Acute Complication after Self-Injection of Lip Filler: What Should You Do Next?

Experts in our field have previously issued guidelines to optimize the safety of filler injections. Despite the risks, a growing online trend of at-home self-injection of fillers in the face is putting patients in danger. This article reviews the acute clinical presentation and treatment protocol provided to a 49-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with acute vascular injury, just 3 h after injecting herself in the lips. This case highlights the importance of rapid detection of early signs of vascular injury and impending tissue necrosis. Based on the most recent literature, we share our protocol and its efficacy for this specific case. The fast-growing popularity of fillers in the beauty industry and the availability of online content and videos on how to perform self-injections likely give a false sense of safety to patients. Physician awareness is essential to prevent serious complications in our patient population. A strong knowledge of facial anatomy, the use of FDA approved products, and having the procedure performed by a trained medical professional are key elements to successful and safe filler injection.