properties of silicone
Biological reactivity of silicone
Injection or implantation within the body
Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery
Historically, silicone was first used as a injectable material.
Dermal filler
Facial fillers are used to fill in the creases and voids left by the thinning and loss of elasticity of aging skin.
Eye surgery
Glaucoma valve
Use as a dressing or stent during healing
Skin
When scars on the skin are thick and raised, they are called hypertrophic. Keloids, in contrasts, are not only thick and raised - but extend beyond the bounds of the healed wound. In both situations, the scar is obvious and requests for improvement are often made by patients. The use of topical application of sheets of silicone over the scar for a number of weeks often helps improve the appearance.( reference Chapter 24 - SCAR REVISION AND CAMOUFLAGE in Cummings: Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery, 4th ed., Copyright © 2005 Mosby, Inc.)
Mucosa
Deep tissues
Burn patient
Silicone sheets are sometimes used as "synthetic “scaffolds” to allow for native tissue regeneration" for the seriously burned patient who has exposed tendons and other injury that require soft tissue coverage for salvage. (Jeng JC. Fidler PE. Sokolich JC. Jaskille AD. Khan S. White PM. Street III JH. Light TD. Jordan MH. Seven years' experience with integra as a reconstructive tool. [Journal: Article] Journal of Burn Care & Research. Vol. 28(1)(pp 120-126), 2007.)