Complications in Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Dermatological Procedures in Switzerland

During the past decade, a steady increase in aesthetic procedures has been observed. Over the last four years, non-surgical procedures have grown by 40%. The five most popular treatments are botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, hair removal, chemical peels, and nonsurgical fat reduction.

With the increase in aesthetic procedures, adverse effects have also increased. Contributing factors include weak regulations, unlicensed practice, and individuals with little or no formal training administering botulinum toxins and dermal fillers.

This study aims to analyze unexpected and often unfavorable outcomes, referred to as complications, arising from minimally invasive procedures-both non-injectable (e.g., laser treatments, chemical peels) and injectable (e.g., botulinum toxin, fillers). The complications are categorized based on their severity and ethiology. This retrospective case series is conducted at a university reference center in Switzerland (Margarethenklinik of the University Hospital Basel) between January 2021 and December 2024.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18 and older of all genders, ethnic and social demographic background that have signed the General consent and the Photo-Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who didn't sign the general consent.
• Patients under 18 years old.