Here’s what you need to know about COVID vaccine side effects if you have cosmetic fillers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a new and somewhat unexpected COVID-19 side effect shortly before the new year: swelling in the face.

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Two people – a 46-year-old and a 51-year-old – who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during clinical trials, experienced ‘temporarily associated’ (means on the side of the face) swelling within two days of receiving . their second dose of the shot, according to the report. The alleged cause of the swelling? Cosmetic. “Both subjects had a dermal filler,” the FDA said in the report. The agency did not share any more information, and a Moderna publicist did not return. Form‘s request for comment prior to publication.

If you have or have considered cosmetic fillers, you probably have questions about what to expect if and when you get a COVID-19 vaccine – whether from Moderna, Pfizer or any other company that will soon be authorized for emergency use by the FDA. Here’s what you need to know.

First, how common is this side effect of the vaccine?

Not much. Facial swelling was not included in the list of common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). And the FDA has only documented two reports of this side effect from more than 30,000 people who participated in the clinical trials on Moderna (so far the side effect has not been with Pfizer’s vaccine or any other company’s COVID-19 vaccines not reported).

That said, STAT, a medical news website that blogged the FDA’s presentation of this data live in December, reported a third person in the Moderna trial who said they had lip angioedema (swelling) about two days after vaccination ( it is unclear whether it was after the person’s first person) or second dose). “Rachel Zhang, MD, an FDA medical officer, said during the presentation during the presentation: STAT. Dr. Zhang did not specify when this person received the filling procedure. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects)

While the FDA has not said how many people in the Moderna trial had cosmetic fillers, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 3 million people in the U.S. receive fillers annually, so this is a fairly common procedure. But with just three cases of swollen faces in a trial involving more than 30,000 people, that means we’re talking about the chance of developing about 1 in 10,000 face swelling after we get the COVID-19 vaccine. In other words: it is unlikely.

Why can someone swell with fillers after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

The exact reason is unclear at this stage, but the swelling is “probably a cross-reactive agent between the vaccine and the ingredients in the filler,” said Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins. Center Health Safety.

The ingredients of the Moderna vaccine contain mRNA (a molecule that essentially teaches your body to create its own version of the COVID-19 virus’ ear protein as a way to prepare your body to fight the virus). to protect), different types of lipids (fats that help carry the mRNA to the right cells), tromethamine and tromethamine hydrochloride (alkalizing agents commonly used in vaccines to match the pH level of the vaccine to the body), acetic acid (a natural acid commonly found in vinegar, which also helps maintain the pH stability of the vaccine), sodium acetate (a form of salt that acts as another pH stabilizer for the vaccine and is also widely used in IV fluid), and sucrose (aka sugar – another common ingredient for vaccine stabilizer in general).

Although one of the lipids of the vaccine, polyethylene glycol, has been linked to allergic reactions in the past, says Dr. Adalja that it is difficult to know whether this ingredient – or any other, for that matter – is specifically involved in swelling in people with fillers.

The FDA report did not specify exactly what type of cosmetic fillers these patients received. The American Academy of Dermatology states that the most common filler ingredients generally contain fat taken from your own body, hyaluronic acid (a sugar that occurs naturally in the body, which gives skin color, bounce and shine), calcium hydroxylapatite (basically) a injectable form of calcium that helps stimulate the collagen production of the skin, poly-L-lactic acid (an acid that also promotes the formation of collagen) and polymethyl methacrylate (another collagen enhancer). Each of these fillers can come with its own unique side effects and cross-reactions. But since the FDA did not specify what kind (or kinds) of fillers these people had, it is unclear what the cross-reactivity might be, says Dr. Adalja. “There are many more questions that need to be answered.” (Related: A Complete Guide to Filler Injections)

Interestingly, the person who allegedly experienced lip swelling after their vaccination, Moderna COVID-19, said that they “had a similar reaction to a previous flu vaccine,” said Dr. Zhang said during the FDA’s presentation of data on the Moderna vaccine, according to STAT.

One possible explanation for this side effect – whether it is from Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, a flu shot or any other vaccine – is that ‘the intended activation of the immune system by the vaccine also causes inflammation elsewhere in the body. can cause. “says Jason Rizzo, MD, Ph.D., director of Mohs Surgery at Western New York Dermatology.” Since dermal filler is essentially a foreign substance to the body, it makes sense that these areas are more prone in this type of scenario. to inflammation and swelling, “he explains. (FYI: Skin filler is not the same as Botox.)

What to do if you have had fillers and are planning to get a COVID-19 vaccine

More information is being gathered on the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines as a whole, but it is important to note what has been reported so far – even side effects that have only been seen in very small numbers. With this in mind, dr. Adalja that it is a good idea to talk to your GP if you have had fillers and plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

If you see the chance, be sure to visit the office of your medical care for about 15 to 30 minutes after being vaccinated. (Your service provider should follow CDC guidelines and recommend them anyway, but it never hurts to repeat them.) “If you do get swelling, it can be treated with steroids or antihistamines, or a combination thereof,” says dr. Adalja. If you accidentally develop swelling in the face (or any other unexpected side effect, for that matter) after being vaccinated and leaving the vaccination site, suggest dr. Adalja suggests that you call your doctor ASAP ASAP to determine the right treatment.

And if you notice any swelling in your face (or any other side effects) after the first dose of your COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your doctor about whether it is a good idea to get the second dose. or not, says Rajeev Fernando. , MD, an infectious disease specialist working in COVID-19 field hospitals across the country. Also, if you are worried about what could be causing the swelling, suggest dr. Fernando suggests talking to an allergist, who may be able to perform some tests to see what may be behind the side effect.

Dr. Adalja emphasizes that this news should not deter you from being vaccinated, even if you are soon having or considering fillers. But, he says, “you may want to be a little more mindful of the symptoms you experience after receiving the vaccine, and keep an eye on the areas where you have filler in mind.”

In general, says dr. Adalja, however, that the “risk-benefit ratio favors the vaccine.”

“We can treat swelling,” he says, but we can not always treat COVID-19 successfully.

The information in this story is accurate from the press time. As updates on the coronavirus COVID-19 continue to evolve, it is possible that information and recommendations in this story have changed since its first publication. We encourage you to consult regularly with sources such as the CDC, the WHO and your local Department of Public Health for the most recent data and recommendations.