Can filler cause blindness & when would it occur?

Question

I heard filler can cause blindness, but does it occur right after the injection? or can it also occur weeks or months after the injection? also are lips and chin filler dangerous?

Giuseppe Fiore, MD · Answer

Hi,
Thanks for your question.
Derma filler injections are MEDICAL procedures and should be performed ONLY by medical professional e.g. Doctors expert in prevent/ reduce complications including blindness. Visual loss occurs withing second of injection and for this reason the practitioner must be able to prevent/ recognize/ reduce this risk with immediate intervention.  
An expert doctor should be able to identify the Facial vascular danger zones and avoid them to reduce severe adverse events.
These procedure are safe if the facial danger zones are recognized and proper injection techniques and fillers are used in a clinical setting. 
I recommend to seek the advice of an expert doctor with extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and proportions and experience in facial assessment, treatments and complications. 
Hope this helps,
BW
Dr Fiore

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Yes, filler can be injected, under pressure, into a small vessels of the lip and trevel to the blood vessels of the eye or even brain. In that case blindness may occur; usually it happens within few minutes or  up to few hours after injection. It is not likely to happen days after surgery? However, ths situation is extremely rare! Hope this helps.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Should it occur, it happens at the moment of the injection. It does not occur hours, days, weeks or months after the treatment. Again while rare, this has happened with injection from any location in the face. It is for this reason, patients are advise to have these treatments with highly experienced physician injectors.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Blindness is possible, if fillers are injected into the vascular system that includes the retinal artery. The chance of this happening is fairly unusual. If it happens, symptoms would begin very soon after the injection.
All procedures carry risks of complications. Patients should look at implication of complications and incidence when calculating risk benefit ratios.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Reuel Aspacio, MD, FAAD - Account Suspended · Answer

Although it is highly unlikely there are incidents that under eye filler of filler in that nasal bridge can cause blindness that is why its extremely important that a board certified physician is injecting.
Lip filler and chin filler is usually very safe if injected properly and again a physician.     
See an expert injector and best of luck!

Can filler cause blindness & when would it occur?

Answers (5)

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