4 Common Dermal Filler Complications and How to Manage Them

All you want to do after a Juvederm® session is is show off your new, smoother, more youthful appearance—but occasionally, things don’t go exactly as planned. This is something that many patients worry about when considering a treatment, but they should be aware that some mild side effects are completely normal after any Juvederm® or other dermal filler injections. In most cases, it’s easy to minimize the risk of adverse effects once you’re aware of them. Follow these tips from Excelin Medical Spa, providing Appleton, WI-area dermatology services, to make unwanted side effects go away quickly so you can enjoy the benefits of the treatment faster.

Note that to improve the overall safety of any procedure involving dermal fillers, it’s ideal to choose a practice led by an experienced, board-certified medical professional, such as a dermatologist, for your treatment. Education and experience matter. A board-certified dermatologist can also help to address less-than-ideal effects that develop from treatments made by less-qualified injectors.

Side Effect #1: Lumps Under the Skin

What Is It?

In rare cases, some patients who have had hyaluronic acid fillers notice the appearance of some small lumps and bumps in the area where they were injected. This is caused by the filler clumping together beneath the skin’s surface. The injections may have also been too shallow or excessive, leading to visible bumps on the outer layer.

How to Treat It

In most cases, this problem is temporary and goes away within around 10 days following your injections. If that doesn’t work, patients have the comfort of knowing that hyaluronic acid-based fillers can be “dissolved” with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Sometimes a light massage can also make the skin look better.

Side Effect #2: The Tyndall Effect

What Is It?

Hyaluronic acid fillers injected too near to the outer surface of the skin can cause a blotchy, blue discoloration known as the Tyndall Effect. It looks similar to and is sometimes mistaken for bruising. The effect is created by the way light passes through the filler particles. Patients are often unhappy with the aesthetic result, as it can cause them distress and interfere with their social life. This appears more commonly in thin-skinned areas of the face.

How to Treat It

The best way to improve this problem is by eliminating the filler completely with hyaluronidase. Some experts also recommend massaging the area so that the gel is more evenly spread out. If patients are unhappy with the way it makes them look, they can also apply makeup to hide the blue tint.

Side Effect #3: Asymmetry

What Is It?

Aspects of the face can sometimes appear very noticeably lopsided or uneven after dermal fillers have been applied. Sometimes this is caused by swelling and bruising from filler injections, which can take some time to settle.

How to Treat It

Sometimes you’ll simply need to wait things out. If weeks have passed and your features still seem visibly uneven, or the problem is severe, an experienced injector can fix this issue. Injectors can correct asymmetry by adding additional filler to some places to create a more balanced look. Also, dissolving the existing filler is also an option.

Side Effect #4: Skin Irritation and Redness

What Is It?

The skin in a treated area can feel itchy and tender immediately after getting fillers. This is because the injections cause minor trauma to the tissue. The skin can also become dry after it has been cleansed prior to a treatment session.

How to Treat It

It’s always advisable to prepare for your procedure by avoiding certain supplements and medications that can increase your risk of bruising and bleeding when you have injectables. Icing the injection area and using a good moisturizer in the days after your treatment can help to soothe the skin. Dermatologists also recommend not exerting yourself with heavy exercise, which may increase blood flow. Use light, gentle skincare products during the first few days after a treatment.

The team at Excelin Medical Spa in the Appleton, WI, area can provide more information about fillers, as well as what to look for in an injector. Connect today by calling 920-931-0022 or sending a message online.