| November 11th, 2006 | | | | injection into the eyelid is, in my opinion, a |
| Recently I have received several reports of | | | | potentially very dangerous procedure, and the |
| serious complications occurring in people who have | | | | companies that make the soft tissue fillers |
| had soft tissue fillers like Collagen and Restylane | | | | recommend against it. |
| injected into their eyelids to correct dark circles | | | | The major risk is that the filler could be |
| under the eyes and other lower eyelid aging | | | | inadvertently injected into one of the blood |
| changes. Although the companies that | | | | vessels that feed into or drain the eyeball and if |
| manufacture the soft tissue fillers specifically | | | | this were to occur the eye could potentially be |
| recommend that Doctors not inject soft tissue | | | | injured and blindness could result. Worse, an |
| fillers into the eyelid area, many Doctors are | | | | inexperienced Doctor could inadvertently inject the |
| ignoring these warnings and injecting these fillers | | | | filler directly into the eye causing serious damage. |
| into the lower eyelid of patients to correct dark | | | | In some cases the doctors who are doing soft |
| circles under the eyes. | | | | tissue filler injections into the eyelid have had no |
| So far patients have reported visible lumps on the | | | | training in surgery of the eyelids and do not |
| eye and cheek area and significant swelling of the | | | | possess the intimate knowledge of eyelid |
| eyelids and have been told by their Doctors that | | | | anatomy that is required to be doing invasive |
| nothing can be done to correct the problem. I | | | | procedures on the eyelids. Even Ophthalmologists, |
| fear much more serious complications such as | | | | the eye specialists use special care when injecting |
| injury to the eye. | | | | with needles around the eye. |
| Eyelid rejuvenation, that is correction of puffiness | | | | The soft tissue fillers that are currently in use |
| or bags of the lower eyelid and dark circles under | | | | include Collagen, Zyderm, Zyplast, Hylaform, |
| the eyes are one of the most frequent | | | | Perlane, Restylane, Radiesse, Sculptra, |
| complaints of patients seeking plastic surgery. The | | | | Cosmoplast, Cosmoderm, Evolence, and others. |
| most effective and commonly recommended | | | | Perhaps in the future controlled clinical studies will |
| options to correct aging of the eyelid is a plastic | | | | be reported which show the benefits and safety |
| surgery operation called a blepharoplasty . When | | | | of injecting soft tissue fillers around the eyelid. For |
| properly performed by an experienced board | | | | now, however, the reports I have had from |
| Certified Plastic Surgeon on an appropriately | | | | patients who have had complications following this |
| selected patient, the blepharoplasty can safely | | | | technique are an early warning and should be |
| produce excellent rejuvenation of both the upper | | | | heeded. |
| and lower eyelids. | | | | I recommend that patients avoid this technique. If |
| Many people however want to remove dark | | | | you have dark circles and puffiness under the |
| circles under the eyelids and rejuvenate the eyelid | | | | eyes see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and |
| appearance but want to avoid surgery and are | | | | consider a blepharoplasty. If you feel that you |
| having soft tissue filler injections into the eyelid to | | | | must have a filler injected into the eyelids then by |
| plump up the dark circles. The theory is that if | | | | all means see a board certified plastic surgeon or |
| soft tissue filler is injected beneath the dark circle, | | | | occuloplastic surgeon who has experience and |
| the filler will plump up the dark circle and make it | | | | knowledge in eyelid anatomy and surgery. If you |
| less noticeable. The technique can be successful | | | | have a complication you want to be under the |
| but it is a temporary solution unlike blepharoplasty | | | | care of an experienced Doctor who can take |
| , which is a permanent solution. | | | | care of the problem. |
| The problem however is that soft tissue filler | | | | |