Can You Become Permanently Blind After Using Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers can be injected in the face to fill in laugh and frown lines. Lip fillers can add volume and plumpness. While the procedure is becoming more popular, it's important to consider the complications.

Some complications are common, like temporary redness and swelling. But in extremely rare cases, facial fillers can block blood vessels causing a severe complication—blindness.

This article will explain the risks associated with facial filler injections. It will cover why blindness may happen, which other side effects can occur, and how you can avoid the complications associated with dermal fillers.

High angle view of blind woman
altrendo images / Getty Images

Blindness May Occur

Blindness is a rare, albeit possible side effect of facial injections.

There are many small blood vessels, specifically arteries, in the forehead and eye area that supply blood to the area. Improper use of dermal fillers and fat injections can lead to the blockage of a blood vessel that supplies blood to the eye. When the blood is prevented from reaching the eye because of the blockage, blindness is the result. This condition is known as retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

If it does occur, blindness will be an immediate effect of filler injections. Filler materials that can cause blindness include autologous fat (obtained from your body), hyaluronic acid, collagen, poly-L-Lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, and corticosteroid suspensions.

Autologous fat is more likely to cause vision problems than other filler material. Variation in the size of the fat globules, which can be small, medium, or large, may be the reason. The variation in size leads to the blockage of small, medium, and large-sized arteries.

Hyaluronic acid filler particles are smaller and more constant in size than fat particles and, therefore, will potentially block only certain smaller-sized arteries. Consequently, larger arteries will be spared, reducing the chances of vision complications.

Are Complications Common?

The demand is high for this procedure, and people are getting these types of injections done at younger and younger ages. Thus, it's even more crucial that both the short-term and long-term potential complications are fully understood before undertaking such procedures.

Dermal fillers are usually quite safe. However, as with other medical procedures, they do have risks, including the following:

  • Bruising
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Tenderness
  • Itching
  • Rash
  • Difficulty performing activities (only when injected into the back of the hand)

These symptoms are also normal after having fat injected into the face. The swelling after a fat injection persists longer than the swelling associated with dermal fillers and is usually more pronounced.

Less Common and Rare Complications

Serious complications after cosmetic facial injections are quite rare, but when they do happen, they are quite devastating. One study looking at statistics from all over the globe identified 190 cases of blindness after facial filler injections.

These less common and rare complications have been reported:

  • Allergic reaction including anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction requiring immediate emergency medical attention)
  • Opening or draining of wounds
  • A sore at the injection site
  • Migration (movement of the filler material away from the injection site)
  • Leakage or rupture of the filler material at the injection site or through the skin (possibly resulting from tissue reaction or infection)
  • Formation of permanent hard nodules or lumps
  • Other vision abnormalities, necrosis (tissue death), or stroke resulting from injury to the blood supply due to an unintended injection into a blood vessel
  • Death

Many people who have facial enhancement with injections may be unaware of the potentially permanent complication that can occur with facial injections, namely blindness. Still, some partial vision recovery has been possible.

Can You Reverse Blindness and Other Filler Complications?

With treatment, some complications of dermal filler procedures can be reversed. Even vision problems including blindness may be reversible. Blindness is most likely to be reversed when hyaluronic acid was used as the filler material. This is not the case with other filler material like autologous fat, collagen, or calcium hydroxylapatite.

How to Avoid Complications

You can avoid potential complications from dermal fillers with several approaches:

  • Find a licensed healthcare provider who is experienced in performing these procedures. Ask your provider about their training and experience.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential risks associated with each injection.
  • Do not inject yourself with fillers or purchase dermal fillers online. Online products could be counterfeit or not approved for sale in the United States.
  • Get information about different filler materials. Read the patient information about the specific filler you have been recommended.

If you do notice a problem, get medical attention immediately. Problems like unusual pain; vision changes; a white, gray, or blue appearance of skin near the injection site; and signs of a stroke during or shortly after the procedure need to be checked out by a healthcare provider.

Summary

As a way to enhance aspects of natural beauty, facial fillers can smooth wrinkles and add fullness and volume. While filler injection procedures are generally safe, complications can occur. Common complications tend to be minor, but in some cases, more serious and devastating complications like blindness can occur.

Some filler materials are more likely than others to cause vision problems. Blindness is a rare complication, which, in some cases, can be reversed. To avoid these complications, find a licensed healthcare provider with experience in these procedures, ask about the specific risks, and don't try these procedures at home with products purchases online.

4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Carruthers JD, Fagien S, Rohrich RJ, Weinkle S, Carruthers A. Blindness caused by cosmetic filler injection: a review of cause and therapyPlast Reconstr Surg. 2014;134(6):1197-201. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000754

  2. Xin L, Du L, Lu JJ. A novel hypothesis of visual loss secondary to cosmetic facial filler injectionAnn Plast Surg. 2015;75(3): 258–260. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000000572

  3. Chatrath V, Banerjee PS, Goodman GJ, Rahman E. Soft-tissue filler–associated blindness: a systematic review of case reports and case series. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019;7(4):e2173. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000002173

  4. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers).

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