COVID-19 vaccine has caused reactions in people with facial loads

Last month, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was cleared for emergency use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration. Despite early data showing the vaccine to be highly protective against the virus, new reports suggest that it also caused an unexpected side effect in people with facial fillers.

In a recent vaccine review conducted by the FDA Advisory Board, it was noted that a handful of people who had previously received cosmetic facial fillers had mild reactions after receiving their second doses in the trial. of Moderna vaccine. While this may sound mildly alarming to the thousands of people who are regularly given fillers, it should be noted that these reactions have been extremely rare and, according to doctors, there is not much to worry about.

“There have been three reports of patients with a history of cosmetic fillers who experienced mild facial swelling shortly after receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine,” certified plastic surgeon Samuel Lin told POPSUGAR. , MD. “Two cases were reported on the day of vaccine administration and one case was reported two days after vaccination.”

Of the three patients, one had received an injection of filler two weeks before receiving the vaccine, while another had received theirs six months previously. Another said he had a similar type of reaction after receiving the flu shot. It is not known exactly what caused the reaction, but a common theory among doctors is that the swelling was the result of an inflammatory reaction mimicking that of something an allergic person would experience.

“To call it even an allergic reaction is bold,” Suzanne Trott, MD, told POPSUGAR. “[It] may be that the swelling was due to an inflammatory reaction to an interaction between the immune response after vaccination and the dermal filler. Some people just have a little immune response because of the ingredients injected so close together. “In other words, if you’re worried about it, it may help to wait around three to six months between fillers and vaccination. (Although getting the vaccine should probably take priority here, all things considered) .

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An important distinction that Michelle Koo, plastic surgeon and founder of Private Practice Skincare, also pointed out is that it has yet to be specified which fillers – Juvederm, Restylane, Bellafill, etc. – participants received prior to their vaccinations, which does too. early to jump to any conclusions. “It may have to do with how products are made in a viral culture to grow hyaluronic acid or the preservatives that stabilize hyaluronic acids,” she said. “There may be areas of RNA or DNA filler that are recognized as a ‘target’ by mRNA vaccines. Nobody knows for sure yet.”

With that in mind, three reported cases are not quite enough to conclude that there is a direct correlation with cosmetic fillers and the vaccine, which is why medical experts recommend that people who have had fillers get vaccinated. in order to reduce their risk. to contract COVID-19.

“The adverse reactions recorded to date in patients who have had injectable loads and who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are of much less concern than falling ill with COVID-19 or spreading the disease to people at high risk. ”Said Dr. Lin. “Even if you’ve had fillers, the COVID-19 vaccine is still highly recommended.”

All three doctors recommend taking an antihistamine before getting the vaccine to allay any potential fears or, if you experience any of the swelling mentioned above, taking Benadryl or Zyrtec to ease the symptoms.