4 Shocking Facts About Lip Injections, You Won’t Believe What #3 Can Do to Your Eyes

Lip fillers have become one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures worldwide, promising fuller, well-defined lips with minimal downtime. However, along with their popularity, it has also made headlines that lip fillers can potentially cause blindness. While the idea sounds terrifying, experts say the reality is far more nuanced. Understanding the risks, causes, and safety measures can help people make informed decisions before opting for lip injections.

In an exclusive interaction with the editorial team of Onlymyhealth, our expert, Dr Ruben Bhasin Passi, Consultant Dermatologist, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, claimed that vison loss associated with lip fillers is rarer than rare but not out of the woods. “The loss of sight is an rare event with lip fillers but still a potential complication,” she shared. 

Shocking Facts About Lip Injections

Here are four shocking facts about lip injections you need to know before you go get one:

Shocking Fact 1: The Expert’s Expertise Matters More Than You Think

One of the biggest risk factors with lip fillers is who performs the procedure. Lip fillers administered by unqualified or poorly trained practitioners significantly increase the chances of complications. “These potential issues are exceptionally rare when the individual performing the surgery has the qualifications and training as a professional physician,” said Dr Passi.

A deep understanding of facial anatomy, blood vessels, and correct injection techniques is crucial in preventing serious outcomes.

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Shocking Fact 2: Not All Fillers Carry the Same Risk

Each type of dermal filler has a different safety profile. Hyaluronic acid fillers, for example, are commonly used because they are reversible, making them safer in emergency situations. Other fillers may carry higher risks if complications arise.

“It must also be considered that each type of filler has its own potential for causing issues, and this is obviously significant,” Dr Passi explained. This is why discussing filler type, brand, and safety history with your doctor is essential.

Shocking Fact 3: Blindness Is Possible, but Exceptionally Rare

If the filler is unwittingly injected into a blood vessel then that would cause blindness by cutting the blood supply to the eye. The filler is now circulating in the vascular system and it is obstructing the arteries that feed the retina. On the other hand, such incidents rarely happen, particularly when the practitioners are fully qualified and well-trained.

“In the vast majority of cases, only very mild, temporary side effects like swelling, redness, or bruising occur, which resolve in a few days,” shared Dr Passi.

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Shocking Fact 4: Immediate Treatment Can Prevent Permanent Damage

If complications are discovered early enough, the doctor can quite effectively bring down the severity of the condition through the use of a drug. Such symptoms as acute pain, colour change of the skin, disturbances in vision, or the abrupt loss of vision should all be treated at an emergency care facility without any delay.

"Through immediate treatment, the anticipated complications will turn out to be much less severe by the time they are dealt with," added Dr. Passi. Clinics with emergency protocols along with reversal agents are more than adequately prepared to deal with such rare but adverse events.

Why Most People Don’t Need to Panic

The thing about the fear of losing sight is that there are still the millions of people who undergo lip filler treatments every year and they all do so without any complications. The risk is remarkably low in the case of fillings done by qualified professionals, using FDA approved products and in proper techniques.

Bottomline

There are cases when lip fillers can lead to blindness but it would be only a tiny fraction if done by experts only using the safest products and techniques. Knowledge, skill, and speed of response are the three main factors for safety.