What can I do about passing out during injections/other procedures (vasovagal syncope)?

Question

I recently had dermafiller injections in my tear trough area. I have a history of occasional vasovagal syncope, and I had a horrible episode just as the injecting nurse was finishing - I passed out, my eyes rolled into the back of my head, I made gurgling sounds, and she thinks I even stopped breathing for some time - I turned purple! I came out of it OK, but I was tired for a few hours. Are there medications or special precautions Drs. can take for me, or am I just a bad candidate?

Greg Chernoff, MD · Answer

Thank you for submitting your question. Your response, while not common, can happen. If you know you are prone to this, some physicians perform injectable clinics with monitored anesthesia.This means that an anesthesiologist gives you some gas by mask, or some medicine through your vein which makes you very sleepy. The doctor then injects your filler while you are asleep, and you wake up a few minutes later.Most centers will give you a reduced rate on a short anesthetic such as this so that it does not make the cost exorbitant. Always tell your injector that you are prone to this so they can take appropriate measures to ensure your safety.

Edwin Ishoo, MD · Answer

That is the risk anyone takes having such invasive medical procedures performed by non-physicians and even unqualified physicians. Just tell your DOCTOR about your history and they will take the proper precautions to ensure your safety.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

First, if this is your history, I would think that you should be injected by a board certified physician and perhaps be hooked up to the monitors which we have in our ORs, just in case.  Another possibility is managing any anxiety with Atavan or another light sedative.  Finally, I would encourage you to discuss this history with your internist to determine whether further workup is indicated after that last episode.

What can I do about passing out during injections/other procedures (vasovagal syncope)?

Answers (3)

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