Fillers are a popular cosmetic treatment used to restore facial contours, improve signs of aging, and fill thin lips. They are made of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found throughout the body that binds to water and is stabilized to make it last longer. While fillers can be a safe and effective way to enhance your appearance, there are some risks associated with them. One risk is that fillers purchased online may contain a variety of non-sterile substances, such as hair gel.
When injected, these substances can cause allergic reactions, infections, and the death of skin cells. Another risk is that an improper injection technique can cause not only swelling and lumps, but also more serious side effects, such as skin cell death and embolism leading to blindness. The FDA has issued an official warning urging consumers to never buy dermal fillers on the Internet. They can be false, contaminated, or harmful.
The most serious risk associated with dermal fillers is accidental injection into a blood vessel. Filling that enters a blood vessel can cause skin necrosis (tissue death), stroke, or blindness. While the chances of this happening are low, if it occurs, the resulting complications can be serious and can be permanent. In addition to tightening the skin, overuse of fillers can result in longer-term damage, including lip wrinkles and impaired attachment of facial fat pads and some degree of skin irregularity and aging.
A licensed healthcare professional must perform all dermal filling procedures using only FDA-approved fillers injected with a syringe. Lately we've heard horror stories; inexperienced practitioners using unregulated fillers that cause frozen faces, numbness, blindness (worldwide, around 50 cases of blindness have been reported after cosmetic facial injection) and even death. To help calm their fears and yours, it's important to understand the risks associated with dermal fillers and take steps to ensure you're getting a safe treatment from a qualified professional.
