I had face fillers. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Dermatologists emphasize that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for people who have recently received dermal fillers.

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Experts interviewed by TODAY Health said there were two cases of temporary swelling reported by participants in the Moderna vaccine trial. Dr Mathew Avram, a Boston dermatologist and president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), said a third case had been reported, but it was “unclear” whether it was a direct effect of the vaccine.

Avram said there have been some reports of swelling after vaccinations at places where people got their fillers but did not have an exact number.

I had Botox, should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Avram and dr. Esther Freeman, lead researcher at the International COVID-19 Dermatology Registry and director of Global Health Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, stressed that it is safe to get the vaccine even if you have received fillers.

“People need to be vaccinated, whether they have fillers or not,” Avram said. “There is absolutely no reason to avoid the vaccine.”

What kind of filling reactions have been reported?

Avram said the reactions affected with regard to fillers were temporary swelling that disappeared on its own.

“In the first place, it does not happen to everyone, and to the extent that it does, it tends to be temporary swelling that disappears on its own,” he said. “If it does not go away on its own, there are many simple interventions that can solve it. … These reactions are not very common, and tend to be self-limiting and easy to treat (if treatment is needed).”

What causes these reactions?

Both Avram and Freeman stressed that this reaction was recorded with other vaccines, including annual flu shots. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration noted in an information document that ‘it is possible that the localized swelling in these cases is due to an inflammatory response of interaction between the immune response after vaccination and the intestinal filler. This phenomenon has been reported after natural infection (eg after a flu-like illness). ‘

“It’s not entirely surprising,” Freeman said. “People have had this happen to them with the flu vaccine in the past. … We see the same kind of reactions that we would see in the flu vaccine or other vaccines that have been around for a long time.”

Avram said other factors can cause inflammation in intestinal fillers.

“What we see with the vaccination is not new. It has been seen with flu vaccinations and other vaccinations. There may be swelling that can occur,” Avram said. “It can also occur with viruses and it can also occur after dental procedures.”

What should I do if I respond?

If you do respond, Avram recommends contacting your dermatologist.

“If I have a patient who is swelling and they are worried about it at all, I encourage them to call me and come in so I can look into it,” he said, pointing out that there were no patients to enter. do not see. him about vaccine-related swelling. “… As board-certified dermatologists, we are very comfortable with and have experience with these reactions.”

Should I get my second dose if I respond?

If you respond, you should still receive your second dose of coronavirus vaccine, but if you are concerned, contact your doctor or primary care provider.

“It’s reasonable to discuss your appointment for a second time, because you’re probably going to get it, and very reasonable to call your doctor and discuss the matter with your own doctor,” Freeman said. “… The data are reassuring for (people) did well after the second dose and did not react too badly the second time.”

Should I get fillers if I get vaccinated soon?

Avram said the single cases of swelling in dermal fillers ‘are not a reason to stop doing fillers’, but again encouraged anyone to talk to their medical providers. He also said that anyone considering getting fillers should consult a dermatologist from the council.

“If there is swelling or a problem, you want to be able to go back to a doctor who is skilled in dealing with adverse side effects,” Avram said.

Freeman said she can advise patients to wait for fillers, but said she does not expect it to affect people who have already done the procedure.

“If you were someone considering getting fillers, I would wait and be vaccinated first, but if you have had fillers already, I would not suggest postponing your vaccine just because you have had fillers in the past,” she said. said. said. “The reactions are relatively rare and do disappear.”