What people will do for “beauty!”
Have you heard of cosmetic fillers? This is when some sort of mysterious “compound” is injected into the skin of your face to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, make you look younger, or fill out lips so they seem lusher.
I’m not sure who thought this was a great idea but it doesn’t surprise me that on top of serious allergic reactions, facial disfiguration, and nerve damage (just a few of the known side effects), that there are now reports of severe bacterial infections as a result of these cosmetic filler treatments!
Your skin is fragile. It is made up of elastin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen, which combine to give your skin cells a supple, firm, and youthful appearance.
As you age, your body produces fewer of these substances which results in a weaker support system underneath your skin that leads to sagging, a decrease in production of new skin cells that make the skin feel rougher in texture, and wrinkles result from damage (sun exposure, acne, and dehydration) to the outer layer of skin.
The Birth of Cosmetic Fillers
Manufacturers decided to find ways to find ways “plump up” the network under your skin. Artificial set dressing under your skin to mimic the support system you normally have.
They didn’t explain how you can feed your skin naturally…no, this is smoke and mirrors that makes your skin look healthy but really is not.
The treatments are not permanent. Once you get them, you have to keep getting them several times a year to maintain the “illusion” of healthy skin.
The compounds injected range from collagen found in cow skin, lab-created collagen grown from human cells, a synthetic version of the hyaluronic acid you produce naturally, moving the fat from one part of your body (such as your thighs) to another (your face), and many more.
It’s also frighteningly popular!
Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) states that cosmetic fillers make up the second most common surgical procedure in the United States…a number that rises steadily every year.
Side Effects No One Thought About
Some consumers who have had various treatments have developed lumps under their skin that are tender and don’t respond well to treatment. Some of these cases have resulted in lesions, open sores that will not heal.
This is a side effect caused by bacterial infection – in your face.
The practice of cosmetic fillers was once used sparingly – and ethically – to rebuild faces that were disfigured from accidents, birth defects, and other trauma. The risk in cases like that were understandable, perhaps even preferable.
Companies that make a lot of money from these treatments for simple “age defying” reasons say the allergic reactions and other side effects are rare. They point to individual cases and suggest that it is the patient’s body – an unknown allergy or compromised immune system – that is at fault. Never the unnatural injection of toxins into the face…that couldn’t be it!
A study recently published in the Pathogens and Disease journal disagrees.
University of Copenhagen researcher Morten Alhede with the Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology stated, “Research…has now shown that the disfiguring lesions are actually due to bacteria injected in connection with the cosmetic procedure. What is more, we have demonstrated that the fillers themselves act as incubators for infection, and all it takes is as few as ten bacteria to create an ugly lesion and a tough film of bacterial material – known as biofilm – which is impossible to treat with antibiotics.”
Did you get that? Not only is there an infection in your face from this stuff, the bacteria themselves are proving to be antibiotic resistant!
The companies refuse to admit that the lesions are bacteria related…so they treat with steroids. Thomas Bjarnsholt, an associate with the same organization, explained, “This is actually the worst possible treatment because steroid injections exacerbate the condition and give the bacteria free rein.”
They cause the bacteria that can’t be killed by antibiotic and then throw fuel on the fire!
What is the Risk?
Since the industry is hush-hush about the problems surrounding their treatments, experts estimate that between 1-in-100 and 1-in-1000 people end up with a bacterial infection as a result of having cosmetic fillers.
As Professor Bjarnsholt so eloquently put it, “Most people are unlikely to have any problems undergoing a filler treatment…however, it’s a bit like driving a car: there’s nothing wrong with not wearing your seatbelt as long as you don’t hit anything”
Natural Beauty is Always Best
You’re going to age. That’s a part of life. Instead of injecting dangerous cosmetic fillers in your face why not try natural anti-aging skin care alternatives? Feeding your cells from the inside out, living a healthy lifestyle, and choosing to “baby” your outer self with organic, natural products is far better than injecting some “youth serum” cosmetic filler into your face!