Adverse reactions caused by consecutive injections of different fillers in the same facial region: risk assessment based on the results from the Injectable Filler Safety study

Abstract

Background: The combination of different injectable fillers in one area is considered to increase the risk of adverse reactions.

Objectives: To characterize adverse reactions in patients who received more than one filler in the same facial region.

Methods: Data (up to July 2009) of the Injectable Filler Safety Study, a German-based registry for adverse filler reactions, was analysed descriptively. All cases were discussed individually.

Results: In 22 of the 161 patients (13.7%), two or more different fillers were injected consecutively into the same facial region. All patients were female with an average age of 50.6 (SD 13.6) years. In 12 of the 22 patients (54.5%), a specific filler could be attributed to the adverse reactions whereas in the other 10 patients (45.5%), the filler was not clearly attributable to one filler substance causing the adverse reactions.

Conclusions: With the continuous changes in the filler market, the combination of different fillers in one area becomes more likely. Based on our data, there is not a lot of evidence that the combination of different injectable fillers, specifically biodegradable fillers, in the same region increases the risk of adverse reactions.