Uses and Risks

 Uses

The absorbable injectable wrinkle fillers are FDA approved for:

• correcting soft tissue contour defects, such as moderate and severe wrinkles and folds.

The non-absorbable injectable wrinkle filler is FDA approved for:

• correcting deep folds (laugh lines) around the mouth.

Some injectable wrinkle fillers are approved for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Some patients may need more than one injection to achieve the wrinkle smoothing effect. Successful results will depend on the health of the skin, the skill of the doctor, and type of filler used. The smoothing effect lasts for about six months and sometimes longer.

Risks

As in any medical procedures, there are risks involved with the use of injectable wrinkle fillers. That is why it is important for you to understand their limitations and potential risks.

Possible side effects include:

• Infection
• Bruising
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Itching, rash
• Raised bumps of skin (nodules or granulomas that may need to be surgically removed)
• Skin may die if the wrinkle filler is injected and blocks a blood vessel. This may be disfiguring.
• A sore (abscess) may occur at the injection site
• The injectable wrinkle filler may break through your skin.
• The injectable wrinkle filler may move.
• Open or draining wounds may occur
• Blurred vision and flu-like symptoms
• Increased allergic reaction that may lead to a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate emergency medical assistance (anaphylactic shock)
  • Your doctor may request an allergy test with the injectable wrinkle filler to determine if you are allergic to the filler.

If you choose to have these fillers removed, you may experience risks typically associated with surgery.

While the majority of the side effects associated with these fillers occur shortly after injection, in some cases the side effects may emerge weeks, months or years after injection.

Most of these side effects usually go away within seven days. All injectable wrinkle fillers may cause long-term side effects, permanent side effects, or both.