The Department of Dermatology and Burns - Bach Mai Hospital has just received treatment for a 29-year-old female patient admitted to the hospital in a state of deformed calves, red swelling with many abnormal masses after self-injecting fillers to straighten legs at home. Doctors warn that this is the consequence of an unscientific beauty trend spreading on social networks.
According to MSc. Dr. Hoang Hong Manh, Department of Dermatology and Burns, the patient was admitted to the hospital with severe damage to the calf area after being injected with a large amount of filler to adjust the leg shape. This is a procedure without a medical basis, containing many dangerous complications.
Also according to Dr. Manh, there are currently many advertisements on social networks claiming that injecting fillers can help adjust legs to be curved straight. However, this view is completely wrong.
Fillers are actually fillers designed to compensate for the volume of soft tissue in small areas such as groin, temples, or chin. Meanwhile, the curved or straight shape of the calf is mainly determined by the tibia, sternum and muscle-tendon structure.
Dr. Hoang Hong Manh added that injecting fillers into the calf cannot change the bone axis. Conversely, when injecting a large amount of filler into soft tissue, the leg area may be deformed, and at the same time cause compression of blood vessels and nerves.
The calf is an area with complex anatomical structure, concentrating many important blood vessels and nerves such as the anterior tibia, posterior tibia and peripheral nervous system.
When injecting fillers into this area, the performer may face many serious complications such as: Vascular obstruction or cavity compression: Fillers can enter the lumen or put pressure on surrounding tissues, disrupting blood flow that nourishes tissues. This can lead to localized anemia and skin and soft tissue necrosis.
Necrotizing fasciitis: This is a very dangerous emergency surgical condition. If not treated promptly with strong antibiotics and surgical intervention, patients may suffer from widespread necrosis, even having to have limbs amputated.
According to doctors, many people believe that filler injection is a simple procedure that can be performed at home. However, the normal living environment always has many dangerous bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA-resistant strains), group A streptococcus or anaerobic bacteria.
If injected in conditions that do not ensure sterility, bacteria can penetrate deep into the body, causing abscesses, spreading cellulitis, and even sepsis.
In addition, the risk of anaphylactic shock is also very worrying. For people with a history of allergies, injecting fillers at home without shock medication and emergency equipment can lead to cardiac arrest in just a few minutes.
MSc. Dr. Hoang Hong Manh recommends that people not perform invasive cosmetic procedures at home. These interventions should be carried out at licensed medical facilities, ensuring sterile conditions and professional doctors.
Before performing any procedure, patients need to be fully examined and evaluated by a doctor.
If abnormal signs such as swelling, pain, and redness appear in the injection area, it is necessary to go to a specialized medical facility immediately. Treatment in "golden time" can help limit severe complications.
