Fillers & COVID-19

Fillers & COVID

What you need to know before booking your next dermal filler appointment

Have you heard there have been reactions to dermal fillers after getting COVID-19 or the vaccine? For those who have had dermal fillers or are planning to, this can sound a bit scary and leave you wondering what this may mean for you in terms of future treatments. Unfortunately, this has led some people to doubt whether to even get their vaccines, and there have been reports of people cancelling their appointments in order to get their cosmetic procedures done! To calm your nerves and reassure you that you can still get your lips plumped or your smile lines treated while keeping safe from the pandemic, we spoke to aesthetic practitioner Dr Martyn King and aesthetic nurse prescriber Sharon King who gave us the lowdown on everything you need to know.

What kinds of reactions have been reported?

Earlier this year, three women with dermal fillers experienced reactions after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Dr King comments, “In Moderna’s phase 3 trial of its NIAID vaccine, which included 30,000 subjects, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that three patients who had facial fillers experienced slight swelling to their face after receiving the vaccine. This was on the day of vaccination in two patients and, in the other patient, two days after vaccination. Since then, there have also been reports of hypersensitivity (swelling or lumps) in several other patients.” All reactions that have occurred following a vaccine have been easily rectified using topical treatments such as oral steroids or have gone away by themselves. Currently, no reported reactions have been long-lasting or required extensive treatment. While very few people have experienced these mild side effects, nurse King says we might start to see a rise in people reporting these kinds of reactions in connection with COVID-19 vaccinations. She comments, “While there have previously only been a small number of adverse effects reported, the vaccine is getting a greater mass roll-out now than before and it is starting to go out to the age demographic of patients who typically get facial filler. This means that these side effects may become slightly more common, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re becoming more dangerous. You should, however, take necessary precautions to prevent a reaction from happening.”

Should you be worried?

Dr King believes that patients need not worry, but to be on the safe side they should not get dermal fillers either two weeks before, or three weeks after, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, or having the infection. The Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group World, of which Dr King is the chair and nurse King is a director, has released official guidance on this for its 5,000 members, so your medical aesthetic practitioner should screen for this in their consultation. Nurse King comments, “From studies on other vaccinations, it’s known that the first three weeks are pivotal when developing an antibody response, and this is when the immune system is most stimulated, which can cause reactions for some people. The guidance we have created applies to all current COVID-19 vaccinations.” While there is currently no evidence or reports that any COVID-19 vaccination or infection has caused side effects for people who have had other non-surgical aesthetic procedures, for example botulinum toxin, the ACE Group World recommends avoiding these treatments for at least one week pre or post vaccine/infection. He also recommends patients take a rapid lateral flow test before your filler appointment to check you are not asymptomatic.

Get your vaccines!

We know it’s frightening to see any kind of side effect publicised, but it’s important not to let this stop you from attending your vaccine appointment. Both nurse King and Dr King emphasise that if you follow the above advice you can keep yourself and others safe, but still look good at the same time! Dr King adds, “As always, make sure you’re only getting your treatments done by a registered medical professional to ensure they’re able to treat you if you do experience any side effects, and do contact them immediately if this is the case.”

Nurse Sharon King and Dr Martyn King aesthetic practitioners, Cosmedic Clinic, Tamworth IG: @cosmedic_clinic