Starting this Tuesday, the ban on the use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for aesthetic and restorative purposes will be in effect throughout the country. The measure was announced by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), which will publish the official resolution regulating the restriction on the use of the substance.
The decision comes after a series of cases involving severe complications and deaths related to the application of the product in cosmetic procedures. The issue gained national attention due to the risks associated with the material, which is considered permanent and difficult for the body to remove.
The new regulation establishes only one exception: patients living with HIV who suffer from lipodystrophy, a condition characterized by alterations in the distribution of body fat. In these cases, the procedure will only be permitted in high-complexity units accredited by the Unified Health System (SUS) and following clinical protocols defined by the Ministry of Health.
Understand what motivated the ban.
The debate over the safety of PMMA has intensified in recent years. In January 2025, the CFM (Federal Council of Medicine) requested that the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) analyze the possibility of prohibiting the use of the substance for aesthetic purposes.
Months later, Anvisa (the Brazilian health regulatory agency) reported that it had not identified a need to change the currently approved indications for the product. According to the agency, the risk-benefit ratio remains acceptable when the material is used within the authorized recommendations.
Despite this, Anvisa emphasized that the approved indications do not cover indiscriminate use for aesthetic purposes and highlighted that the oversight of applications outside the guidelines provided in the package insert is the responsibility of professional councils.
The increase in reports of serious complications and deaths was a key factor in strengthening the discussion about the need to restrict the use of the substance in cosmetic procedures.
Recent cases have heightened concerns among authorities.
The controversy surrounding PMMA increased after several incidents involving patients who suffered serious consequences following the application of the product.
The most recent case was the death of Roseli Vieira, who received injections of the substance in her buttocks and thighs at a doctor's office in the city of São Paulo. The incident occurred last week and is being investigated by the Civil Police.
Experts warn that, because it is a permanent material, PMMA can cause adverse reactions that appear both immediately after the procedure and years after application.
What is PMMA and what are the risks?
Polymethyl methacrylate is a plastic substance used as a filler in gel form. Its medical use is indicated for the correction of minor deformities and for the treatment of facial lipodystrophy in people living with HIV.
It has also been used for volumetric facial and body corrections, filling depressions and irregularities in certain areas of the body. However, its most concerning characteristic is the fact that it is not absorbed by the body.
When applied to deeper layers of the skin, PMMA can cause infections, inflammation, rejection by the body, and other severe complications. Furthermore, the material can adhere to muscles, tissues, and bone structures, making its removal extremely difficult and, in many cases, impossible.
Because it is permanent, any adverse reaction can lead to lasting consequences, requiring complex treatments that are not always able to reverse the damage caused.
The Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery condemns the use of plastics for aesthetic purposes.
The Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) maintains a position against the use of PMMA in cosmetic procedures.
In a public statement, the organization asserted that the use of the substance outside of specific medical indications is considered extremely dangerous. According to the organization, the product can trigger early and late complications that are difficult to treat.
Among the reported problems are the formation of nodules, hardened masses, inflammatory processes, infections, and deformities that can cause permanent aesthetic and functional impairments.
The Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) also highlights that scientific studies indicate a higher frequency of serious complications with PMMA compared to absorbable fillers, including necrosis, embolism, cases of blindness, and even death.
Anvisa reinforces the need for application by trained professionals.
Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency) has also warned about the risks arising from the improper use of the product. According to the agency, even in cases where application is permitted, the procedure must be performed exclusively by trained and qualified physicians.
The goal is to reduce the occurrence of complications and ensure that the use of the substance follows rigorous technical criteria.
With the new CFM resolution, PMMA is no longer authorized for cosmetic procedures in Brazil, being restricted only to the specific situations provided for in the regulations for patients with HIV and lipodystrophy.
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