Complications of facial fillers: resource implications for NHS hospitals

Abstract

Facial rejuvenation seeks to reverse the negative sequelae of multiple factors but most importantly of genetic predisposition, sun damage and smoking. With the advent of the so-called 'non-surgical' techniques, and perhaps fuelled by these austere times, volumetric facial augmentation using dermal fillers has soared in popularity among both patients and practitioners. However, legislation has yet to keep pace with the change in clinical practices leaving patients poorly informed and with no protection against unscrupulous suppliers and unregulated practitioners. When things go wrong, patients often turn to the National Health Service (NHS) to rectify both the acute and chronic sequelae resulting in potentially difficult ethical and resource implications. Here, we report one of an increasing number of cases presenting to our NHS craniofacial service with acute filler-related complications.

Complications of Self-Injected Facial Fillers: A Treatment Conundrum in the UK

“…This has ensured that dermal fillers can no longer be injected by those not registered with a health-care body. Significantly, a rise in the presentation of patients who have self-administered dermal fillers has been seen within our own clinical practice and others [8].…”

El costo de la belleza: Comunicación de seis casos clínicos con infección por micobacterias atípicas secundario a inyecciones intradérmicas y reacción a un dermoimplante de origen desconocido

“…Los materiales de relleno no son inocuos y se han relacionado con diferentes reacciones adversas, generalmente inespecíficas. Dependiendo del momento en que ocurran, las complicaciones se dividen en inmediatas, tempranas y tardías, según suceden durante los primeros dos días, entre los 3 y 14 días, o tras dos semanas postinyección; respectivamente 6 . Las complicaciones tardías incluyen inflamación crónica, granulomas, infecciones por Mycobacterium spp., necrosis, osteomielitis crónica y muerte 7 .…”

Nonvascular Complications of Injectable Fillers—Prevention and Management

“…Simultaneously, countries such as the United Kingdom have brought in legislation that dermal fillers can be only injected by someone registered with a health care body. 6,7 Paradoxically, instead of making filler injection safe, this has resulted in an increased incidence of self-administered cases 8 with a higher incidence of complications.…”