Abstract

Objectives: There is no evidence-based, definitive guideline with sufficient scientific medical data on the efficacy and safety of dermal fillers in transplant patients. Studies focusing on aesthetic procedures in transplant patients are limited, and there is currently no research specifically addressing dermal fillers. This study is the first to compare dermal filler complications in transplant patients with those in the general population. The aim is to prospectively evaluate the safety and complications of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers in renal transplant patients. Introduction: In recent years, the popularity of hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers has increased among solid organ transplant patients, similar to trends in the general population. However, the safety and side effect profile of these procedures in this patient group remain largely unexplored. This gap in high-quality evidence raises concerns for both patients and healthcare providers, leading to hesitancy in performing these treatments. This study aims to investigate the safety and complications of HA dermal fillers in renal transplant recipients, providing insights for the literature. Materials / method: A total of 52 patients, including 27 renal transplant patients and 25 healthy controls who applied to our cosmetic dermatology clinic for HA dermal filler injections, were included in this study. Each patient was administered 0.5 mL of cross-linked HA into the zygomatic arch region, resulting in a total bilateral volume of 1 mL. Patients were monitored for adverse events during the follow-ups in the first and sixth months. Results: The healthy control group underwent more aesthetic procedures (p=0.001), especially botulinum toxin (p<0.001), than the transplant group. In the first month, four patients (three renal transplant recipients and one control) reported mild headaches (p=0.611). Two renal transplant patients experienced dysesthesia one month after injection. One patient had tenderness at the injection site four months later, resolving with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. No further adverse events occurred at the six-month follow-up. Conclusion: Transplant patients may experience short-term adverse events like bleeding, headache, dysesthesia, and hypersensitivity reactions, similar to those in the general population after filler injections. Six-month follow-up showed no significant difference in the frequency of filler-related adverse events between transplant patients and healthy individuals. The satisfaction rate with the filler procedure was high among renal transplant patients, comparable to healthy individuals. Our study suggests that HA dermal filler injections may be safe for renal transplant patients.