Why a One-Time DNA Test Could Save You from Permanent Filler Complications
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The popularity of aesthetic treatments, particularly fillers, has been increasing in recent years, especially among young adults. Many patients believe that if they are treated by the best physicians using the best materials, filler procedures are safe. However, recent scientific research has found that 1 to 2% of the population carries a combination of two specific genes in their DNA that can lead to serious complications, such as pain, redness, and permanent swelling, when they undergo filler treatments.
To address this issue, Dr. Tom Decates, a cosmetic doctor and complication specialist at Erasmus University MC, has developed the Filler DNA test. The test can predict whether a patient has a greater chance of developing complications from fillers, and it can identify the genetic predisposition that puts them at increased risk of serious complications after filler treatments. The scientific study that underpinned the development of the Bsure DNA filler test was executed by the Vall D’Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona), the Erasmus University MC (Rotterdam), and the Amsterdam University MC.
The Filler DNA test is a buccal swab test that is easy to take, and it is only needed once in a lifetime. The test results are simple: a positive test result means a high risk for complications with filler procedures, and it is highly recommended that a patient does not use fillers but is recommended an alternative procedure such as toxins, PRP, lipofilling, facial laser, or radiofrequency. With a negative test result, physicians can proceed with standard filler procedures, although the risk for complications is not completely excluded but will be very low.
The Filler DNA test was launched in the Netherlands in January 2022, and Wigmore Medical is now the exclusive distributor of the DNA test in the UK. This test offers physicians and aesthetic professionals a tool to ensure that they provide the right procedure to their patients. It can help prevent possible complications and define complications already experienced, thereby enabling physicians to provide personalized treatment to their patients.
It is essential to note that fillers are generally safe, and the Filler DNA test does not replace the standard practice of informed consent and pre-treatment screening for contraindications. However, the test can be an additional tool to help physicians and patients make more informed decisions about their aesthetic treatments.
Dr. Tom Decates emphasizes that common complications of filler treatments include bruising, swelling, and temporary sensitivity of the treated area. Less common are infections or a vascular complication, which is the clogging of a blood vessel. However, the late onset immune reactions caused by the genetic predisposition are complex and difficult to solve complications of continuous pain, redness, and permanent swelling. Therefore, identifying patients who are at increased risk for these complications through the Bsure Filler DNA test can help prevent these adverse outcomes and provide better outcomes for patients.
In conclusion, the Filler DNA test offers physicians and patients an additional tool to ensure the safety and efficacy of aesthetic treatments, particularly filler procedures. This test can help prevent possible complications and define complications already experienced, enabling physicians to provide personalized treatment to their patients. Although fillers are generally safe, identifying patients who are at increased risk for serious complications through the Filler DNA test can provide better outcomes for patients and promote safer aesthetic practices.
