Dangerous complications from cosmetic thread lift at unsanitary spa facilities

Recently, non-invasive beauty methods such as thread lift, skin rejuvenation are increasingly being chosen by many people thanks to the advertisement "fast, beautiful, no need for rest".

However, clinical practice shows that if performed at facilities that do not ensure safety, there will be many potential risks of complications, affecting people's health. The Central Dermatology Hospital has just received and treated such a case.

The female patient is nearly 30 years old, came for examination in a state of prolonged swelling and pain in the right cheek area. According to the medical history, the disease started about a month after the patient performed cheek thread lift at a spa facility. After the procedure, the patient was treated with Augmentin antibiotic 2g/day for 2 weeks. However, the swelling and pain did not improve but became increasingly obvious.

The patient came for examination at the National Hospital of Dermatology and was diagnosed with cellulomytis. Initial drug treatment regimen with gradually reduced dosage within a week. Lesions are reduced when using medication.

After stopping the drug Methylprednisolone, the patient had more swelling. The patient continued treatment with Clarithromycin 1g/day for 10 days, the condition did not improve. Therefore, the patient returned to the Hospital for admission for monitoring and treatment.

Upon admission, the mass was swollen, hot, red and painful, with unclear boundaries compared to healthy skin, soft density. Ultrasound results recorded lesions located in the dermis, reduced structure, with a foreign object inside, uneven edges, the thickest about 4.4 mm, surrounded by images of fat infiltration. The diagnostic conclusion was a subcutaneous tissue inflammatory site with a foreign object – likely directly related to tensile material.

Thread becomes a foreign object causing prolonged infection

The patient was indicated for incision to remove pus and remove the threads in the right cheek area. After the procedure, the patient was treated with antibiotic Levofloxacin 1g/day intravenously and local wound care for 7 days.

Treatment results showed that the swelling was significantly reduced, the patient no longer had pain at the lesion and was discharged from the hospital, continuing to use oral antibiotics and changing bandages daily at a medical facility.

According to MSc. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quan, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation - Central Dermatology Hospital, this is a typical case of complication due to cosmetic intervention not ensuring sterile conditions, not performed by a person with appropriate expertise, materials of unknown origin, storage condition, leading to subcutaneous infection. Threads at this time are foreign objects causing prolonged infection.

Foreign objects remaining in subcutaneous tissue are a favorable factor for prolonged infection, difficult to treat, and can even leave bad scars or facial deformities if not treated promptly.

Doctor Quan recommends that when people have beauty needs, especially invasive procedures such as thread lift, filler injections, they need to clearly understand their own beauty needs, choose a medical facility that ensures conditions and full equipment, and is licensed to operate. The performer must be a doctor with a practicing certificate, rich in experience in the field they are in charge of.

Consult experts from dermatologists or aesthetic experts before performing any procedures. Absolutely do not give your health and beauty to unqualified beauty establishments out of ignorance, avoiding falling into a situation of "losing money and getting sick".