Silicone is a synthetic compound that can be manufactured as a liquid, a gel or a solid by altering the chemical structure. Modern medical silicone is made to very high standards and is free of impurities. Silicone is present in food, cosmetics, clothing and furniture, from which it may be absorbed. Hypodermic needles are coated with silicone, which acts as a lubricant as the needle passes through the skin.
Surgeons use silicone in many parts of the body.
Hand surgeons use it to replace small joints and in tendon reconstruction. Heart surgeons use silicone for valve replacements. Silicone sheeting is also used on wounds to prevent unsightly scars. To date there is absolutely no evidence that silicone causes cancer in humans. Silicone became commercially available in 1943 and has been used for more than 50 years without any reported increase in the incidence of cancer.