Self-injection: Inescapable DIY and real danger? A case study and literature review

Abstract

Aesthetic medicine is booming, and expanding Internet delivery is not controlled by health authorities. More than ever, conditions are thus favorable for patient self-injection. We present the case of a 45-year-old woman self-injected in breast with hyaluronic acid purchased on the Internet. She developed a bilateral breast infection treated with antibiotic treatment. Despite the ban on the use of filler in the breast by our health authorities since 2011, we will talk about the management of this type of patient. In light of this complication, we will discuss the public health issue raised by the development of the injectable products market. We wish to emphasize in France the emergency of establishing a strict legal framework for the use of fillers.

Keywords: Acide hyaluronique; Aesthetic medicine; Augmentation mammaire; Breast augmentation; Fillers; Hyaluronic acid; Médecine esthétique; Produit de comblement.