What are the red flags after fillers?

Author: Mrs. Tanya McDermott Jr.  |  Last update: Saturday, June 14, 2025

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.

What is not normal after fillers?

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.

What are the first signs of vascular occlusion from fillers?

What are the symptoms of vascular occlusion?
  • Pain or discomfort at the site of the blockage.
  • Swelling.
  • Changes to your skin color; red (erythema) to blueish-purple or white spots (blanching).
  • Cool temperature to the affected area of your skin.

When should I be worried about fillers?

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.

How to know if body is rejecting fillers?

5 Signs That You Had a Bad Filler Job
  1. Persistent Puffiness. There are several signs that the body can give when a facial injection of filler has gone wrong. ...
  2. Asymmetry/Asymmetric Fullness. Asymmetrical fullness can occur after the injection is performed. ...
  3. Allergic Reaction. ...
  4. Infection. ...
  5. Unnatural Appearance.

Filler Red Flags - Signs Your Filler Isn't Healing Normally

What is forbidden after filler?

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.

What is a pillow face?

“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.

What is the bad side of 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. Common risks include: Bruising.

How do I know if my fillers are botched?

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.

What age should you stop getting fillers?

While there is no set age at which one should stop using cosmetic injectables, it's essential to consider individual factors such as skin condition, lifestyle, and personal preferences.

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.

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 does blanching after fillers look like?

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.

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.

What not to eat after fillers?

What Not to Eat After Fillers
  • Spicy foods, as they can cause inflammation and discomfort.
  • Salty foods, which can lead to dehydration and increased swelling.
  • Hot foods and beverages, which may aggravate sensitivity.
  • Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits and vinegar-based dressings, that can cause stinging or irritation.

What happens if you don't like your fillers?

If you don't love your results from dermal filler injections, take heart knowing the effects are temporary. In many cases, a skilled cosmetic surgeon can make more immediate corrections or improve upon your previous results through one of several therapeutic treatments.

How do you know if your body is rejecting fillers?

#1: Persistent Puffiness

The first sign of a facial injection filler gone wrong is puffiness long after the initial injection. It's typical for patients to experience slight swelling or puffiness in the area for up to 24 hours.

What do bad fillers look like?

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.

How long does it take for fillers to fully settle?

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.

What is the riskiest area for filler?

Common danger zones include the glabellar region, temporal fossa, infraorbital region, perioral region, lips, oral commissure, nasal area, and areas with major arteries like the supratrochlear, supraorbital, infraorbital foramen, mental foramen, facial artery, and deep temporal arteries.

Do people regret fillers?

While most patients are satisfied with the results of dermal fillers, some find the change too drastic or have other reasons and would want to undo it. Using injectables like dermal filler is not a perfect science, and some patients react differently to the treatment, which is why dissolvers exist.

What is the Ozempic face?

Ozempic face is a colloquial term, not a medically recognized condition. It describes the facial changes that can accompany rapid weight loss when using medications like Ozempic or another version of the same drug (generic name semaglutide) FDA-approved for weight-loss treatment.

Why do people with fillers look puffy?

Similarly, when too much filler is injected, it can stretch the skin and create an unnatural puffiness. This is especially true in delicate areas like the under-eyes, where the skin is thinner and more prone to stretching. Over time, this can contribute to pillow face syndrome and necessitate pillow face correction.

What happened to Ryan Gosling's face?

It's worth noting that his face has not changed much over the years and the only noticeable difference is the slight difference in his nose shape. Although Ryan Gosling has never confirmed or denied any rumors about plastic surgery. However, it's also possible that his good looks are natural.

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