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Adverse Results with PMMA Fillers

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Abstract

Background

Various alloplastic materials have been used for filling depressions and for body contouring. Among them, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has provoked many clinical compilations in both the acute and chronic phases. This study shows the correlation between the clinical application of PMMA and the physiopathology of the acute and late complications.

Methods

Histological studies were performed on biopsy samples from patients who presented with side effects and acute and late complications after PMMA injections given at other health-care centers or aesthetic services.

Results

The histological findings of the samples that were harvested from patients who developed clinical complications or side effects caused by injection of PMMA disclosed not only normal tissues from the implanted areas but also development of capsules that involved individual microspheres of PMMA, and when the capsules were close together they formed concentric capsular groups involving various sets of microspheres and their capsules.

Conclusions

The injection of PMMA within the tissues can cause severe complications and side effects in both acute and chronic phases. Initially, the complications are related to vascular compromise, but at the late phase they are a consequence of capsular contracture that involves particles of PMMA. The contracture causes local tissue hardening and clinical nodulation of the implanted areas, ending with extrusion of the filler material.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Cirurgia do Lago Ltda., SHIS QI 09 Cj. E Bl. 1, Salas 1 a 6, Lago Sul, Brasília/DF, 71625-009, Brazil

    Erick de Melo Carpaneda & Carlos Augusto Carpaneda

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  1. Erick de Melo Carpaneda
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  2. Carlos Augusto Carpaneda
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Correspondence to Erick de Melo Carpaneda.

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de Melo Carpaneda, E., Carpaneda, C.A. Adverse Results with PMMA Fillers. Aesth Plast Surg 36, 955–963 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-012-9871-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-012-9871-8

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