Dermal fillers associated with blindness?

The
occurrence of blindness following filler injections in the face is extremely
rare. The areas at risk include the forehead, the glabella, the periocular
area, and the upper cheek region. These are areas where the extracerebral
vessels have connections with the intracerebral vessels. The process occurs by
unintentionally injecting filler into an extracerebral vessel; the product then
travels to the intracerebral system. For the discussion of blindness, occlusion
of the retinal artery is what causes the blindness.



Intravascular
injection into an extracerebral vessel could cause tissue (skin, fat, muscle,
nerve) injury and/or necrosis in the distribution of that particular vessel.
This again is also rare, but probably not as rare as the complication of
blindness.



Aspirating
prior to each injection will help prevent these complications. However, the
ability to aspirate and see blood return if the needle tip is within a vascular
lumen depends upon the filler product used.



I
am not aware of any reports that describe blindness following injections for
lip enhancement. Hyaluronic acid fillers work very well for lip enhancement. If
this procedure interests you then I don't see any reason why you could not have
it performed. Seek an experienced injector who can discuss this with you in
more detail. Best wishes. Ken Dembny

The incidence of blindness following injection of dermal fillers into the face is extremely rare.  It is caused by injection of the filler into a blood vessel, which then embolizes to the artery of the eye.  While theoretically it could occur, it would be a very, very unfortunate complication.  Dermal fillers are quite safe.  I would consult with a physician well-trained in fillers and ultimately decide if the benefit to you will outweigh the risks.  Thank you for your question!  Best wishes!

I agree with the previous posters.  Although case reports have been described, I have never seen or heard about any cases of visual loss in association with fillers in the lips, or any other region. Patients must make the informed decision about whether to have a procedure performed based on the risks involved.  I assure you that the risk of such an occurrence is incredibly small.