The Current State of Treatment of Adverse Reactions to Injectable Fillers

BACKGROUND Adverse reactions to injectable filler may be challenging to treat. The spectrum of treatment options ranges from immunomodulatory drugs (e.g., glucocorticosteroids) to antibiotics to laser therapy and surgery. OBJECTIVES To assess how adverse reactions were treated and how they processed over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants from the Injectable Filler Safety (IFS) Study were reinterviewed to obtain data on the course of adverse reactions and the therapy. RESULTS Forty-one participants from the IFS Study were reinterviewed; 35 (85%) received treatment, 17 (41%) with a combination of drug therapy and surgery, 14 (34%) with drug therapy only, and four (10%) with a surgical intervention. Six (15%) did not receive any treatment. Fifty-one percent of all of the treated participants reported treatment-related adverse reactions. Participants with more severe adverse reactions were more likely to be treated with a combination of drugs and surgery. In all participants, adverse reactions improved. CONCLUSION We certainly need more evidence. Reporting positive and negative treatment outcomes is important to improve our knowledge regarding these reactions. Therefore, registries focusing on adverse reactions to injectable fillers and their treatment should be encouraged. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.