Alopecia Induced by Cosmetic Injection Procedures: A Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND

Alopecia resulting from cosmetic injections is a rare occurrence, yet its increasing prevalence highlights the need for understanding and managing this condition. This review seeks to clarify the known causes of alopecia following cosmetic procedures and the mechanisms involved. It also highlights the risk and draws attention to the growing number of reports linking cosmetic injections to post-procedure alopecia.

METHODS

A search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, and relevant articles published from January 2000 to November 2024 were selected based on predefined criteria.

RESULTS

Twenty-five articles were identified, involving 48 patients who experienced alopecia due to cosmetic injection procedures. Data collected included filler type, injection site, site of complication, onset of alopecia, associated symptoms, auxiliary examinations, proposed mechanisms of alopecia, treatment modalities, and outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Alopecia following cosmetic injection procedures is an underreported adverse effect. Physicians should be vigilant about this potential complication, recognize its manifestations, and have appropriate prevention and treatment strategies readily available.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: The journal asks authors to assign a level of evidence to each article. For a complete description of Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, see the Table of Contents or the online Instructions for Authors at www.springer.com/00266 .