Why you Should Still Get the COVID Vaccine Even if you Have (or Plan to Get) Dermal Fillers
Headlines that have linked COVID-19 vaccines to filler swelling spread across the country. However, the message from physicians, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is: The risk is rare, don’t delay your vaccination. Unfortunately, the press spin was exaggerated and unnecessary. The result is that many patients are choosing not to be vaccinated because they have or want fillers. The tragedy is, as reported by the New York Times, one in 1,000 Americans has died from COVID-19 in less than one year.
Moderna Vaccine Study
On December 17, 2020, it was disclosed that three participants of the Moderna vaccine study with dermal fillers experienced localized swelling after receiving the vaccine. Each of these cases resolved without difficulty. The FDA granted an emergency use authorization after reviewing all of the study data.
Of the 15, 184 Moderna participants who received the vaccine (not the placebo), three developed lip or facial swelling. Here is what we know about those individuals:
- All three had filler prior to vaccination. One had filler two weeks before vaccination, and the other six months prior. In the third case, it is unknown when they received filler.
- This type of swelling is considered “delayed.” It is not the same as the normal swelling and/or bruising that can occur with treatment.
- The third case experienced a similar reaction to a previous influenza vaccine, so this individual has had adverse reactions to other vaccines.
- Viral and bacterial infections, as well as other vaccines, can also cause fillers to be associated with some inflammation.
- No one knows how many of the vaccinated individuals in the trial had fillers (at the time of the trial). Also unknown is the types and amounts of filler involved, which is critical in determining the true incidence.
- Lastly, we do not know these individuals’ medical history. For example, do they have an underlying immune condition or another factor that may have made them susceptible to reactions following vaccination?
What Does All This Actually Mean?
The situation is very much evolving. While there is no known interplay between fillers and immunologic triggers, there is a belief that this side effect is very rare.
In addition, these types of rare, transient, and treatable filler reactions have been seen after other vaccines, as well as infections, like the flu and after dental or sinus infections.
Questions have also been asked about other implants, such as wondering if breast implants can be associated with vaccination-related reactions. At this point, there are no reported incidences of reactions in patients with breast implants.
The Current Takeaway
These filler reactions, if indeed related to the vaccine, are not new or unique to the COVID-19 vaccine. You are more likely to be struck by lightning than to have a post-filler reaction caused by the vaccine. Expert injectors are trained to manage filler complications. Neuromodulators, like Botox and Dysport, are a non-issue; these treatments have not been associated with any COVID-19 related swelling. The risk of being infected with COVID-19 outweighs the risk of a reaction to one of the vaccines if the patient has a history of using dermal fillers.
If you have any further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and fillers, or any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call. 248-643-7374.