Adverse Reactions Associated with Dermal Fillers in the Oral and Maxillofacial Region: A Venezuelan Experience

Dermal facial fillers are increasingly popular. Published reports on the clinical and histopathologic characteristics related to adverse reactions to dermal fillers in the facial region have been relatively well documented. This study adds to the literature on adverse reactions to injected filler in the oral and maxillofacial region in a South American population.

A retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study (2019-2020) was performed. The study population was a dermatology service in Venezuela. Clinical and histopathologic features of patients with adverse effects were documented.

A total of 35 cases of adverse reactions associated with cosmetic filler procedures were diagnosed during the analyzed period; of these, six cases (17.1%) involved the oral and maxillofacial region. All cases occurred in women. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.3 years (58-73). In three cases, dermal fillers were used in different locations on the face, while three involved the lips. Five patients exhibited adverse reactions to lip filler. All six cases were histopathologically diagnosed as foreign body reactions to injected material. Four and two cases revealed microscopic features compatible with hyaluronic acid and polymethylmethacrylate, respectively.

Reflecting the dramatic increase in cosmetic procedures with soft tissue fillers, this study contributed by reporting six cases of foreign body reaction involving the oral and maxillofacial region, confirmed with biopsy and histopathology.