Blindness After Filler Injection: Mechanism and Treatment

"Filler-Associated Acute Stroke Syndrome": Classification, Predictive Modelling of Hyaluronidase Efficacy, and Updated Case Review on Neurological and Visual Complications

INTRODUCTION

The rising use of soft tissue fillers for aesthetic procedures has seen an increase in complications, including vascular occlusions and neurological symptoms that resemble stroke. This study synthesizes information on central nervous system (CNS) complications post-filler injections and evaluates the effectiveness of hyaluronidase (HYAL) treatment.

METHODS

A thorough search of multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, focused on publications from January 2014 to January 2024. Criteria for inclusion covered reviews and case reports that documented CNS complications related to soft tissue fillers. Advanced statistical and computational techniques, including logistic regression, machine learning, and Bayesian analysis, were utilized to dissect the factors influencing therapeutic outcomes.

RESULTS

The analysis integrated findings from 20 reviews and systematic analyses, with 379 cases reported since 2018. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was the most commonly used filler, particularly in nasal region injections. The average age of patients was 38, with a notable increase in case reports in 2020. Initial presentation data revealed that 60.9% of patients experienced no light perception, while ptosis and ophthalmoplegia were present in 54.3 and 42.7% of cases, respectively. The statistical and machine learning analyses did not establish a significant linkage between the HYAL dosage and patient recovery; however, the injection site emerged as a critical determinant.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that HYAL treatment, while vital for managing complications, varies in effectiveness based on the injection site and the timing of administration. The non-Newtonian characteristics of HA fillers may also affect the incidence of complications. The findings advocate for tailored treatment strategies incorporating individual patient variables, emphasizing prompt and precise intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of soft tissue fillers.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Isolated Ophthalmoplegia After Periorbital Hyaluronic Acid Filler Injection

Facial filler injections are the second most commonly performed in-office cosmetic procedure. Vision loss is the most feared complication of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injection, but isolated ophthalmoplegia can also occur. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who developed nausea and diplopia following HA filler injection to the bilateral periorbital region. She presented with a left hypertropia and left-sided motility deficit without vision involvement. MRI of the orbits demonstrated mild enhancement and enlargement of the left inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles. Treatment consisted of hyaluronidase injection and oral steroids. HA filler can cause isolated ocular misalignment and diplopia without associated vision loss. Patients should be counseled on these risks before undergoing soft tissue augmentation of the face with HA filler.

Post-Hyaluronic Acid Recurrent Eyelid Edema: Pathophysiologic Mechanisms and a Proposed Treatment Protocol

Background

Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injections for facial augmentation are commonly administered but can lead to post-hyaluronic acid recurrent eyelid edema (PHAREE). The pathophysiology of this condition has not been fully understood.

Objectives

To report the successful treatment of PHAREE using serial hyaluronidase and fractionated radiofrequency microneedling, with additional carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing in selected patients.

Methods

Five patients with PHAREE were treated with serial hyaluronidase injections and fractionated radiofrequency microneedling, with 2 patients receiving carbon dioxide laser treatment. The patients were followed up for a minimum of 24 months.

Results

All patients reported a resolution of PHAREE signs/symptoms with no adverse effects or recurrence. One patient demonstrated complete resolution after a single treatment; 4 required a series of treatments.

Conclusions

The proposed treatment protocol may provide advantages over hyaluronidase alone for PHAREE. The impermeable malar septum, vulnerable eyelid lymphatics, and potential immunogenicity of HA fragments likely contribute to PHAREE pathophysiology. Further research on pathophysiologic mechanisms is warranted.

Level of Evidence 4

Acute diplopia after glabellar hyaluronic acid filler injection

Purpose

Blindness is a well-known complication of filler injection in the glabellar region. Acute diplopia from filler injection without vision loss is a rare complication that typically results in clinical ophthalmoplegia which can have permanent sequelae. Here, we describe a patient who presented with acute diplopia with grossly intact full extraocular motility after glabella hyaluronic acid filler injection that resolved after 1 month.

Observations

A previously healthy 43-year-old woman underwent her first hyaluronic acid injection in the glabella and developed immediate binocular double vision with severe pain and skin mottling above her right eyebrow and central forehead. Hyaluronidase injections, nitroglycerin paste, and aspirin were immediately administered. On exam, there was significant skin mottling over the glabella, extending to the forehead and nose with a small incomitant horizontal and vertical misalignment. No changes to her vision were observed and extraocular motility was grossly full. The rest of her exam was unremarkable. Over the course of the following month, the patient's diplopia resolved, but she developed skin necrosis and scarring.

Conclusions

Importance: Proper knowledge of facial and periocular anatomy is critical for practitioners to safely perform filler injections and manage potential complications. Patients should be counseled about the potential rare risks of these elective procedures.

Aspiration before tissue filling with hyaluronic acid-safety enhancement by using a lidocaine-primed syringe

OBJECTIVE

Most of the doctors would regularly aspirate the plunger of a syringe before injection to make sure that the needle would not be mis-inserted into vessels. Yet pulling the plunger back only cannot guarantee the injecting status is safe. Injecting all of the non-fluid fillers, including colloidal hyaluronic acid (HA) into the vessel may cause "No blood return while pulling back the plunger," which is defined as false-negative aspiration.

METHODS

In the first experiment, HA syringes were inserted into vessel simulators in vitro with standard needle sizes and residual dosages. In the second experiment, the lidocaine-primed syringe were inserted into the vessel simulator instead to observe its aspiration.

RESULTS

There was no difference using different sizes of needles or dosages except for group 0.1 mL and the lidocaine-primed syringe. The rest of the groups need to wait more seconds to observe the blood return.

CONCLUSIONS

The time lag does exist in every single aspiration and 88% of the blood return would happen in 10 s. We suggested that operators should aspirate regularly before giving an injection with at least 10 s of waiting or use the lidocaine-primed syringe instead. Blood returns could mostly be recognized in both ways.

A pilot study comparing the efficacy of autologous cultured fibroblast injections with hyaluronic acid fillers for treating nasolabial folds

Autologous cultured fibroblast injections for soft tissue augmentation are a potential alternative to other filler materials. No studies have compared autologous fibroblast injections and hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers for treating nasolabial folds (NLFs). To compare the efficacies and safeties of autologous cultured fibroblast injections and HA fillers for treating NLFs. This prospective, evaluator-blinded, pilot study enrolled 60 Thai female adult patients diagnosed with moderate to severe NLFs. They were randomized to receive either 3 treatments of autologous fibroblasts at 2-week intervals or 1 treatment with HA fillers. The primary outcome was the clinical improvement of the NLFs graded by 2 blinded dermatologists immediately after injection and at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Objective measurement of the NLF volume was evaluated. Patient self-assessment scores, pain scores, and adverse reactions were recorded. Of the 60 patients, 55 (91.7%) completed the study protocol. The NLF volumes improved significantly in the autologous fibroblast group at all follow-ups relative to baseline (P = 0.000, 0.004, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.003). The patients in the autologous fibroblast group rated more noticeable NLF improvements than those in the HA filler group (3-month follow-up, 58.41% vs. 54.67%; 6-month follow-up, 52.50% vs. 46%; 12-month follow-up, 44.55% vs. 31.33%). No serious adverse reactions were recorded. Autologous fibroblast injections are safe and effective for treating NLFs. These injections also promise sustained growth of living cells, possibly leading to a greater persistence than shown by other fillers.

Reversible Vision Loss Following Nonsurgical Filler Rhinoplasty

The increase in the frequency and popularity of aesthetic filler injections is accompanied by a high risk of complications, including ophthalmological sequalae. Of these, loss of vision is considered the most dangerous and, in most cases, irreversible. We present a case report of a patient who experienced acute vision loss due to suspected partial occlusion of the ophthalmic artery following nonsurgical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid filler injection. It differs from others in that treatment in the form of a combination of multiple subcutaneous hyaluronidase injections into the periocular region, a single retrobulbar injection of hyaluronidase, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy led to a significant recovery of ophthalmic symptoms with only residual visual field defects remaining.

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty: prevention and management of associated complications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty (NSR) continues to grow in demand and popularity. Consequently, there has been a rise in the number of reported complications. This review will summarize and discuss the current evidence for the prevention and management of adverse events related to NSR with a specific emphasis on practical clinical applications. The review is based on recent systematic reviews and multidisciplinary expert consensus recommendations.

RECENT FINDINGS

First, NSR has overall favorable outcomes with rare complications. Second, vascular compromise is a rare event, but the number of reported severe complications is rising. Third, providers should be intimately familiar with preventive measures, early signs and symptoms, and appropriate management algorithms of all possible complications. Fourth, having a readily available 'toolbox' of recommended therapies may improve timely management of emergent complications.

SUMMARY

The number of complications associated with NSR is expected to rise congruent with the increased demand for the procedure. Although NSR has a favorable safety profile, complications can occur in the best of hands even when using appropriate risk reduction strategies. Early detection and appropriate treatment of known complications may eliminate or minimize sequelae and allow providers to continue to safely perform NSR.