Should you administer dermal filler treatment on patients vaccinated against COVID-19?
Should you encourage patients to get the vaccine if they have had dermal filler treatment?
Key points:
- Concerns arose from Moderna vaccine trial.
- Side effects are very rare.
- Botox has no adverse links with vaccine.
- Side effects caused by body’s immune response.
- This is not a new concern.
- The Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group advise to administer dermal fillers at least two weeks prior and at least three weeks following a COVID-19 vaccination.
Many reports have circulated on the web regarding potential side effects stemming from the COVID-19 vaccine on patients with dermal fillers.
And understandably, medical aesthetic nurses, doctors and dentists, as well as their patients, are concerned.
So we have compiled the key points backed up by the recent ACE Group guidance report surrounding dermal fillers and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Concerns have arisen from vaccine clinical trials in America
The confusion had initially arisen from a clinical trial regarding the Moderna vaccine.
The trial revealed that from a pool of 15,184 people vaccinated, three participants reported inflammatory side effects two days following inoculation.
This appeared to be related to the participants’ dermal fillers.
There also seemed to be a minor link involving the Pfizer vaccine and dermal filler treatment in separate findings.
Two people from that particular trial noticed some swelling around the site of dermal filler injection.
The body’s immune response is the cause
Like any vaccine, virus or bacterial threat that enters the body, your immune system’s response kicks into gear.
And in most occasions, anything that is not native to the body, like dermal fillers, may get tangled up in the immune response.
As such, on the site of the dermal filler treatment, a small reaction, such as swelling, puffiness or inflammation, may occur.
However, in no way shape or form is this immune response reaction being deemed as a major health concern, as the next point will divulge.
These side effects are not widespread
There is no evidence of widespread cases of side effects relating to the COVID-19 vaccine and dermal fillers.
As mentioned, only three people from just over 15,000 vaccine trial participants experienced some swelling/inflammation.
That is a 0.02% incidence rate. In other words, until more studies are conducted and data is released, the risks associated are very low.
Physical immune responses are not a new concern
A reaction such as swelling or inflammation on a dermal fillers site is not purely associated with a COVID-19 vaccination.
Many other vaccinations, as well as viral and bacterial infections, can cause similar side effects.
This is because, as mentioned, in any scenario where the immune system is fighting to its fullest, a reaction may take place.
There is no adverse Botox and COVID-19 vaccine links
As of yet, botulinum toxin treatment currently has no association with side effects relating to a COVID-19 vaccination.
Summary
The risk of people with dermal fillers developing a minor physical reaction as a consequence of a COVID-19 vaccination is very low.
As such, there is no need to panic.
Reactions are miniscule, but if they do occur, any swelling or inflammation will subside in days or at the most, a matter of weeks.
As a precaution, the ACE Group are advising practitioners to administer dermal filler treatment on a patient:
– At least two weeks prior to a COVID-19 vaccination dose.
– At least three weeks following a COVID-19 vaccination dose.
References
https://aestheticsjournal.com/news/ace-group-releases-guidance-on-dermal-fillers-and-covid-19
https://www.jaadcasereports.org/article/S2352-5126(21)00137-5/pdf
https://uk.acegroup.online/blog/2021/03/06/covid-19-fillers/
https://www.jccp.org.uk/ckfinder/userfiles/files/JCCP%20Clinical%20Advisory%20Group.pdf
