Delayed purulent infected breast after a large-volume Aquafilling filler injection in an HIV-positive transgender patient: a case report

Known to be chemically inert, Aquafilling filler has been widely used in local aesthetic clinics in South Korea for breast augmentation. However, Aquafilling is only approved as a dermal filler and is not approved as an injectable filler for breast augmentation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Several reports of complications following large-volume Aquafilling injections in the breast have been published. In this study, an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-infected transgender patient presented to the emergency room with a purulent infection of the breast and systemic fever. The patient had a history of large-volume Aquafilling injection in both breasts 3 years earlier to obtain a feminized appearance of the breasts. After using intravenous antibiotics and performing several surgical debridements over 4 weeks, the overall inflammatory response subsided. The skin defect site was covered successfully using an Integra Wound Matrix Dressing and there were no recurrent complications over 2 years of follow-up visits. Before injecting Aquafilling to augment patients’ breasts, a thorough consultation is mandatory, and doctors must notify patients that the risk of complications may be relatively high. Furthermore, any fillers including Aquafilling must not be used for unapproved purposes.