[Subcutaneous Washout Procedure (SWOP) for Treating Severe Complications of an Aesthetic Gluteal Augmentation with a Copolyamide Filler].

Background: Apart from surgical procedures for breast and buttock augmentation, copolyamide fillers can be locally injected for an increase in volume. This method is especially popular in Asia.

Patient: A 39-year-old female patient had received a buttock augmentation by injection of a copolyamide filler. She presented with multiple abscesses six years after the augmentation. She had developed multiple fistulas and the filler had migrated down to the thigh muscles.

Results: In the presented case, the patient experienced multiple complications such as abscess formation, filler migration and chronic infection, with a significant time delay. Complete removal of the filler is only possible by removing surrounding tissue as well. Surgical treatment with repeated debridements and administration of an intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotic are the current standard of care. In contrast, the SWOP technique presented here appears to be less invasive and less likely for local recurrence.

Conclusion: A breast or buttock augmentation with copolyamide fillers is associated with a high risk of abscess and fistula formation leading to a permanent disfigurement of the patient.