Possible Complications with Collagen Injection

Collagen Injection Overview Recovery Possible Complications	Frequent Questions $50 Consultation Certificate

According to the Food & Drug Administration, about 3 percent of the population is allergic to Collagen Injections. People with known allergies to collagen, or who have had allergic reactions to other collagen-containing products, such as surgical sutures and sponges, should not receive collagen injections. You will receive a small collagen injection to test for a collagen allergy at least 24 hours before treatment begins.

Collagen allergies can take the form of rash, hives, joint and muscle pain, headache, and, in a few cases, severe reactions that include shock and difficulty breathing. Very rarely other effects that have occurred after collagen injections, and which appear to have been related to the injections, include infections, abscesses, open sores, lumps, peeling of the skin, scarring, recurrence of herpes simplex, and partial blindness.

Patients with certain connective tissue diseases may have an increased risk of severe allergic reactions to collagen injections. These connective tissue diseases include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. They also include polymyositis and dermatomyositis ("PM/DM"), which are chronic, progressive, sometimes fatal inflammatory disorders. Thus, collagen injections should be used with caution in people who have had these diseases. Some experts recommend that people who have had these diseases should either not be given collagen injections at all or should be given multiple skin tests before treatment. Tell the doctor about any history of allergies or connective tissue diseases.

Because collagen stays in the body and continues to be absorbed, the possible effects of collagen injections before or during pregnancy are unknown.