Resumo

Objectives: Skin necrosis after dermal filler injection can be distressing for physicians and some may even withdraw from the market after a single incident. Our study shows that Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is an effective alternative treatment option for skin necrosis. By providing more options for physicians, we hope to alleviate the burden and anxiety associated with this complication and prevent them from leaving the market. We also hope to increase awareness of the potential benefits of IPL therapy for a variety of skin conditions when more research is focused on it. Introduction: Skin necrosis following dermal filler injection is a severe complication that can lead to vascular compromise. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for Chinese patients who have developed iatrogenic skin necrosis following dermal filler injection, subsequent to initial treatment with hyaluronidase. The study evaluates the efficacy of IPL therapy as an alternative management option for this condition in Chinese patients. Materials / method: This study assessed the efficacy of IPL in 4 cases of skin necrosis resulting from dermal filler injection referred by other physicians. The severity of cases ranged from mild to severe, with 3 patients receiving 4-12 sessions of IPL within 4-10 days after the skin necrosis episode. The fourth patient, who developed a keloid scar, received only one IPL treatment and did not follow up. All patients had previously received hyaluronidase injection, and clinical photos were taken before each treatment session with two independent blinded investigators assessing and comparing the pre/post photos. Results: The study showed an overall clinical improvement in scar hyperpigmentation, thickness, hardness, and redness in the three patients who received multiple sessions of IPL treatment. However, the fourth case, who received only one IPL treatment after initial medical treatment, did not show as significant an improvement as the other three cases. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is an effective treatment option for improving the erythema, hardness, thickness, and overall appearance of skin necrosis following dermal filler injection.