To know if your filler is botched, you should look out for signs such as lumps or irregularities in the skin, unevenness between sides of the face, pain or tenderness in the area, discoloration or bruising at the injection site, and redness or swelling around the area.
As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved with the use of dermal fillers. Most side effects associated with dermal fillers, such as swelling and bruising occur shortly after injection and many resolve in a few days to weeks. In some cases, side effects may emerge weeks, months, or years later.
Adverse reactions from facial fillers most commonly include prolonged swelling, asymmetry, bruising, and lumps or bumps. These can be embarrassing but are not serious in terms of health risks. Rarer, severe symptoms may include allergic reactions, blindness due to embolism, and death of skin cells.
Allergic reactions: Even though it's rare, fillers can sometimes cause allergies. If you have itching, a rash, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face or throat after the injections, get help right away. Eye problems: Fillers near your eyes could cause vision issues or even blindness in rare cases.
Late complications are defined as those appearing after about 2-6 weeks. They comprise late allergic reactions, chronic inflammation and infection, granulomas, filler migration, loss of function, telangiectasia, and hypertrophic scars. A detailed history may disclose a potential allergy.
Persistent Puffiness
Several signs point to a facial filler injection gone wrong, but the main one is puffiness that doesn't go away after the first injection. Typically, you will experience some swelling and puffiness on the treated area, but this goes down after 24 hours.
The best results of dermal fillers are seen typically 1 to 2 weeks post treatment with some of the swelling and bruising dissipating by then. It could take up to 4 weeks for everything to completely settle down, at which point you will notice the results you're expecting.
If you experience any signs of an allergic reaction after a filler injection, such as tenderness, swelling or asymmetrical fullness, seek medical attention immediately. Ask your doctor to test for allergies to the injectable fillers and/or the liquid gel in which they are suspended.
“Pillow face” occurs when too much filler is injected into areas like the cheeks, nasolabial folds (the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth), lips, and under-eye area. This repeated overfilling can result in a bloated, round appearance that looks far from natural.
Although hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers have a low overall incidence of long term side effects, occasional adverse outcomes, ranging from chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory reactions to classic foreign body-type granulomatous reactions have been documented.
We'll be brutally honest here: the appearance of necrosis after filler is not for the faint of heart. In this case, necrosis often turns the skin blue or gives it a blue cast. It can also result in pustules and a scaly look along with white plaques. Sometimes the affected skin turns black.
After your first dermal filler appointment, you want to avoid any hot and humid place. For example, don't rush to the sauna or a hot tub right after your treatment. The high heat makes swelling in your face a lot worse.
Vascular occlusion warning signs (2): pallor
After the initial injection, the next sign of a problem with a VO is usually pallor. In the case of a true, complete vascular occlusion, pallor is very stark, particularly in lips. There will be a grey patch on the lip that sometimes has zero capillary refill.
These reactions, occurring months after injection, can include swelling, inflammation, and infections. The research highlights the importance of patient selection, high-quality products, and strict hygiene to minimize risks, providing valuable guidelines for practitioners to ensure safer aesthetic treatments.
What is the Tyndall effect? The Tyndall effect is a rare phenomenon in which a patient's skin takes on a bluish tone after he or she receives dermal fillers. This discoloration is most often visible in the skin below the eyes due to the area's thin skin.
Signs of filler fatigue
Puffy or overly rounded features: excessive volume can create a bloated or unnatural look, particularly in areas like the cheeks and under the eyes. Loss of natural contours: the face may lose its natural definition, with features appearing merged or amorphous.
The decision to stop using dermal fillers is personal and can be due to the desire for a more natural look or dissatisfaction with previous treatments. Excessive filler use can lead to tissue integration and “microcystic expansion effects,” causing potential aesthetic concerns over time.
The most important sign of occlusion is poor capillary return on the affected area. In comparison, a bruise will have quick capillary return. The bruising is contained in a certain location and takes on a relatively defined shape, as opposed to discoloration, spreading and a mottled appearance.
How do you identify blanching following toxin injections? The skin around the injection site(s) will generally turn much paler than your patient's normal skin tone. Often the skin turns completely white, especially in Caucasian patients.
So, in essence, there is a 'sweet spot' timeframe, typically a few weeks to a couple of months after the treatment, where dermal fillers often look their best. During this period, any initial swelling or bruising has healed, and the filler has had time to settle into its most natural state.
If you're less than thrilled with your filler results—at any time, for whatever reason—talk with your injector. They should be “guiding you through the injectables process, not only during the procedure but afterward too,” says London-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Ashwin Soni.
Fillers remain moldable for 1-2 weeks, and pressure can deform your filler. The most common culprits? The face cradle on massage tables, tight ski goggles and swim goggles. Normal activities like washing your face or putting on make-up do not have enough force to mold your filler.