Filler Complications - What You Need To Know

For the past decade, the use of dermal fillers has been one of the most popular procedures in facial rejuvenation. And while complications are rare, it is important to be aware of them.

- Dr Sly Nedic

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 1.6 million procedures were performed with hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in 2014. There are about 160 different fillers on the aesthetic market and this number is growing rapidly.

HA is popular because of its ability to restore facial youthfulness quickly but naturally, making it a very cost-effective treatment. There is minimal downtime due to the non-invasive manner in which the fillers are applied, and it presents low risk, which makes the product totally acceptable in modern society.

Furthermore, aesthetic expertise has evolved significantly from simply injecting fillers into wrinkles to 3D facial volume restoration. New beautification and volume restoration techniques often require the use of larger volumes in certain areas that do not necessarily exhibit obvious wrinkles (chin, temples, nose and cheeks). These new techniques are supported by new-generation fillers with different properties, injection requirements and accompanying risks.

With relatively few complications arising from the use of fillers, we could potentially see an increase in the occurrence of complications in future years because of the procedure’s increasing popularity and diversifying usage. Newer properties are also being developed and the products are being offered by practices not dedicated to aesthetics, which could add to this.

Complications – what you need to know

When talking about fillers, we mean HA fillers that are the most commonly used in South Africa. HA is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in our bodies, and clinical studies have declared it safe and support its use for aesthetic purposes. Filler injection complications are rare and if they do occur, they are usually mild and transient, causing minimal discomfort in patients. The most common are swelling, bruising, redness and mild pain.