My facial fillers gave me a “tumor” on my chin that I named Chimothy

A Colorado woman has issued a stark warning to those considering facial filler treatment – after a botched procedure caused her to develop a massive growth on her chin that resembled a tumor.

Dietitian Kaley Birge had to undergo a painful procedure to drain infected fluid from the lump, which continued to ooze pus for more than two weeks.

Doctors identified the “tumor” – which she calls “Chimothy” – as an abscess that had developed following an infection at one of the injection sites.

Speaking about the ordeal in a series of TikTok videos, Ms Birge said: “I’m going to cry, I’m so disgusted. I have a hard time talking about it because it’s so disgusting to me and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

In one clip, she can be seen attempting to empty the contents of the mass by squeezing it, which forced the blood and pus out.

Ms Birge, who posts videos under the username Kaleysfavs, visited a clinic earlier this month for dermal filler on her chin.

The shots contain gel-like substances such as hylauronic acid that plump areas of lost volume on the face and smooth wrinkles.

At the time of the procedure, Ms Birge said she was suffering from “a huge (acne) breakout” in the area where the filler was injected, which increases the risk of infection.

The infection developed less than a week after the procedure, Ms. Birge said.

The clinic that injected him with the filler told him to come back immediately because “they were worried” and prescribed him antibiotics.

However, her situation worsened and just a day later, Ms Birge returned and providers “extracted a bunch of cat” from the abscess.

When an infection develops, the immune system attempts to fight it and white blood cells travel to the infected area and accumulate, forming an abscess.

The designer diligently took her antibiotics and painkillers, but pus and colorless fluid continued to ooze from the open wound.

Two days later, Ms. Birge returned to the facility once again and her medical team performed an ultrasound of the area, which they said revealed that the swelling “was a huge pocket of pus…they opened me, drained the pus and then irrigated it.” ‘

Ms. Birge left the office with her luggage inside the abscess. Abscess compaction involves filling the abscess cavity with gauze or cotton after being cut and drained.

The goal of compaction is to prevent the abscess from closing so that it can continue to drain, absorb fluid from the abscess, and help prevent bacterial growth and infection.

When an abscess is packed, a small end of the packing remains exposed to the incision so that the patient can remove the gauze or cotton several days after drainage.

Ms Birge said: “I have to take (the packaging) off a bit… I’m going to cry, I’m so disgusted. I have a hard time talking about it because it’s so disgusting to me and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

In a video a few days later, she showed herself removing the packaging, which she called a “dead worm,” from her “chin tumor.”

Ms Birge was then left with a small round opening on her chin, but just a day later she noticed her chin was still crooked and said “there’s still something under there”.

In her next video which she posted last week, she said: “Something huge and disgusting came out of Chimothy last night and (I don’t know) what to do.”

In a graphic video, Ms Birge showed blood, pus and fluid coming out of the abscess opening as she squeezed around the area.

Two days later, Ms. Birge noticed a bump on the other side of her face, which she called “Chimothy’s little sister… Chimanthia.”

Two days later, the designer revealed that as she tried to drain the abscess again, the filler she had injected came out through the incision.

Ms. Birge did not specify what type of practitioner administered facial fillers to her, but there are many types of providers who are allowed to inject patients based on state laws.

However, she said she was subsequently treated by a doctor, a physician’s assistant and a nurse and did not blame the clinic for her complications.

Dermal fillers are temporary, meant to last between six and 18 months – depending on the type and area of ​​injection – as the body breaks down the material and absorbs it.

Dermal fillers, which are regulated by the FDA as medical devices, can be used on many parts of the body, including the chin, cheeks, lips, brow lines, jawline, and forehead.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 2.6 million Americans receive injectable facial fillers each year, making it the second most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure behind Botox injections.

They cost between $740 and $1,100 on average, depending on location and type.

Common side effects of dermal fillers include bruising, redness, pain, itching, rashes, and swelling at the injection site.

Rare side effects include loss of function of the injected area, migration of fillers throughout the face or body, chronic inflammation, infections, open or draining wounds and necrosis, or tissue death.

People may also experience allergic reactions and granulomas, small clumps of white blood cells and other abscess-like tissue.

Although the cosmetic procedure is considered safe, A study found 160 of 430 complications reported in dermal filler patients between 2003 and 2020 were classified as serious or permanent, including necrosis and vision loss.

The study authors warned that non-permanent fillers were associated with “rare but potentially serious complications” depending on where they are injected and that their administration “requires extensive knowledge of facial anatomy.” .