Complications after silicone injection to create 'Buddha ears' and bamboo shoot hands

Ho Chi Minh City: The 46-year-old woman's ears and hands were swollen and painful several months after injecting "artificial fat" to have long earlobes like "Buddha's ears" and slender hands.

The patient, who lives in Da Nang, said that he saw his friend injecting artificial fat to create "Buddha ears" so he followed suit and injected it into many other areas of his body. Afterwards, the injected area became hard, swollen, red, purple, and "hurt to the point of brain damage" when touched.

The local medical facility performed an aspiration but the condition did not improve, so she went to Ho Chi Minh City with two swollen ears, an abscessed chin, swollen hands, and bruises all over. "Wherever I went, I covered my hands, feet, and ears because they were getting more and more swollen and deformed," the patient said.

The patient's hand was deformed and swollen. Photo: Provided by the hospital — The patient's hand was deformed and swollen. Photo: *Provided by the hospital*

On June 30, Dr. Nguyen Phan Tu Dung, Director of JW Hospital, said that the spa compound injected into the patient was not artificial fat but liquid silicone, a substance banned by the Ministry of Health for use in beauty treatments. The team had to scrape out all the liquid silicone that had seeped into the muscle tissue to avoid a worsening condition that could cause infection and necrosis, requiring ear amputation.

"Silicon curettage is one of the techniques with the most unpredictable results because it is unclear where the silicone has penetrated and where it has penetrated," said Dr. Tu Dung.

Fortunately, after nearly a month of treatment, the patient returned for a check-up with his ears almost completely improved, no more swelling or pain, feeling "like he was reborn, his inferiority complex was gone".

The patient's ear was swollen, purple, and deformed (left) and recovered later (right). Photo: Provided by the hospital — The patient's ear was swollen, purple, and deformed (left) and recovered later (right). Photo: *Provided by the hospital*

Doctors recommend that many people are currently injecting fillers and artificial fat to create "Buddha ears" in the hope of changing their fortunes and becoming rich. However, they need to be careful because the ears are vulnerable parts of the body. If too much filler is injected or the technique is incorrect, it will cause many complications.

"In particular, note that there is no such thing as artificial fat," the doctor said, adding that this is just an advertising trick of "underground" spas, deceiving victims by injecting liquid silicone which has been banned by authorities.

In addition, any invasive technique must be carried out in sterile conditions, performed by qualified, experienced medical staff, at a licensed facility. Therefore, when you have a need for beauty, you need to choose a reputable cosmetic facility, licensed to perform the cosmetic procedure you need.

Le Phuong

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