35 Filler Problems: Clinical Overview

Fillers and neuromodulators, known as the injectables, have had such a dramatic and disruptive effect that facial and periorbital rejuvenation are no longer solely in the surgical domain. Although injectables, particularly fillers, continue to evolve, they have already proven to be popular, safe, and efficacious. With minimal to no downtime and affordability, injectables continue to grow at a meteoric rate outpacing surgical procedure.

Although adverse events have been few, devastating complications including vision loss, soft tissue loss, and intracranial catastrophes have been reported with fillers. Fat grafting is also an option for volume replacement, as an isolated procedure or more commonly in conjunction with surgical rejuvenation of the face and the periorbital area. Fat too has proven to be safe and effective, though survival of grafted fat remains unpredictable.

Fillers and fat differ in many ways, and it can be argued that fat grafting is a surgical and not a cosmetic treatment; there are some similarities in terms of complications and adverse effects. Box 35.1 lists complications common to fat and fillers, Box 35.2 lists additional complications of fat only, and Box 35.3 lists additional complications of fillers only.

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join