THE ESSENTIAL
* Injectable hyaluronic acid is widely used in aesthetic medicine to reduce the signs of aging or modify the appearance of the face.
* But according to a new study, these injections can cause serious complications if the product blocks arteries in the face, leading to necrosis, blindness, or stroke.
* Out of 100 ultrasounds of people who had complications, almost half showed an absence of blood flow in the small vessels connecting the superficial arteries to the deep arteries of the face.
Skin necrosis, blindness, and stroke… These are the risks linked to hyaluronic acid injections, according to a new study presented this week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. To reach this conclusion, scientists analyzed the ultrasound scans of 100 people who had complications after this cosmetic procedure.
Blocked facial arteries, blindness, stroke
The patients had thier hyaluronic acid injections carried out in centers located in South America, the Netherlands, and the United States. After analyzing the ultrasounds, the researchers identified vascular problems with serious consequences.
According to their results, relayed by Dr. Rosa Sigrist, lead author of the study, at the BBC, hyaluronic acid injections have ofen led to blockage of facial arteries. More specifically, almost 50% of ultrasounds showed an absence of blood flow in the small vessels connecting the superficial arteries to the deep arteries of the face. In a third of cases, blood flow was even absent in the main vessels.
this blockage of the arteries caused serious complications, such as skin necrosis, blindness, or stroke. According to Dr. Rosa Sigrist, the risk is even greater if the injection is in the area around the nose, where nasal blood vessels are linked to meaningful parts of the head.
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