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Category : New Treatments
Saturday, April 14. 2007
A New Contraindiction for Artecol: A Permanent Filler with Permanent Problems
As many of you know from my other blogs, I am not a great fan of permanent injectable fillers. The body and face will change over time; whereas a permanent filler cannot. This important difference can lead to serous problems, and as such I tend to discourage the use of permanent injectible fillers whenever possible.
Artecol is a filler of this type, which consists of little solid microsheres (PMMA) suspended in a solution containing bovine collagen. It is widely used in Europe and will eventually become available in the United States. Given its popularity, one might assume Artecol poses less risk than other permanent fillers, however that is not the case. Recently, I came across an article in the Archives of Dermatology which exposes some long-term risks associated with Artecol and I'd like to share its substance with you.
In the article, the authors present the case of a 48 year old women who had received Artecol injections into her nasolabial folds and lips ten years prior. More recently she was undergoing Interferon treatment for Hepatitis when she developed a severe allergic and granulomatous reaction in the Artecol treated area. She needed several procedures to surgicaly excise the Artecol and resulting inflammation. These surgeries left her with permanent scarring. The authors further explain that this delayed reaction to Artecol, some 10 years later, was the result of "exacerbation of a pre-existing low grade chronic inflammation" brought on by the initerferon therapy.
We, as Cosmetic Surgeons and Dermatologist, are still learning about the potential long term risks of such permanet fillers as Artecol, but until more information can be gathered, I would strongly suggest avoiding them altogether. Anyone interested in following up on this issue can find the article I cited using the following information:
Cosetic Permanent Filler for Soft Tissue Augmentation.
ARCH DERMATOL/VOL 143, APRIL 2007 PAGE 507-510.
COMMENTS:
I had the Artecol injections years ago. I got a cold sore and the injection site swelled up. They have become hard and have not gone down. The one in the corner of my mouth has turned blue like a bruise.
I had artecol injected to my lips in 1995 - I had just had my second baby and wanted a leg vein looked at. I went to a well known Doctor / surgeon who told me he didn't do veins but could plump up my lips beautifully. I didn't realise that they needed plumping but just post pregnancy you feel very insecure and so I agreed to having Artecol to make me "look beautiful". I was NOT told it was a permanent thing pr I would have declined. My mouth developed hard little lumps which were unsightly and painful. The same surgeon injected something - I don't know what - in order to dissolve the lumps.
In 2003 I had a small amount of restylane injected into my nasal labial area and to the corners of my mouth. This was after having had an allergy test in my arm one month beforehand.
A month after treatment I developed a swelling under my eye. My eye got so bad it was nearly closed. Then my mouth started to swell. I swelled like a balloon. This was apparently due to the restylane reacting with the remnants of Artecol all those years ago.
I had to have cortisone injections to my face to reduce the swelling. Then it would flare up after maybe one month when the cortisone wore off. This continued over a period of a year before the swelling completely subsided. It was a nightmare. I looked like I was auditioning for Planet of The Apes and it was extremely frightening.
I also had to have an MRI. Be careful - don't believe because your surgeon is well known that he is God. I regret having Artecol and believe I was coerced into it.
im very confused about this when i had it done 3 years ago i was told that you can have it removed if i didbnt like it and then hear that you cant i dont care about the scarring i just really want to get rid of at least some of it removed not only do i not like the look of it it feels lumpy and is very painfull! also another surgeon told me that it only lasts 5 years wich is the first iv heard of that? please let me know your opinion thank you
Posted by: sophie holdsworth 2008-07-04 14:34