What is a Granuloma and What Causes It?

A granuloma is a mass or nodule (a lump or bump) usually associated with an infectious (bacterial or fungal for example) process that produces inflamation (swelling, redness and pain). A granuloma may resmble a foreign body reaction as with a splinter or, more to the point, from an injection of a substance, such as with dermal fillers used for cosmetic purposes to improve facial lines and enhance contour.
True granulomas with any filler are quite rare. More commonly, too much material can settle in one small area causing a bump that is palpable (can be felt) and may be visible. This is common and can often be improved with massage, but extraction of the excess may be indicated and occasionally a needle can be utilized to simply remove the excess (especially with hyaluronic acid products such as Restylane and Juvederm).

Granulomas form in response to a foreign body. Our body has various defense mechanisms and if it encounters something it doesn't like, it will try to surround it and block it from being exposed. In other words build a wall of protection around it so it doesn't irritate our body any more. When that protective wall is formed, it's made from inflammatory cells and they create this ball like structure, called granuloma. Tiny ball or nodule you feel when you press n the skin.   Dermal fillers made from Hyaluronic acid are very safe and have been used for over 20 years and the chance of them causing granulomas is extremely rare but not completely impossible. Even if they did cause them, they can be immediately treated in the hands of a professional and skilled physician. Hope this helps, Dr. Avaliani

Thanks for your question -
A granuloma is your body's immune response to a foreign body. There are substances that are more likely to cause granuloma formation and substances that are less likely to form granulomas.
Most modern injectables (especially the HA injectables) typically do not form granulomas as they are minimally stimulating to your immune system. It is not impossible though.
Discuss the lumps with your injector. They will likely recommend observation and time.
The lumps will likely resolve.
I hope this helps.

Granulomas are a specific inflammatory reaction that is seen in soft tissue as a response to foreign bodies. The popularity of Juvederm and Restylane came about as a result of their high safety profiles and hence, their low rates of granuloma formation. Granulomas can occur, nonetheless, from any foreign body and require either surgical excision or TAC injection.

Tara,
Granulomas can occur after injections. However, just because you have a "lump" it does not mean it is a granuloma. Lumps after injections can be caused by localized palpable product, hematomas, swelling and granulomas.
The first three occur early since they are due to the product or the procedure. The granulomas occur later - days to weeks - since they are due to an inflammatory reaction around the the product or nidus of infection.
Clinic exam may help differentiate what is causing the problem. I hope this is helpful.

A granuloma is characterized as an inflammation in the tissue. Many granulomas are caused due to an injury to the tissue itself, possibly as an effect of infection.  Granulomas are usually rare with injections of fillers of any kind. It is possible to have too much of the injected material in one area which may cause a small bump. As of now I would suggest massaging the area, however, the excess material may need to be removed. Consult your doctor in a day after lightly massaging the area, if the bump does not begin to subside.

Granulomas are your body's reaction to foreign substance. They can occur when there is a foreign substance such as filler but can also occur when there is an incision or break in the skin and there is healing by the body...a pyogenic granuloma. Sometimes patients can have immune system diseases such as sarcoidosis which cause the body to create granulomas when there is not a foreign substance. Treatment includes massage, steroid injection, topical steroids and excision. For autoimmune causes of granulomas there are multiple immune medications that must be used. A licensed doctor can differentiate between the different types and treatment. For a granuloma caused by a filler, massage works best initially. Steroid injection can then sometimes dissolve it. Finally excision is needed in some cases to remove it.

Granulomas can often form in response to biological, chemical or physical irritants including trauma. Granulomas do have characteristic pathologic findings when the tissue is examined under the microscope. As Ms. Imbesi indicated, granulomas should be distinguished from nodules that simply represent a collection of injected material. Certainly granulomas can form as an unwanted effect of dermal fillers. Generally speaking, the more "foreign" the injected material, the less likely a granuloma will form. For example, hyaluronic acid found in Juvederm and Restylane is very unlikely to form granulomas since they hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin/soft tissue. On the other hand, you would almost expect granulomas to form if you were to inject castor oil (clearly a foreign substance) for example into the skin.

A granuloma is the bodies development of inflammed scar tissue around a foreign body. Yes, you can get them from injectable products.  They are less ikely to happen with absorbable products.

A granuloma is an inflammation of the tissues due to several causes. Injection of dermal fillers could cause a tissue reaction ,however this is extremely rare.
It is important to see these lesions to make sure that this is not a nodule induced by superficial injection of the dermal filler or injecting a large volume in one spot.