Hot Beef Fat Injection

Recently, a woman in Illinois went to the hospital complaining a burning sensation to her face.  She had injected fat into her face that she obtained after boiling beef in her house.  And reportedly, had done it several times before.  Although the autopsy ruled another finding as the cause of death, the story brings up the question - do you know what you're injecting?

Injecting foreign substances is not a new thing.  Cases of paraffinoma, where paraffin, cottonseed or sesame oil, and beeswax are injected into the skin have all been reported.  Ulcerations or red bumps can envelop these foreign substances and can show up months to years after the inital injection.  Liquid silicone has been used for the correction of scars, wrinkles, and plumping up hollowed areas of skin.  Skin reactions can include red bumps and nodules, and swelling.  While medical grade silicone (Silikon) is still used, it should be injected in very small amounts, usually as microdroplets, to avoid an inflammatory response.  Injections of mercury into the skin have been reported in the past.  It can cause red, inflamed tissue or fat necrosis (death).  Systemic toxicity can result in death. 

The intoduction of fillers to volumize the face has revolutionized the beauty industry.  With many choices of filler products, dermatologists have the opportunity to really rejuvinate and revolumize faces.  But it's so extremely important to have a board-certified physician inject FDA approved materials.  I've seen people who have received injections of unknown substances by "friends" at "house parties," or other locations.  When complications arise, the injectors have no idea what to do, or they've suddenly disappeared, and patients come to our office for treatment.  While fillers are safe and effective if injected properly, complications such as nodules, swelling, infections, and tissue necrosis may occur, and the risks increase tremendously with untrained injectors and unapproved substances. 

An article in the September issue of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology highlighted the danger of counterfeit filler available on the internet.  The authors ordered a "permanent" filler online.  The filler was branded as Aotisei, which is a recalled product, as the producing company went out of business in 2007.  The filler was in a seemingly sterile pouch labelled with the words "STERISE" and "Deel at Comer," likely meaning "sterile" and "peel at corner."  There were Chinese symbols on the pouch.  There are also illegal, unliscensed botulinum toxin products available on the internet - on 34 different sites.  Even more sites sell unliscensed dermal fillers.

The FDA has strict regulations regarding botulinum toxins and fillers, and only FDA-approved products should be used.  Please be sure you see a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon experienced in cosmetic treatments.  You only have one face, and it's precious!