What are the worst possible side effects of voluma or fillers in general?

Question

am 31 old and i lost small amount of volume and i need a slightly cheeks lift..with minimum injections as possible as my skin is great. However, I have a bad experience with rhinoplasty that left me traumatized ! what the possible effects of voluma or fillers., does it cause nerve damage ? irritation ? facial swelling? blindness if it got injected wrong around the eyes ? Please I want to be informed with every tiny possible effect that would happen temporary or permanent.

Kian Karimi, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and I think it is great that you are educating yourself before your treatment. The main side effects of dermal fillers are swelling, bruising, and tenderness after injections. Although extraordinarily rare, there have been reports of blindness and stroke after injection of fillers into blood vessels in the glabella and nose. Other adverse reactions include infection, tissue necrosis, lumps, or allergic reaction. In the hands of an experienced injector, these risks are greatly reduced. In my practice, I like to use the microcannula technique to inject filler, which essentially eliminates the risk of bruising and reduces the risk of swelling and pain by using only one insertion point in each treatment area. I strongly recommend consulting with a board-certified specialist who has experience injecting filler with the microcannula technique for best results.

Dhaval M. Patel, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. fillers like Voluma and other hyaluronic acid fillers are a great way to add volume to the face and even out deep wrinkles. I am sorry to hear about your experience, however filler injections are great and safe if done by a board certified plastic surgeon. If any side effects, the most common are bruising and swelling, which is normal. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Fillers are a very safe non-surgical procedure, especially because there are options to dissolve some fillers. Additionally, most fillers are temporary. For Voluma, side effects may include redness, bruising, mild swelling, tenderness, lumps, discoloration and itching. These side effects typically subside within 2-4 weeks. Always consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Best wishes,

Best wishes,

Sabrina Fabi, MD · Answer

So sorry for your traumatic experience with rhinoplasty! Juvederm Voluma, Restylane Lyft and other hyaluronic-acid based dermal fillers tend to be extremely safe, with very little downtime or side effects. If you are unhappy with the results, they can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.

Because Voluma is an injection-based therapy, it is very likely that you will have some soreness, bruising, swelling and redness directly after therapy. These effects should subside within a day or two. As with any procedure, if performed improperly there could be some more damaging results, such as asymmetry and nerve damage. However, these can be avoided by seeking a board-certified dermatologist with expertise in injection techniques. Other more serious side effects are exceedingly rare. Please speak with a board-certified dermatologist so you can have your concerns addressed in more depth.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

The potential risks and complications of Voluma are the same as those for other fillers.  The most common of these are swelling, bruising, and unsatisfactory cosmetic result.  There are more severe complications that are extremely rare. I recommend seeing an expert in facial fillers to allay your fears and get the best results. Best, Dr. Emer

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question and I can understand your apprehension.  Voluma sounds like an ideal filler to improve your areas of concern, but as with all fillers it comes with risks.  Common "risks" includes pain/soreness/swelling/bruising/redness at the injection sites.  Other "risks" include asymmetry of results, poor cosmetic results, and an allergic reaction to the filler or anesthetic.  Very rare complications include occlusion of an artery which may impair blood supply to the skin and blindness.  Because of the myriad risks best to see an ASPS board certified plastic surgeon in consultation.

Francis Johns, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.The side effects most commonly seen with fillers is bruising and swelling. I would recommend having a board certified plastic surgeon do your filler. They are trained properly and know the anatomy very well, so you will not have to worry about any problems. I strongly suggest avoid any place that has a groupon or sale, usually that is to get you in the door and it is not always the most experienced person doing the injections.

Kouros Azar, MD · Answer

The most common side effects of any injectable filler including Voluma is swelling and a bit of bruising. It is paramount to see a board certified plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist with a lot of experience using fillers as both skill and expertise will greatly reduce your risk.Kindly,Kouros Azar

Benjamin Barankin, MD, FRCPC · Answer

The most common side effects of fillers including Voluma is a bit of swelling, and potential to bruise (typically lasting around 1 week). In experienced hands, the risk of side effects is minimized. Uncommonly in some cases, there can be a lack of symmetry or what seems like too much filler to the patient ; if this is the case, fortunately the hyaluronic acid-based fillers can be partially or entirely removed with hyaluronidase injections by your dermatologist.

Jennifer Trent, MD, FAAD · Answer

The most common side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Voluma, include bruising, swelling, soreness, redness, and inflammation.  Other more serious side effects are reactivation of herpes, allergic reaction, lumps/nodules, pain, blindness, stroke, tissue necrosis, discoloration, infection, and asymmetry.  Always seek treatment form a qualified professional!