Damage caused by dermal face fillers revealed in scans

"People who have cosmetic filler injections in their face should be warned of the risk of a dangerous complication involving blocked arteries that can lead to skin loss and even blindness due to damaged blood flow, say experts. Researchers used ultrasound to study 100 cases of filler injections that had gone wrong. Clinics are now being advised to use the scans when giving dermal fillers in the face, to avoid harming any nearby arteries."

"Lead researcher Dr Rosa Sigrist says that, although uncommon, such "vascular occlusion" events - where the filler is injected into or too close to blood vessels - can be devastating because they can cause tissue death and facial deformity if not treated. Dermal fillers are injectable substances, commonly used to target wrinkles and smooth or "rejuvenate" the skin. Sometimes they are used to contour or shape the nose or lips."

"Damage to these vessels can cause severe complications including skin damage blindness and stroke, she explains. Dr Sigrist's team, from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, studied filler-related vascular complications in 100 patients across four radiology centers (two in Brazil, one in Colombia and one in Chile), one dermatology centre in the Netherlands and one plastic surgery centre in the US between May 2022 and April 2025."

Ultrasound examination of 100 cases of filler-related vascular complications across multiple radiology, dermatology and plastic surgery centers identified absent blood flow in both small connecting vessels and major facial arteries. Facial dermal fillers can be injected into or positioned too close to blood vessels, causing vascular occlusion that may lead to tissue death, skin loss, facial deformity, blindness or stroke if not treated. Areas around the nose carry particular risk because nasal vessels communicate with critical head structures. Clinics are being advised to use ultrasound scanning during facial filler procedures to identify and avoid nearby arteries and reduce harm.

Read at www.bbc.com