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Wrinkle-Shot Reactions

Wrinkle-Shot Reactions

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njections of the hyaluronic-acid wrinkle fillers Restylane, Hylaform, and Captique require no allergy testing. That's because the risk of reactions is very low, affecting only .06 percent of people treated, one study found (in contrast with the 3 to 6 percent allergy rate estimated for bovine collagen). Still, seeing five patients suffer from hypersensitivity reactions was enough to make Karyn Grossman, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and New York City, recommend testing for all her patients, she reports in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, though it necessitates a monthlong wait before the procedure. Swelling and bruising for a few days is a normal side effect of hyaluronic-acid shots, but prolonged reactions can include redness, swelling, or cyst formation for three to six weeks. Like Grossman, L.A. dermatologist Mark Rubin says he asks patients who forgo allergy testing to sign a waiver.

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