I had facial charges. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

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Dermatologists point out that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for people who have recently received skin fillers.

Experts interviewed by TODAY Health said two cases of temporary swelling were reported by participants in the Moderna vaccine trial. Dr Mathew Avram, a Boston-based dermatologist and president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), said a third case had been reported, but it was “not clear” whether it was ‘a direct effect of the vaccine.

Avram said there had been “a few reports” of swelling from vaccinations in places people got their fillers, but they didn’t have an exact number.

I have had Botox, should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Avram and Dr. Esther Freeman, principal investigator of the COVID-19 International Dermatology Registry and Director of Global Health Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, stressed that it is safe to get the vaccine, even if you have. got fillers.

“People should get vaccinated whether or not they have had fillers,” Avram said. “This is absolutely no reason to avoid the vaccine.”

What types of filling reactions have been reported?

Avram said the reported reactions related to the charges were temporary swelling that went away on its own.

“First of all, it doesn’t happen in everyone, and as it does, it’s usually temporary swelling that goes away on its own,” he said. “If it doesn’t happen on its own, there are very simple interventions that can eliminate it. … These reactions are not very common, and they tend to be self-limited and easy to treat (if treatment is needed). “

What causes these reactions?

Both Avram and Freeman pointed out that this reaction had been recorded with other vaccines, including annual flu shots. The United States Food and Drug Administration noted, in a backgrounder, that “it is possible that the localized swelling in these cases is due to an inflammatory reaction due to the interaction between the immune response after vaccination and the dermal filler product. This has been reported after natural infection (for example, after influenza-like illness). “

“It’s not completely surprising,” Freeman said. “People have seen this happen to them with the flu shot in the past. … We see the same kinds of reactions that we would see in the flu shot or other vaccines that have been around for a long time.

Avram said other factors can cause inflammation of the skin fillers.

“What we are seeing with vaccination is not new. It has been seen with flu shots and other vaccinations, there may be swelling that can occur,” Avram said. “It can also happen with viruses and it can also happen after dental procedures.”

What should I do if I have a reaction?

If you have a reaction, Avram recommends contacting your dermatologist.

“If I have a patient who has swelling and is worried at all, I encourage them to call me and come over so I can take a look,” he said. said, noting that no patient has come to see him about vaccine-related swelling. “… As certified dermatologists, we are very comfortable and have experience with these reactions.”

Should I have my second dose if I have a reaction?

If you have a reaction, you should still get your second dose of the coronavirus vaccine, but if you are concerned, contact your doctor or primary health care provider.

“It’s reasonable to book your appointment for a second injection because you’re probably going to get it, and it’s very reasonable to call your doctor and discuss the case with your own doctor,” Freeman said. “… The data is reassuring because after the second dose (people) are fine and did not have too severe a reaction the second time around.”

Should I receive fillers if I get vaccinated soon?

Avram said the few reported cases of swelling from dermal fillers are “no reason to stop making fillers,” but again encouraged anyone with concerns to speak to their medical providers. He also said that anyone considering filler products sees a board-certified dermatologist.

“If there is any swelling or a problem, you want to be able to return to a doctor who is qualified to treat the unwanted side effects,” Avram said.

Freeman said she might advise patients to wait for the fillers, but said she doesn’t expect this to have an impact on people who have already had the procedure.

“If you were someone considering or about to get fillers, maybe I could wait and get vaccinated first, but if you already had fillers I wouldn’t suggest postponing your vaccine just because you’ve had it in the past, ”she mentioned. “Reactions are relatively rare and they go away.”