How quickly does vascular occlusion happen?

Author: Ms. Carolyne Schowalter DVM  |  Last update: Saturday, January 24, 2026

If you have a vascular occlusion after a dermal filler, you could experience symptoms 12 to 24 hours after your filler procedure. Vascular occlusion is a serious condition that needs medical treatment immediately.

Is vascular occlusion instant?

The onset of symptoms of vascular occlusion from dermal filler treatment can vary depending on the case, but it can show up immediately after receiving the facial filler injection or as late as 24 hours.

What is the timeline of vascular occlusion?

The presentation of vascular occlusion can be divided into three key stages; first you have the immediate symptoms which occur during the procedure, then the early signs that occur within 24 hours, and the late symptoms which develop after the first 24 hour window.

What are the early signs of vascular occlusion?

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.

Can vascular occlusion be delayed?

Delayed vascular occlusion might be due an intra-arterial injection, which does not initially occlude the vessel but creates a nidus for platelet aggregation, subsequently leading to a blockage.

VO countdown: How soon after treatment can you spot a vascular occlusion?

Can vascular occlusion happen after 2 weeks?

If you have a vascular occlusion after a dermal filler, you could experience symptoms 12 to 24 hours after your filler procedure. Vascular occlusion is a serious condition that needs medical treatment immediately.

How long after fillers can you get necrosis?

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.

What are the first signs of impending necrosis?

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF NECROSIS
  • Pain. 2,3,5,6,7 Severe pain is usually experienced by the patient when necrosis ensues. ...
  • Prolonged blanching. 2,3,5,7 When the vasculature is affected, the area will often initially look very pale, white, or dusky due to the reduction in blood supply. ...
  • Dusky, purple discoloration. ...
  • Coolness.

What are the 5 Ps of vascular occlusion?

The P's refer to pain, pallor, pulse, paresthesia, and paralysis. Pain is commonly rated on a 10-point scale and can be disproportionately severe in the case of compartment syndrome. Pallor refers to the appearance of the skin and whether it appears as though blood is appropriately reaching the affected body part.

What does an occluded vein feel like?

Upper extremity venous occlusion usually presents in the sudden onset of swelling, discomfort, aching or heaviness of the arm. Sometimes, the arm may take on a bluish discoloration.

How long after fillers can you get complications?

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.

What are the odds of vascular occlusion?

A proper calculation on the risk of vascular occlusion has, to our knowledge, never been performed because odds are low and total numbers of injections are generally unknown. In medical literature, frequencies of vascular adverse events (VAEs) are not detailed but estimated to be 1:2000 to 1:10,000 (0.05–0.01%).

What is the period of occlusion?

It takes 2 to 3 years for roots to be completed after a tooth has erupted into occlusion. Several reasonably normal variations in eruption sequence have clinical significance and should be recognized.

What is an instant occlusion?

The cloud feature called Instant Occlusion forms when a Comma cloud merges with a frontal cloud band. A comma is situated within an a cold air mass behind the Cold Front, so it is in an unstable environment, which leads to the formation of convective cloudiness.

What are the red flags after lip fillers?

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.

How to tell the difference between bruising and vascular occlusion?

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.

What does vascular occlusion feel like?

Vascular occlusion is typically mild, resulting in skin redness (erythema) or bruising around the injection site. However, if vascular occlusion is not treated quickly and properly, patients may experience skin death (necrosis) and even blindness, as facial fillers can migrate retrogressively to the orbital area.

What are the six signs of ischemia?

Ischemia Symptoms
  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Pain in your upper body, including your neck, jaw, shoulder or arm.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Sweating.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

What is an early symptom of arterial occlusive disease?

Pain: Severe pain is a common symptom and usually the first. Pallor: Your skin looks very pale. Pulse deficit: Your pulse is weak or missing.

What does the start of a vascular occlusion look like?

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.

How quickly does necrosis start?

Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis can develop quickly within hours or over a few days. At first you may have: intense pain or loss of feeling near to a cut or wound – the pain may seem much worse than you would usually expect from a cut or wound. swelling of the skin around the affected area.

How urgent is avascular necrosis?

Avascular necrosis is a progressive condition that gets worse over time. If you have avascular necrosis, you should monitor your symptoms, such as pain and mobility. You should call your healthcare provider if you have: Pain that doesn't improve with rest or pain relievers.

How long after surgery can you get necrosis?

In some cases, necrosis may become apparent shortly after surgery, within the first few days or weeks, due to immediate complications such as compromised blood supply or surgical trauma.

What is a late reaction to fillers?

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.

How do you know if your body is rejecting filler?

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.

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