Clinical Experience with Treatment of Aquafilling Filler-Associated Complications: A Retrospective Study of 146 Cases

Background: Aquafilling filler is used for breast and buttock augmentation, which are the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures. However, complications after using Aquafilling filler for breast augmentation have been reported, and there are concerns regarding its use in large areas, such as the buttocks. We provide our experience with complications after breast augmentation and buttock augmentation using Aquafilling filler. Methods: This observational cohort study analyzed the data of 399 patients treated for filler-related complications at our institutes from September 2015 to November 2019. Of these patients, 146 underwent surgery to remove Aquafilling filler from the breast or buttock. Results: The mean time between Aquafilling filler use and complication onset was 38.5 ± 10.2 months. The average amount of filler material removed from one side of the breast or buttock was 285.5 ± 95.8 mL (range 150–750 mL). The most common complications were induration and masses (83.6%), followed by pain (52.1%), firmness (24.7%), asymmetry (10.3%), migration (8.2%), mastitis (6.8%), dimpling (6.2%), fever (3.4%), and sepsis (n = 1). After treatment, there was no recurrence of infection, and the patient satisfaction level based on the visual analogue scale was 8.0 ± 0.9. Conclusions: Although Aquafilling filler is easily injectable and has long-term clinical effects, complications can occur. Furthermore, there are concerns regarding its toxicity and influence on the surrounding tissues. Hence, further research studies on Aquafilling filler and evidence regarding its long-term safety are needed. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.