Complications of Breast Filler Injections and How They Are Treated

Complications range from mild and short-lived to serious and long-lasting. This page is part of our guide to breast fillers.

Common early effects

Bruising, swelling, tenderness and redness are common after any injection and usually settle within days.

Possible complications

• Lumps and nodules: firm areas that may appear soon after or much later
• Infection: including abscess, sometimes with delayed onset
• Inflammation or granulomas: a reaction around the material
• Migration: product moving from where it was placed
• Asymmetry or irregular contour
• Skin changes and, rarely, skin damage from compromised blood supply
• Allergic reactions
• Biofilm-related problems: persistent low-grade infection
• Difficulty with imaging and screening

Signs that need prompt attention

Severe pain, skin turning pale, blue or dark, spreading redness, fever, rapidly growing lumps or discharge.

How doctors may treat it

• Hyaluronidase to dissolve HA products
• Antibiotics and drainage for infection
• Anti-inflammatory treatment
• Surgery for persistent lumps or non-dissolvable material

Read more about breast filler removal.

Your part

Keep a record of what was injected, tell all clinicians, and report symptoms early. If you do not know the product, say so; imaging and tissue sampling may help identify it.