migration of silicone from one site to another is also a potential problem which results in unsightly bumps away from the area being treated. If high-grade medical silicone is injected by a skilled physician, using a micro-injection technique, the likelihood of adverse reactions is extremely small. In fact, until recently, silicone implants were undergoing a revival in North America. However, the questionable association with auto-immune disease is still unclear to both researchers and lay people. It is for this reason that there is currently a moratorium on the use of injectable silicone.

Gore-Tex and SoftForm are remarkably stable agents and allergic reactions are virtually unheard of. Never-the-less they are foreign materials and our body's immune system will sometimes wall off foreign matter

with a protective fibrous coat or at worst it will try to expel the foreign body. In these rare instances the implant would have to be removed.

How long do implants last?
Organic implants are only temporary solutions and require touch ups from time to time. The body's metabolism slowly reduces the bulk of these fillers or implants. Depending on the area of the body being injected, the rate of metabolism, and the type of implant, the frequency with which touch ups are required varies. Different studies report different findings. Most Zyderm collagen implants require touch ups within 3 to 6 months, and Zyplast collagen implants require them between 6 to 9 months. Occasionally, the implant will be metabolized within a few days or weeks. Our experience has been that consumption of alcohol or exposure to sun and heat increases the rate of metabolism and the subsequent reduction of the injected collagen, as well as an increase in the risk of an allergic reaction.

Studies suggest that on average Koken atelocollagen solution metabolizes within
8 to 14 months, although our experience has been that Koken is metabolized in
3 to 6 months.