Optimal Practices in the Delivery of Aesthetic Medical Care to Patients on Immunosuppressants and Immunomodulators: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Abstract   Nonsurgical aesthetic procedures have been steadily growing in popularity among patients of all ages and ethnicities. At present, the literature remains devoid of guidelines on optimal practices in the delivery of aesthetic medical care to patients on immunosuppressant medications. The authors of this review sought to determine the physiologic responses of immunocompromised patients related to outcomes and potential complications following nonsurgical aesthetic procedures, and to suggest recommendations for optimal management of these patients. A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was performed to identify clinical studies of patients who had undergone nonsurgical aesthetic procedures while immunosuppressed. Forty-three articles reporting on 1690 immunosuppressed patients who underwent filler injection were evaluated, of which the majority (99%; 1682/1690) were HIV patients, while the remaining 8 were medically immunosuppressed. The complication rate of filler in this population was 28% (481/1690), with subcutaneous nodules the most frequently reported adverse event. A detailed synthesis of complications and a review of the inflammatory responses and impact of immunosuppressants and HIV infection on filler complications is presented. The authors concluded that patients on immunomodulatory medications may be at increased risk of filler granuloma relative to the general population, while patients on immunosuppressants may be at increased risk of infectious complications. Rudimentary guidelines for optimal preprocedural patient assessment, aseptic technique, injection technique, and antibacterial and antiviral prophylaxis are reviewed. Ongoing advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these inflammatory processes will undoubtedly optimize management in this patient population. Level of Evidence: 3