title: Complications of injectable synthetic polymers in facial augmentation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injectable synthetic materials have been used for augmentation of soft tissue defects, correction of wrinkles, and augmentation of facial features such as the nasal dorsum. Success has been limited by inflammatory reactions, material migration, and the difficulty of removal should complications occur.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate complications resulting from soft tissue augmentation with injectable alloplastic materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of seven cases. Clinical history, treatment, histopathologic findings, and outcomes are assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammatory reaction and tissue damage were refractory to antibiotics and steroids, and surgery was required to remove the foreign material. Histologic examination revealed giant cell foreign body reaction in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injectable synthetic polymers can produce significant complications including deformity and inflammatory tissue destruction, the control of which is complicated by the difficulty of removing the materials. Removable tissue fillers, such as e-PTFE, or natural materials such as collagen, autologous, fat, or Alloderm, should be considered instead.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Papel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stoker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers