Survey Suggests Increased Complications With Permanent Dermal Fillers

A recent survey of members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (BAAPS) indicates that the more long-lasting the dermal filler, the more potential there is for problems.

According to the BAAPS, 38.5% of surgeons surveryed saw 1-3 patients over the last year who experienced complications with permanent facial fillers. Furthermore, 23% of surgeons saw 1-3 patients in the past year with complications so severe that surgery was necessary.

The news was considerably better for temporary fillers: 81% of surgeons did not see any complications when using fillers made from hyaluronic acid, collagen, or other temporary substances.

Whether permanent or temporary, there does seem to be a common thread among many of those who have experienced complications: injections which have been administered by inexperienced or unqualified practitioners. Studies conducted by the U.S. FDA report that patients experiencing adverse events from dermal fillers are mostly the result of an injection by an unqualified provider.

The advantage of permanent fillers? They're permanent. The disadvantage? They're permanent. Unless your provider administers your treatments with an artistic eye toward the future, and a thorough understanding of how the face ages, there is a danger that treated areas will begin to look, well, weird, as you grow older.

My advice? Don't dive in head first with permanent fillers. Find a qualified experienced physician, and start with temporary fillers first to be sure that you like the results and that your provider knows what he or she is doing. Then, if you grow tired of going back for maintenance, talk to your doctor about upgrading to a longer-lasting product.