Filler Complication Prevention and Management

Complications after injection of soft tissue fillers (STF) can have a major impact on the quality of life of the patient. It is therefore essential that injectors are up to date with the preventive measures and management of complications due to STF. Different complications can present with similar symptoms, for example, type IV delayed immune reaction versus lowgrade infection associated with biofilm.

Each requires different treatments, that is, immunosuppression versus antibiotics, although both may have the same medical consequences, that is, granulomatous and fibrotic processes caused by chronic immune stimulation. Similarly, an intravascular event can look like a bruise, but these different complications require very different treatment approaches.