Can volume enhancement treatments cause blindness?
Yes, volume enhancement treatments can cause blindness. Thankfully it is an extremely rare complication.
Which are the riskiest areas for volume enhancement treatments?
The cases of blindness that have occurred around the world have tended to be after volume enhancement treatments are used in the glabella (frown area) and the bridge of the nose. There have been a number of cases of blindness in Korea where the treatment of these areas is more common.
How can volume enhancement treatments cause blindness?
When using volume enhancement treatments, we must be very aware of the blood supply of the head and neck. Any blockage to the blood supply can affect the structures surrounding and beyond the blockage. Think of it as a creating a dam along a river – it blocks the flow of water.
The diagram above shows the course of an important artery that supplies the face – the facial artery. It runs a tortuous course along the nasolabial folds, along the side of the nose where it is called the ‘angular artery’.
Other important arteries to be aware of include the supratrochlear artery, dorsal nasal and supraorbital arteries. If volume enhancement treatment is inadvertently provided into these vessels, it can travel along the artery and block the blood supply to the eye causing blindness.
How to minimise the risk of volume enhancement treatment:
When using this treatment in the nose or frown area we must be very careful, using a very conservative treatment approach at the correct depth. If you would like to know specific information about the safety precautions we can take and the treatment approach, book a consultation today.
What can be done if something goes wrong during a treatment?
We have a product called Hyalase as an emergency stand-by medication in all Cityskin clinics. If we are concerned that the treatment has been provided into or near an artery, we can dissolve it instantly with Hyalase and return the blood flow to the area.
Can wrinkle management treatments cause blindness?
Wrinkle management treatments cannot cause blindness. The treatment for wrinkle management is different to volume enhancement treatment and works in a different way. It cannot block blood vessels due to this, and therefore cannot cause blindness.
If you would like to get more information about the difference between these two treatments, or about the potential risks associated with volume enhancement treatments, book a consultation today.
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