Can non-cross linked hyaluronic acid products still cause vascular occlusion?

Hi Irdeto.  The issue you are addressing gets to the viscosity of a product, in other words how think it feels.  Generally speaking lower cross linking means a less viscous, thinner feeling product.  And generally you are correct, there is a lower incidence of occlusion with thinner products like Belotero.  With that said and as the other answers have pointed out, occlusion is possible with any product if it's injected into a blood vessel.  With thinner products it's less likely to stay occluded and much easier to reverse with hyaluronidase if it dies happen, this the safety profile is better for thinner products.Here's the bad news.  Thinner products are easier to inject but they don't last as long.  We have found Belotero to last 3-4 months vs. Radiesse at 1 year.Finally, Realself has identified you as a Los Angeles user.  Not sure if this is correct but if it is, getting an injection of a drug like these at a beauty spa would be illegal.  If anything ever went wrong it's very unlikely that you would be covered by malpractice insurance. In addition, the beauty salon owners and whomever is injecting could be in trouble with their boards or the legal authorities.Ultimately it's the consumers choice, but to protect yourself we always recommend going to a reputable medical office.  There are great physician, nurse and physician assistant injectors and you just need to ask around to find a reputable one.To see examples of dermal filler injection before and after pictures for our Los Angeles practice, click on the link below.

Dear Irdeto,Any injectable product can cause vascular occlusion and for that reason it is very important to see an expert for dermal fillers. It is not worth having any kind of complication because someone is offering something to you for an excellent price. In addition, a beautician may not be the best person to get injectable fillers. Please see a professional. Best regards,Nima Shemirani

 Absolutely, any injectable product can cause a vascular occlusion. There are even reports of medications in suspension, which are essentially just liquid, causing vascular occlusion when injected in the wrong location. This is why an intimate and knowledge of vascular anatomy is key with injectables. Cameron Chesnut #RealSelf500 physician 

All dermal fillers can cause a vascular occlusion and the same precautions needs to be taken when injecting a patient.

Thank you for your question. If necessary you can have the filler dissolved with hyaluronidase. It is difficult to give you advice without examining you in person. However,  I recommend having a follow up with your injector for an evaluation. Best of Luck!

A vascular occlusion can occur with any injected filler. It is very important to go to an experienced injector so that if a complication did arise, they know how to recognize the problem and treat it immediately. Do your research and ask questions. Sometimes a bargain price isn't worth it.

Thank you for your question. Any
product can cause vascular occlusion if injected into the blood vessels. Belotero Hydro is not available in the
US and not FDA approved therefore, I would be very careful injecting non-FDA
approved products. I recommend having a consultation with an expert injector to
determine the best treatment plan for you. Best of Luck!

 Hi there, any filler can cause vascular occlusion.  Cross linked or non-cross linked.  Occlusion is a blockage of the inside of the blood vessel by filler.   In no way are cross linked fillers more likely to cause occlusion than any other filler.  So you are clear, both Juvederm Hydrate and Belotero Hydro are not FDA approved in this country. It is likely that your beautician is getting them from Europe or off the internet.  I do not recommend you see a beautician for filler EVER under any circumstances, because your health and the general well being of your skin is more important and excellent price!! Good luck, Dr. Downie

Any type of filler can cause vascular occlusion. It is simply that the filler is injected into the lumen of a vessel which then leads to blockage of the blood supply. Another way vascular occlusion occurs is that external pressure from a filler can lead to blockage of flow of a vessel. I would never let a beautician inject a non FDA approved filler in me. I can't see how it is actually legal to do so. This is a setup for disaster. Saving money can cost you in the long run if something goes wrong. DON'T DO IT!

Hello irdeto!
Great question. Ok to make it very simple there are too many types of fillers with different weights and different cross linking technology. In my opinion they all do a good job. It all depends on the injector, how much is used, where it is used, and is the right product used for that location. The science behind it is clearly visible on their website. Regarding vascular occlusion, this is a very serious complication which can lead to blindness if not properly injected. Any filler crosslinked or non crosslinked in my opinion can cause vascular occlusion if poorly placed. It is important you are in the hands of an expert injector who has done many injections. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Cheers