Although filler complications are very rare, they are also very real. First and foremost, make sure you are seeing a licensed, well qualified medical professional with a lot of experience and training for any injectable treatment. Unfortunately, many of the complications happen in the hands of inexperienced injector.
Minor Complications
Most minor complications can be avoided with proper technique and filler selection of the area being treated. Looking “overfilled” is not always caused by too much filler in that area. Often times, it is the result of how the filler was placed. Going to a very skilled injector who understands proper filler placement will prevent this complication.
An experienced injector also understands that not every fine line and wrinkles can be “erased”. Trying to over correct can leave a patient looking unnatural and overfilled.
Another minor complication that can happen with filler is called the Tyndall effect. The Tyndall effect is when the filler leaves a bluish tinge under the eye. It can sometimes be corrected by dissolving the filler with Hyaluronidase, although the bluish effect can persist beyond the duration of the filler.
Major Complications
Major complications are very rare but there is still a risk of them happening when getting injected. A very rare but serious complication is a vascular occlusion. An occlusion can lead to tissue death, scarring and even blindness. An occlusion is caused by an accidental injection of filler into an artery or compression of the artery from surrounding filler. Vascular occlusions can quickly escalate if not recognized and treated right away.
Another complication that can be very serious is an infection. Although infection can be treated it can also be prevented. Going to an experienced injector who is sterilizing the area correctly will minimize the chance of developing an infection.
To minimize the risk of any of these complications you can make sure that you are going to a provider that understands the anatomy of the face. Finding an injector that is knowledgeable about the different fillers and correct placement will also minimize these risks.
Minimal bruising and swelling is to be expected when being injected. Things such as vitamin E, fish oil and ibuprofen should be avoided approximately 5-7 days prior to treatment to minimize bruising and swelling.
To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced injectors, please call (801)776-2220 for an appointment or contact us HERE.