Analysis of Hospitalization Cases for Filler Injection Complications: A Five-Year Retrospective Study Among Iranian People

The skin is the largest organ system with many important clinical functions. Due to the increase in demand for cosmetic procedures and consequently the increase in complications from filler injections, this research aims to review the hospitalization cases involving filler complications.

This study retrospectively and cross-sectionally reviews patient records hospitalized between the years 2016 to 2020, focusing on demographics (age, gender, residence), type of filler, type of complications, onset and duration of complications, duration of hospital stay, the person who administered the injection, and treatment outcomes. The goal is to understand the complications, prognosis, and potential risk factors.

A total of 58 patients were hospitalized due to complications arising from filler injections between 2016 and 2020. The average age of patients was approximately 37.79 years, ranging from 15 to 62 years old. A majority, 94.8%, were female and 62.1% were married. The most common filler used was hyaluronic acid, accounting for 81% of cases. Complications included cellulitis in 41.4% of cases, abscesses in 29.3%, granulomatous inflammation in 19%, and necrosis in 10.3%. The shortest hospital stay was 1 day and the longest was 9 days, with an average stay of approximately 2.33 days. In 65.5% of the cases, the injections were administered by medical professionals, and in 34.5%, by individuals without medical credentials. Married individuals generally sought hospital care later than others. Severe complications were more likely to occur when injections were administered by nonprofessionals. The time to seek medical attention was shorter for severe complications than for moderate ones. There were no deaths among the cases studied.

The study highlights the variation in complication severity associated with filler injections performed by nonmedical personnel, emphasizing the importance of prohibiting such practices. Educating patients about the early signs of complications can significantly reduce severe outcomes and decrease antibiotic resistance.