Complications of molding agents and human adjuvant disease: A review.

ABSTRACT: The human adjuvant disease arises as a complication after the infiltration of molding substances used for cosmetic purposes. The severity of clinical manifestations depends on the amount and type of agent used and usually present as hyperemia, pain, nodules and thickening of the skin. Short-term symptoms are mostly transitory with short lasting effects while most common late complications present as infection and hypersensitivity reactions to the infiltrated material. Most commonly used substances are: paraffin, silicone, hyaluronic acid, collagen and vaseline. Clinical diagnosis in primarily based on the precedent event of having any modeling substance applied. The diagnosis is confirmed using histopathology, finding alterations in both dermis and hypodermis. The combination of patients having unrealistic expectations from these procedures and the ignorance and neglect of the adverse effects when applying these agents highly increases the morbidity and mortality.