The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed everyone’s lives over the past nine to ten months. Many people have become sick and many have unfortunately not made it. Unfortunately, there has been a resurgence of the illness and the number of cases is increasing again. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the way we live our lives. For example, now we see people wearing masks and face coverings. While it used to be strange to see someone wearing a mask in public, now it is strange to see someone not wearing one in public.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccines
Fortunately, now vaccines for Coronavirus (COVID-19) are becoming available to the general public. Hopefully, if enough people receive the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, we can get things under control. Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to fight viruses such as Coronavirus (COVID-19). When you receive a vaccine, your body sees it as something foreign (not normally in your body). As a response, your immune system produces proteins called antibodies. These antibodies are in your bloodstream and your body can remember how to make them in case you get infected later, in which case your body will fight the virus much better. This way, you won’t feel as sick as you would have if you didn’t get a vaccine.
How do vaccines work?
Since vaccines work with your immune system, there is an immune response. In addition to making antibodies, your immune system also reacts by inflammation. This can be seen as swelling, redness, or heat. The inflammation can also cause other symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and body aches, similar to when you get an infection. Some people, such as those with autoimmune disorders, generate a very strong response to a vaccine that makes them feel really sick. People with autoimmune diseases can also have a response when they get filler treatments such as Voluma, Vollure, and Volbella. Sometimes there is so much swelling that the product needs to be dissolved. This can also happen in people who have had recent infections or dental work when they get filler treatments. Getting sick with a virus such as Coronavirus (COVID-19) or another virus can trigger your immune system to respond to all foreign substances in your body. Also, if you unintentionally take a medication to which you’re allergic, you may see a similar reaction. Another phenomenon that is sometimes seen is that your body can react to fillers that you received a long time ago in a different area. For example, if you have had fillers in the cheeks with good results a year ago and now have a reaction to fillers in your lips, you may have inflammation in your cheeks too. This is because your body is reacting to all the foreign substances in your body. Usually, this inflammation can be controlled with medications such as steroids or antihistamines. If not, then the fillers can be dissolved.
Side Effects in People Who Have Had Filler Treatments
With the rollout of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, attention has been brought to adverse reactions people who have had previous filler treatments are having. In the Moderna Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trial over 15,000 people received the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Out of all of those, only three people had swelling and inflammation as a side effect. Since we don’t know how many of the over 15,000 people who received the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine had previous filler treatments, we cannot calculate the incidence of swelling. Fortunately, however, it is likely very low. The FDA did a literature search and found similar reactions in response to other vaccines in the past. The three people who had a reaction all had swelling one to two days after receiving the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. They were all female ages 51, 46, and 29. The 51-year-old had a filler treatment two weeks before receiving her Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine; the 46-year-old had a filler treatment six months before receiving her Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine; and the 29-year-old had multiple filler treatments before receiving her Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. The FDA confirmed that the swelling was secondary to receiving the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, but details were not provided. Useful details to know would be what fillers were used and where they were placed. Fortunately, all three cases resolved either on their own or with simple treatment such as steroids or antihistamines.
Should I get the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine if I have had fillers?
A common question is whether someone with previous filler treatment(s) should receive the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. First of all, if you had had previous filler treatments and receive the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and have swelling, you should contact your doctor right away. Fortunately, it can be treated relatively easily. In terms of who should receive a vaccine, as with any other treatment it’s important to understand the risks and benefits. With all vaccines there are risks such as the possibility of feeling sick for a few days or having swelling for people who have had fillers. The benefit is that your body will be significantly more protected from Coronavirus (COVID-19). The biggest risk of not receiving the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is that you can get infected with Coronavirus (COVID-19). The benefit of not receiving the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is that you do not have to worry about the possible side effects of getting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Also, there are long-term side effects to consider. We don’t know that much about the long-term side effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine since it is new. However, we can at least assume that it is similar to other vaccines which have few long-term side effects. We do know that getting Coronavirus (COVID-19) can lead to serious side effects in multiple organs. Additionally, the number of cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is significantly increasing, making it more and more likely that any given person would become infected. Not just that, new strains are being identified that may be more harmful and deadly. Taking all of the risks and benefits into account, it seems that it is better to get the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine than not get it and risk getting infected with Coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Alex recommends that people with previous filler treatments get the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and not worry about possible side effects.
Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.