A 30-Year-Old Woman Dies After Vaginal Filler Procedure in South Korea

Recently, it was revealed that two women in their 30s who underwent vaginal filler procedures in South Korea died shortly afterward. They exhibited symptoms such as sudden cardiac arrest and respiratory distress immediately after the procedure, ultimately leading to their deaths.

In February, the Korean Journal of Legal Medicine published a paper titled "Fatal Non-thrombotic Pulmonary Embolism after Vaginal Filler Injection."

The first case mentioned in the paper involved a 38-year-old woman, referred to as A. A received a vaginal filler injection at a gynecology clinic and fainted twice on her way home, subsequently being transported to the emergency room. At that time, she complained of palpitations and dizziness, having undergone a total of four vaginal filler procedures, with 47mL of filler injected over seven months.

While in the emergency room, A displayed symptoms of respiratory distress and seizures, ultimately succumbing to her condition ten days after being hospitalized. An autopsy revealed a significant amount of filler in the posterior vaginal wall, which obstructed surrounding blood vessels, leading to the formation of a large thrombus. It was also determined that her lungs were congested (a condition where blood fails to circulate properly, resulting in increased blood volume).

The second case involved a 35-year-old woman, referred to as B. B underwent the vaginal filler procedure under sedation with ketamine, midazolam, and propofol. Shortly afterward, her blood oxygen saturation plummeted rapidly, resulting in cardiac arrest. Despite receiving medical treatment for a month, she ultimately died from hypoxic brain damage and pneumonia.

During the autopsy, examinations of the vagina revealed that some blood vessels in the submucosal and muscular layers exhibited embolisms caused by the filler. Specifically, it was identified as non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism, a condition where abnormal substances (fat, air, foreign materials, etc.) enter blood vessels and block them. The filler material appeared to have migrated along the vaginal blood vessels, causing the embolism.

While it can also occur when fillers are injected into the face or buttocks, experts explain that there is a significantly greater risk associated with the vaginal structure.

Vaginal fillers are performed in some clinics to enhance internal volume for increased sexual pleasure, but this paper serves as a warning signal regarding the dangers of such procedures.

Image source: Reference images for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank