Injections of fillers for cosmetic treatment can open the door to bacteria

Research published by the University of Copenhagen has shown that, despite the highest levels of hygiene, unwanted side effects of fillers such as tender subcutaneous which in isolated cases have led to lesions that will not heal, is caused by bacterial infection. Morten Alhede, a postdoc at the Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen said, “Previously, most experts believed that the side effects were caused by an auto-immune or allergic reaction to the gel injected. Research involving tissue from patients and mouse models has now shown that the disfiguring lesions are actually due to bacteria injected in connection with the cosmetic procedure. What is more, we have demonstrated that the fillers themselves act as incubators for infection, and all it takes is as few as ten bacteria to create an ugly lesion and a tough film of bacterial material - known as biofilm - which is impossible to treat with antibiotics.” The results have been published in the journal Pathogens and Disease.