Foreign body granulomatous reactions to cosmetic fillers: a clinical study of 15 cases.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Subcutaneous or submucosal infiltration of cosmetic materials is a very common practice, because of the ease with which such materials can be deposited, and their presumed innocuousness. However, in recent years there have been reports of foreign body granulomatous reactions occurring many years after infiltration. METHOD: Data were collected on the clinical manifestations, histopathological findings, treatment, and course of the lesions of 15 patients. RESULTS: One male and 14 females presented orofacial swelling an average of 7 years after the infiltration of silicone (n = 9), hyaluronic acid (n = 2), collagen (n = 2), methacrylate (n = 1), and polyalkylimide (n = 1). The patients were treated mainly with systemic corticosteroids, and were followed for an average of 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic corticosteroids are able to control granulomatous reactions, which manifest in the form of outbreaks and tend to undergo spontaneous remission over the years.