The sensation of getting facial fillers is often described as a feeling of fullness in an area that didn't feel that way before. This is because a small pocket of liquid has been injected under the dermis layer, and your sensory perception of your own flesh will adjust over time. Most patients only experience mild bruising and swelling after the filler injection, and may also notice that the area feels a little sensitive to the touch for a couple of days afterwards. However, there are two more serious side effects worth mentioning.
Firstly, the filler is a foreign body and can develop an infection. I have seen chronic infections in two patients who were injected with Juvederm Voluma, a product used on the cheeks, in another office. The infection is treatable and involves dissolving the filler, along with antibiotics and steroids to reduce swelling. In my practice, I only use Radiesse or Restylane Lyft on my cheeks and have not seen any chronic infections develop with these products.
The second serious complication that can occur with fillers is injection into an artery or vein. If this occurs in a vessel that irrigates the skin, the overlying skin will turn dark or spotty, and without treatment, could develop a wound. If injected into an artery or vein in the vessels around the eye, it could result in blindness - although this is very rare. In my office, we have an emergency kit and treatment instructions immediately available in the unlikely event of a serious filling complication, and my injector nurse and I are trained to recognize this type of complication.
Are cheek fillers painful? A cheek filling procedure begins with the application of an anesthetic cream or local anesthetics to ensure a painless session during the injection process. Once the fillers are injected into your cheeks, you'll feel some pressure but no piercing pain. After the injection phase, your doctor will give you some cooling gel to dissipate immediate swelling. Some cheek fillers can last six to 12 months, while others can last for years - you'll want to check with your doctor to find a filler that fits your price and lasts a decent amount of time.
Having a nurse or nurse practitioner injecting you with the filler can also be very safe, as long as they are supervised by a plastic surgeon, dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon who is immediately available in the event of a complication. The important point for you is that if you are considering filler injection, do it by a plastic surgeon, dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon. If you are taking blood thinners, your risk of bruising is higher after the filler injection but you can still safely inject the filler. So how long do dermal fillers last? Well, that depends entirely on how much you're going to make, what fillings you choose and who you pay to administer them. Avoid facial massages - so put down your jade roller - and don't wear tight goggles or masks for three weeks to make sure your filler really settles. If you are immunocompromised, you have a higher risk of infection after the filler injection and should discuss this with your primary care doctor before considering filling.
In general, fillers that are injected into very mobile areas of the face such as the lips wear out more quickly than fillers given elsewhere.
