Safety in Dermatologic Procedures: Vascular Occlusion by Filling Materials

Ischemic events are the most serious complications of facial antiaging treatment with dermal fillers. Ischemia can cause Nicolau syndrome, blindness, or even stroke. This article discusses how to prevent ischemic complications and what steps to take should a dermatologic emergency develop. A thorough understanding of facial anatomy is important. Preferred procedural techniques involve the use of cannulas and retrograde injection. When ischemia is detected in the skin, hyaluronidase should be injected, preferably through a cannula. If ocular ischemia occurs, the patient should be transferred to a hospital with stroke code activation.