The Side Effects of Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers can do a lot of things for your face: plumping your lips, improving your contour, filling in depressed scars, and softening the appearance of facial wrinkles. Dermal fillers can help you address problematic areas that keep you from looking your best. However, many minimally invasive cosmetic treatments come with side effects. Understanding these side effects can help patients make better decisions.

So what are the side effects of dermal fillers? Common side effects of dermal fillers include bruising, facial swelling, redness, and itching. The kind of side effects you’ll experience depends on the type of filler you’ll get, and the discomfort you experience is more likely due to injection site reactions rather than effects from the dermal filler treatment itself. Meanwhile, there are also less common side effects like lumps, bumps, skin infection, and the filler moving away from the injection site.

Learn More: What Are The Side Effects of Tear Trough Fillers?

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What Are the Side Effects of Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are FDA-approved and are safe to use, especially in the hands of a qualified and experienced provider. Patients may experience certain side effects that can cause varying levels of pain or discomfort a few days after the procedure. Most of these side effects are minor and don’t require medical attention and can easily be treated at home.

Side Effects

Most of the side effects of dermal fillers are minor and subside two weeks after the treatment. Here are some of the symptoms, their causes, and their remedies:

Bruising. During your injection, the needle may accidentally damage the surrounding capillaries under your skin. The bruising discoloration is actually your blood trapped under the skin’s surface. The pain you experience when you press on a bruise is the damaged blood vessel. Use an ice pack to constrict broken blood vessels, and avoid exposure to high temperature places like hot baths or saunas to prevent possible further bleeding. Bruising should go away within two weeks after your treatment.
Painful injection site reactions. This is likely due to the injection process rather than getting facial fillers. A number of factors that cause injection pain can include:
- Damaged tissue – dermal fillers are intradermal injections, making it the least invasive injection because it only reaches your dermis. Compared to receiving an intramuscular or intravascular injection, superficial injections mean less tissue damage and lower risk of damaging blood vessels. Some skin areas are thinner than others, making them more susceptible to damage and superficial wounds.
- Needle sharpness – sharper needles can pierce the skin more easily, while lower-quality needles are duller and need more force to puncture the skin, which can damage skin tissue in the process.
- Increased cortisol levels –people who have a fear of needles tend to have high anxiety levels, increased blood pressure, and higher heart rates during their treatment. This can trigger your body to produce more cortisol, which increases inflammation and pain sensitivity, causing the pain to linger.
- Alcohol consumption – dermal filler patients who have also consumed alcoholic beverages a few days before their injection may also be sensitive to pain.

Pain on the injection site can subside within a few hours up to a few days after your dermal filler. Taking over-the-counter painkillers or using a cold compress to reduce the pain.

Facial swelling, redness, and itching. These are common symptoms of post-injection inflammation. Your body can react to the injection entering the skin even after the dermal filler placement is complete. While the effects are uncomfortable, it’s not serious and can go away on its own. Use cold packs or over-the-counter painkillers if the discomfort is distracting you.

Less common side effects may need prescription antibiotics from your healthcare provider. These include:

Skin infections. This can happen if the injection site was not properly sterilized before the injection. You may need to see medical providers for topical or oral antibiotics.
Lumps and bumps around the injection site. This can be a sign of an allergic reaction to your dermal filler. You may need a doctor to have it removed.
Filler moving away from the injection site. This can happen if your provider did not inject the filler into the right area. This may not cause serious effects, but it can prevent you from achieving the look you want to have.

Some side effects can be serious and require immediate medical treatment. If you have these side effects after your dermal injections, see a doctor immediately:

Blurred vision or partial vision loss. This may be caused by improper injection technique that results in your dermal filler accidentally injected into an artery. This can be avoided if you get your dermal fillers from an experienced provider that knows where to safely and effectively inject the filler.
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. If you have a history of adverse allergic reactions and see signs of a reaction, seek emergency help immediately as you’re at risk for going into anaphylactic shock. This could happen if you have an allergy to any of the filler materials used, so it’s important to discuss your history of allergies with your provider before your dermal filler procedure.

Tips to Avoid Side Effects

The best way to avoid the most serious side effects is to get your dermal injections from a skilled provider who has the experience to accurately inject fillers into the right areas. During your initial consultation, they should go over the process with you and find out whether or not you’re a safe candidate for dermal filler injections.

They can also check which facial fillers have ingredients that can cause allergic reactions and recommend alternatives. Facial fillers may include natural substances (such as hyaluronic acid fillers, calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-l-lactic acid injectable fillers, and even fat injections extracted from your own body) or synthetic material (such as polymethylmethacrylate spheres). Having a skilled professional recommend a compatible filler for you can reduce the risk of adverse side effects.

Some side effects may be out of your control and have to do with how your body reacts to your injection. There are ways to minimize and avoid some of the effects, including:

Have an experienced medical professional administer dermal fillers in a sterilized environment. On top of the reduced risks, you can avoid getting lumps or undesirable results that are far from the look you’re trying to achieve.
Avoid getting facial fillers if you have an active skin infection or are taking medication for infections. You can get your facial fillers after your infection is fully treated.
Avoid alcoholic beverages at least one week before your injection. Alcohol can act as a blood thinner and increase the chances of bruising and increased pain.
Avoid over-the-counter painkillers before getting dermal fillers. Painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin are blood-thinners, which can increase bleeding and bruising.
Stay hydrated, as this can help your fillers respond better to your body.

Alternatives to Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are one of the most popular options for non-invasive facial rejuvenation. If you're not comfortable with injections or any of the filler options available, there are alternatives to treating fine lines, lost volume, and saggy skin.. A few alternatives to consider include:

Botox cosmetic injections – these reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by freezing your facial muscles and preventing muscle movement from folding or creasing your skin. You can also opt to get botulinum toxin injections and facial fillers in the same session to cover more signs of aging more effectively.
Microdermabrasion – a non-invasive treatment where the uppermost layer of your skin is gently “sanded” to chip away old skin cells and bring forward newer, younger-looking skin cells.
Chemical peels – uses certain chemicals to exfoliate the outer layer of skin and reveal a fresh healthier layer.
Face lifts – a more invasive procedure done by plastic surgeons, this involves skin grafting to remove excess sagging skin to keep your remaining skin taut.
Anti-aging skincare products – consult with a dermatologist about effective skincare products that can treat signs of aging like wrinkles. Products with niacinamide, retinol, and vitamin C are often recommended in combating signs of aging. Lip plumpers – cosmetic products you can buy claim to have natural lip-plumping effects. These products typically have ingredients that can dilate blood vessels on your lips or give the illusion of having plumper lips.
Increased collagen diet – collagen supplements may improve the appearance of wrinkles by promoting collagen production, especially if you have a collagen deficiency.

These are some alternatives, each with their own pros and cons. But if you want the ability to take on multiple signs of aging that show instant results, dermal fillers are still your best option.

Safe and Effective Dermal Filler Injections at Aesthetica MI

woman receiving an injection of dermal fillers in her face

Dermal fillers come with side effects, but most of these are very minor and fade in a matter of days after your treatment. If you want to get the best results and minimize adverse side effects, take the time to do some research on the best dermal filler provider in your area with the experience and skill to give you the results you want.

At Aesthetica MI, our team of experienced cosmetic doctors will gladly help you achieve your dream look with their tried and tested methods. Our state-of-the-art facilities ensure a safe, comfortable, and relaxed clinic experience, and our customized treatment plans cater to each patient’s needs and wants. To explore your options for dermal fillers, book an initial consultation today.