Last month, the Modern COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the US by the Food and Drug Administration. Despite early data showing that the vaccine is very protective against the virus, new reports suggest that it has also caused an unexpected side effect in people with face fillers.
A recent review of the vaccine by the FDA advisory committee noted that a handful of people who had previously received cosmetic face fillers had mild reactions after receiving their second doses during the Moderna vaccination study. While this may sound a little worrying to the thousands of people who regularly receive fillers, it is noteworthy that these reactions are extremely rare, and according to doctors, there is not much to worry about.
“There are three reports of patients with a history of cosmetic fillers who experienced a mild swollen face shortly after the administration of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine,” the board-certified plastic surgeon, Samuel Lin, managing director, told POPSUGAR said. “Two cases were reported on the day of vaccination, and one case was reported two days after vaccination.”
Of the three patients, one had injected the filler two weeks before vaccination, while the other had received it six months earlier. Another one reported that they had a similar reaction after receiving the flu vaccine. It is not clear what exactly caused the reaction, but a current theory among doctors is that the swelling was the result of an inflammatory reaction that mimics the example of something a person with allergies would experience.
“To even call it an allergic reaction is fat,” Suzanne Trott, managing director, told POPSUGAR. “[It] may be that the swelling was due to an inflammatory response of an interaction between the immune response after vaccination and the intestinal filler. Some people simply have a small immune response due to the ingredients being injected so close together. ‘In other words, should you have any problems with this, it may be helpful to wait between three to six months between the fillers and vaccination. (although vaccination should probably be preferred here, all things considered).
An important distinction that Michelle Koo, plastic surgeon and founder of Private Practice Skincare, also pointed out, is that it has not yet been specified which fillers – Juvederm, Restylane, Bellafill, etc. – the participants did not receive before their vaccinations, which also makes it early to reach any conclusions. “It could be related to how the products are manufactured in a viral culture to grow the hyaluronic acid or the preservatives that stabilize the hyaluronic acid,” she said. “There may be areas of the filler RNA or DNA that are recognized by the mRNA vaccines as a ‘target’. No one knows for sure now.”
In view of this, three reported cases are not entirely sufficient to conclude that there is a direct link between cosmetic fillers and the vaccine, and therefore medical experts recommend that individuals who have had fillers still receive the vaccine to to reduce their risk. of contracting COVID-19.
“Even if you have had fillers, the COVID-19 vaccine is still highly recommended.”
“The side effects reported so far in patients who have had injectable fillers and received the COVID-19 vaccine are far less concerned than getting sick with COVID-19 or the spread of the disease among high-risk individuals. , “the dr. Lin said. “Even if you have had fillers, the COVID-19 vaccine is still highly recommended.”
All three doctors recommend that you take an antihistamine before being vaccinated to suppress possible fears, or, if you experience any of the same swelling mentioned above, use Benadryl or Zyrtec to relieve the symptoms.