Nose filler: What are the risks?

Most non-surgical nose job procedures are performed utilizing a temporary gel filler like HA. Rarely, HA may lead to vascular occlusion, necrosis, embolism, blindness, and stroke. Complications like this are rare and I believe they may be associated with the person who is holding the syringe. Believe it or not, even in the most experienced hands, necrosis occurs uncommonly. This is one of the many reasons why we prefer to use microdroplet Silikon-1000 injections for permanent non-surgical nose job procedures. Since the size of a Silikon-1000 molecule is smaller than a red blood cell, somebody would never experience a complication like necrosis, embolus, blindness, stroke, or biofilm utilizing Silikon-1000. Thank you for this excellent question, and I hope it's helpful! Sincerely, Dr Joseph

There are several risks with any injectable filler but you are correct that blindness is one of them. It is a VERY rare risk. There are always things that can be done to decrease this risk. I suggest seeing a plastic surgeon in your area to discuss your options and the risks involved.The foregoing information provided is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Hi Kieraa10, thanks for your question! Nose fillers, or a liquid rhinoplasty, is a great alternative to a surgical rhinoplasty.  The benefits of a liquid rhinoplasty compared to a surgical procedure includes: little to no downtime after injection, allows the patient to see what a longer surgical result would look like, a fairly painless procedure, and much lower cost.  As with any injection, there are also risks involved, such as bruising, swelling, and infection.  I recommend consulting with a plastic surgeon for more information. Best of luck! 

This is a good question and its a conversation I have with my patients regularly. You are correct that there have been (rare) reports around the world of blindness with filler treatment. The reason this can occur is that there are many interconnections between the blood vessels of the face, and if filler product is injected inadvertently into an artery it can travel forwards or backwards in the vessel and cause a blockage, which in the case of the eye can be very serious.
The key to providing safe treatment in the nose, and anywhere else in the face, is a thorough knowledge of the anatomy and correct technique when carrying out the injections.
You should feel free to raise this question with your doctor, and he/she should be able to explain the steps they take to provide safe treatment. 

Hi kleraa,
There are rare but documented cases of necrosis, vascular occlusion, even blindness when injecting fillers. While the nose is highly vascularized, an expert doctor can inject safely. Thorough knowledge of anatomy and a good track record keeps you on the safe side. Some doctors also prefer to use the cannula which is blunt and sort of slides over sensitive nerves and blood vessels. You can also use hyaluronic fillers which are temporary but can be dissolved by hyaluronidase instead of fillers like Bellafill which can't be dissolved with ease if the procedure goes wrong or if you are unhappy with the results.
All the best,
Justin Harper, M.D.