Ozempic Potentially Linked to Facial Edema After Filler

The authors of a recent Journal of Craniofacial Surgery article speculate that some medications may be capable of initiating immune responses, such as facial edema.

Dr. Nathaly de Oliveira Ciaramicolo and co-authors discussed a case of a patient who presented with significant facial edema 3 months after lip and infraorbital filling with hyaluronic acid, resistant to medication, which appeared and worsened after starting semaglutide treatment for weight loss. The authors performed an intralesional application of hyaluronidase 2.000utr, immediately observing a decrease in edema.

After a week, authors reveal the patient was fully recovered with no signs of edema, no allergic reaction and feeling very well. The origin of the inflammatory reactions is unclear, but some medications are believed to be capable of initiating these immune responses. 

Hyaluronidase effectively reversed the adverse reactions from hyaluronic acid injection, dissolving the peptide bond proteins within the hyaluronic acid and increasing the viscosity of the material and allowing it to be dispersed throughout the soft tissue. 

Injectable tissue fillers have increased over recent years as individuals wish to restore volume and gain a more youthful appearance because it is a minimally invasive procedure. It’s important to note that although they are considered efficient and safe, filler injectables can trigger complications such as swelling, bruising, erythema, pain, infection, nodule formation, vascular occlusion, and pigmentary changes.