Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open (Sep 2024)

Treatment of Facial Artery Embolization Caused by Polycaprolactone-based Dermal Filler with a Regimen Including 5-Fluorouracil

  • Fengfeng Guo, MD,
  • Yuxi Xia, MM,
  • Qingqian Wei, MM,
  • Jun Zhuang, MM,
  • Jinge Li, MM,
  • Jintian Hu, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006140
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 9
p. e6140

Abstract

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Summary:. Polycaprolactone-based fillers are commonly used in plastic surgery to improve facial aging. However, adverse vascular events following these injections have been reported. An arterial embolism is a rare but serious complication associated with injectable filler procedures. We report a case of arterial embolism in a 35-year-old woman who received a polycaprolactone-based dermal filler at the nasal base and was treated with a regimen containing 5-fluorouracil. We discuss the potential causes of the patient’s condition and assess the superiority of our method over conventional approaches. Before treatment, ultrasound detected a decreased flow velocity in the patient’s right medial canthus artery with distal hypoperfusion, which improved significantly posttreatment. Long-term follow-up revealed near-disappearance of facial scarring. Our treatment effectively addressed facial artery embolism without any reported adverse reactions.