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Consumers need to be informed about facial filler risks

People who think thay have found an antidote to aging in cosmetic facial fillers must be better informed of possible risks, US government health advisers said today.

A panel of independent advisers urged the Food and Drug Administration to revise the labeling to include the possibility of long lasting reactions such as bumps under the skin, blotches and scars.

Manufacturers and plastic surgeons say fillers have an excellent safety record. But Tuesday's FDA hearing raised questions about unapproved uses, untrained technicians giving injections, and a lack of long-term safety data. The hearing was a first step as the FDA considers whether to regulate fillers more closely.

Plastic surgeons pledged to help the government track safety, improve training and provide clearer information to consumers.

Women, and even some men, are drawn to skin fillers by the promise of youthful good looks at far less cost and trouble than a face lift. A touchup two or three times a year can boost deflated middle-age egos. Unfortunately, for some patients, the result can be blotchy skin, bumps on the face and worse.

Different from Botox, which is derived from a toxin that acts on facial muscles, wrinkle fillers are like the biological equivalent of a bit of spackle, except they're injected into the face.

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