Gluteal silicone injections leading to extensive filler migration with induration and arthralgia

Silicone injections have been used for cosmetic soft tissue augmentation for over five decades with documented consequences both systemic and dermatologic. We present a case of extensive filler migration causing bilateral lower extremity woody induration in a 53 year old Hispanic woman. She presented with a multi-year history of progressive joint stiffening at the knees, accompanied by induration and pain of the bilateral lower extremities. The patient had received two injections of an unknown substance placed into her bilateral gluteals 11 years prior. MRI indicated an infiltrative process of both lower extremities and pathology was consistent with migration of injected tissue augmentation material, most likely silicone. Due to the extent of involvement the patient was started on a trial of doxycycline 100 mg PO BID.