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Legal vs. illegal injectable fillers: The adverse effects comparison study
Author(s) -
Chayangsu Onjuta,
Wanitphakdeedecha Rungsima,
Pattanaprichakul Penvadee,
Hidajat Inneke Jane,
Evangelista Kristy Elleza R.,
Manuskiatti Woraphong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cosmetic dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.626
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1473-2165
pISSN - 1473-2130
DOI - 10.1111/jocd.13492
Subject(s) - medicine , filler (materials) , adverse effect , soft tissue , surgery , incidence (geometry) , retrospective cohort study , materials science , physics , optics , composite material
Background Over the past decades, soft‐tissue filler injections have become an essential part of cosmetic practice worldwide. Due to the increasing demand, unlicensed practitioners venture in performing this minimally invasive procedure, injecting illegal fillers that pose serious complications. Objectives To compare the adverse effects of legal and illegal soft‐tissue fillers injected by licensed and unlicensed practitioners. Materials and methods A 10‐year retrospective, descriptive, single‐center study conducted at the outpatient dermatology department and skin laser center at Siriraj Hospital from January 2009 to December 2019. Patients were identified as having treatment‐related complications. Their demographic data, clinical history, and injection history were reviewed. Results Forty patients with mean age of 37 years old were included in the study. Thirty‐five of them (87.5%) were female. Illegal soft‐tissue fillers were used in 28 patients (70%) and were performed by unlicensed practitioners (18 cases, 64.3%, P = .001). Adverse effects from illegal fillers (26 cases, 92.9%) developed longer than legal fillers (7 cases, 58.3%) ( P = .017). Symptoms significantly lasted longer in patients injected with illegal fillers, 10 (0.07‐288) weeks, as compared to patients injected with legal fillers 0.75 (0.14‐72) weeks ( P = .01). Injections from illegal fillers resulted to foreign body reaction (22 cases, 78.6%) and infections (6 cases, 21.4%). Vascular complications were identified in legal fillers injections (5 cases, 41.7%). Conclusions The incidence of adverse effects and complications from soft‐tissue filler injections are superior when performed by novice injectors and unlicensed practitioners using illegal fillers. Proper training of filler injections, selection of appropriate fillers, and early recognition of adverse effects are critically important to the success of treatments.