The Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) announced this Friday (29) the prohibition of the use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a filler substance throughout the national territory. The decision applies to both aesthetic procedures and restorative treatments and comes into effect next Tuesday (2), with the publication of Resolution No. 2.461/2026 in the Official Gazette of the Union.
This measure represents one of the most important recent changes in the field of aesthetic medicine and comes amid a series of warnings about the risks associated with the product, including cases of serious complications and deaths.
What is PMMA?
Polymethyl methacrylate is a synthetic compound made up of microspheres suspended in a gel. As a permanent filler, it has been used over the years to increase the volume of body areas such as the buttocks, face, and other regions.
Although authorized in specific situations, the product has become the target of increasing criticism from experts and medical entities due to complications that can arise even months or years after application.
The exception will be maintained in the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System).
The resolution establishes only one exception to the rule. PMMA will continue to be authorized for the treatment of lipodystrophy in patients with HIV/AIDS, provided that the procedure is performed in high-complexity units accredited by the Unified Health System (SUS) and follows the clinical protocols defined by the Ministry of Health.
Apart from this specific situation, the use of the substance will be prohibited throughout the country.
Recent death accelerated debate
The CFM's decision was announced a few days after the death of Roseli Fernandes de Oliveira Romeiro Vieira, 48, in São Paulo. According to information recorded by the Civil Police, she underwent a cosmetic procedure involving the application of PMMA to her buttocks and the back of her thighs.
According to the family's account, the patient began experiencing intense pain, malaise, accelerated heart rate, and difficulty breathing in the hours following the procedure. She died days later.
The case reignited discussions about the safety of the substance and increased pressure for stricter measures.
History of complications
The ban also comes after a series of reports involving patients who experienced problems after PMMA injections.
One of the most publicized cases was that of influencer Mariana Michelini. After undergoing facial harmonization, she discovered she had received an injection of the substance and began experiencing complications that required medical attention.
Experts warn that adverse effects can include chronic inflammation, infections, deformities, material rejection, and other reactions that may arise years after the procedure.
Organizations support decision
The Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) expressed its support for the measure and reiterated its defense of removing PMMA from cosmetic procedures.
According to the president of the Federal Council of Medicine, José Hiran da Silva Gallo, the risks associated with the product ultimately proved to outweigh the potential benefits. He stated that medicine currently has safer alternatives for filler procedures.
With the new resolution coming into effect, clinics and healthcare professionals will have to adapt their protocols, ending the use of a substance that has been at the center of numerous controversies over the past few years.
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