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.
Delayed hypersensitivity reactions are characterized by induration, erythema, and edema and are mediated by T lymphocytes rather than antibodies. They typically occur 48–72 hours after injection but may be seen as late as several weeks postinjection and may persist for many months.
You might notice these symptoms 24 hours after your procedure. Contact your provider if you experience pain or skin color changes at the site of your dermal filler. Reduced blood flow to parts of your body can cause dangerous and irreversible consequences if you don't receive treatment quickly.
Signs to look for include pain at the injection site and discolouration of skin (pale or deep red) for up to a few hours after filler injection.
The initial infected symptoms include pain along with tenderness and redness. These signs will typically occur within the first week between days 2 and 6. The formation of an abscess occurs between day 6 and 14.
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. Common risks include: Bruising.
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.
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.
Early signs of vascular occlusion include pain, pale skin or white blanching after filler and prolonged capillary refill. These symptoms are commonly seen within minutes to an hour of an occlusion occurring. Later signs of an occlusion are perishingly cold skin and purple mottling or livedo reticularis.
These signs include pain, a purple or violaceous hue in a vascular distribution on one side of the face or any whitening of an area.
About 4-6% of the patients developed temporary granulomas at the injection site. Testing and double testing before treatment were recommended, and in both cases granulomas were found to occur. Presently, collagen fillers are used less frequently, and as a result adverse effects are expected to be rare.
Bruising may occur if an artery or blood vessel has become blocked due to filler injection. Bruising may range from a blue discoloration to a dusky purple-grey appearance. Swelling is likely to occur in and around the injection site if vascular obstruction is present, and may range from mild to severe.
Vascular occlusion is one of the rare complications of dermal filler treatment. It may happen as early as receiving the injectable filler or as late as 24 hours post-treatment. When left untreated, this condition can lead to more serious complications, like blindness, necrosis, and stroke.
“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.
Their associated risks do, however, vary according to the nature of the material. These reactions range in severity and time after treatment and range from swelling and erythema to pain, nodule formation, pigmentation, and abscess formation.
The symptoms of ischemia can occur immediately after the injection or several hours after the procedure. Here, the authors report three cases of necrosis after hyaluronic acid injection with the first symptoms presenting only several hours after the procedure.
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.
If you notice severe pain, extreme swelling or a blue appearance in your lips or surrounding skin, call your doctor as soon as possible. Cold sores. If you are prone to getting cold sores, lip fillers can bring on an outbreak.
Increased redness, pain, swelling and heat around the lips hint at an infection. The presence of pus is also very worrying, and a professional must be consulted as quickly as possible.
Allergic reactions to injectable fillers may occur immediately after the injection or up to several weeks later. If you plan on receiving injectable fillers, it's a good idea to know the symptoms of an allergic reaction so you can watch for them. Common symptoms include swelling or redness at the injection site.
Malar oedema is an accumulation of fluid just above the cheekbones. The severity may vary and can worsen after salty meals or in the mornings. The consistency of the fluid build-up is usually soft and compressible. It is essential to have a full examination to rule out other medical causes other than natural ageing.
“While rare, people can experience a late onset inflammatory response to hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers," says Ali. "This presents as induration (a thickening and hardening of the skin), erythema (redness) and oedema (an accumulation of fluid that causes swelling).
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.
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.