What does vascular occlusion feel like?

Author: Jedediah Schamberger  |  Last update: Saturday, November 15, 2025

Symptoms of vascular occlusion include: Pain or discomfort at the site of the blockage. Swelling. Changes to your skin color; red (erythema) to blueish-purple or white spots (blanching).

What are the first 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.

What is the first stage of vascular occlusion?

The Immediate Signs Of A Vascular Occlusion

Usually the very first indication is blanching, with the size of the blanched area varying greatly.

What do vascular occlusion lips look like?

There will be a grey patch on the lip that sometimes has zero capillary refill. This is the most obvious type of VO and not easily missed in lips; however, they can be less obvious and more easily missed in other parts of the face, or in patients with darker skin types.

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.

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Do vascular occlusions appear instantly?

If you have a vascular occlusion after a dermal filler, you could experience symptoms 12 to 24 hours after your filler procedure.

What are the red flags for avascular necrosis?

Intermittent pain that appears and eases when you put pressure on your bone and then remove the pressure. Increasing pain and stiff joints. Limited range of motion. Limping if you have avascular necrosis in your hips or knees.

Is there always pain with a vascular occlusion?

If a patient complains of worsening post-procedure pain, they must be reviewed and assessed. 4,14 It's important to note that, in event of a vascular occlusion, pain is not always present during the early stages. Skin color. Skin color is an important marker of ischemic changes.

How quickly does necrosis occur after fillers?

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.

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 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.

How do you check for capillary refill on lips?

In relation to the lip filler procedure the Capillary refill test (CRT) is carried out by holding and applying pressure to the lip, often by pinching. When you pinch the area it while whiten, which is called blanching. The pressure should be maintained for 5-10 seconds.

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.

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.

Is a lip occlusion painful?

Some common signs and symptoms of a vascular occlusion include: Pain: A sudden, severe pain in the treated area is one of the most common signs of a vascular occlusion. The pain may be accompanied by a burning or tingling sensation.

How do you test for vascular blockage?

An angiogram is a diagnostic procedure that uses X-ray images to look for blockages or narrow spots in your blood vessels (arteries or veins). An angiogram test can show how blood circulates in blood vessels at specific locations in your body.

What does a vascular occlusion feel and look 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.

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.

What does necrosis feel like?

Necrosis has been categorized into different types based on distinct features, including appearance. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and fever, along with notable skin issues. Treatment typically includes surgery, along with medications and possible oxygen therapy.

What does occlusion pain feel like?

“Bite” (or occlusion) refers to how your upper and lower teeth fit together when you close down. What does it feel like when your bite is off? Common symptoms include one side hitting before the other when chewing, pain upon biting or the inability to bite down all the way.

What does vascular pain feel like?

Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.

How to test for vascular occlusion?

“Capillary refill time is a simple bedside measure to check peripheral tissue perfusion. You apply enough pressure to blanch the tissue and hold for 5 seconds. On releasing, the tissue should reperfuse within 2 seconds,” she instructs. “Also, a bruise will be present where there's been trauma from the treatment.

Where is avascular necrosis pain felt?

Pain associated with avascular necrosis of the hip might center on the groin, thigh or buttock. Besides the hip, the shoulder, knee, hand and foot can be affected. Some people develop avascular necrosis on both sides, such as in both hips or in both knees.

What famous people have avascular necrosis?

Bo Jackson's is the most famous case of avascular necrosis, with his developing after he injured his hip in an NFL game. He later returned to baseball and the major leagues, but he was never the same kind of athlete. Brett Favre was also diagnosed with avascular necrosis of the hip in 1992.

What are the four stages of necrosis?

The stages of avascular necrosis can be divided into four main categories: pre-collapse, early collapse, late collapse, and arthritis. Pre-collapse Stage: This stage is characterized by minimal to no symptoms, and the bone damage can only be detected through imaging tests such as an MRI or X-ray.

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