COMPLICATIONS OF INJECTABLE SYNTHETIC-POLYMERS IN FACIAL AUGMENTATION

BACKGROUND. Injectable synthetic materials have been used for augmenta tion of soft tissue defects, correction of wrinkles, and augmentation of facial features such as the nasal dorsum. Success has been limited by inflammatory reactions, material migration, and the difficulty of r emoval should complications occur. OBJECTIVE. TO evaluate complication s resulting from soft tissue augmentation with injectable alloplastic materials. METHODS. Retrospective review of seven cases. Clinical hist ory, treatment, histopathologic findings, and outcomes are assessed. R ESULTS. Inflammatory reaction and tissue damage were refractory to ant ibiotics and steroids, and surgery was required to remove the foreign material. Histologic examination revealed giant cell foreign body reac tion in all cases. CONCLUSION. Injectable synthetic polymers can produ ce significant complications including deformity and inflammatory tiss ue destruction, the control of which is complicated by the difficulty of removing the materials. Removable tissue fillers, such as e-PTFE, o r natural materials such as collagen, autologous,fat, or Alloderm, sho uld be considered instead. (C) 1997 by the American Society for Dermat ologic Surgery, Inc.