Young Woman Loses Vision in One Eye After At-Home Filler Injection
On February 7, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Hồng Hà, Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery at Vietnam Friendship Hospital, reported that the department has received several cases of severe complications from cosmetic filler injections during and after Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
A young woman lost vision in her left eye after receiving an at-home filler injection (Photo: Hồng Hải).
Among these cases, a 29-year-old woman who permanently lost vision in her left eye after receiving a filler injection at home is particularly heartbreaking. Not only did she lose her vision, but her left eye also protruded, making it extremely difficult to return to its original state.
According to reports, on February 4, the woman was transferred to Vietnam Friendship Hospital from a central hospital with complete loss of vision in her left eye, severe pain in the left orbital area and half of her head, and weakened ocular muscles and eyelids.
In an interview with Dân trí, the woman shared that when she arrived at the hospital, her left eye was completely blind and very painful.
She explained that she wanted to improve the appearance of her forehead and called a non-medical acquaintance to perform the filler injection at home. She had previously received a filler injection in her cheeks, which she found satisfactory, so she decided to get another injection on her forehead.
The severe damage to the woman’s eye (Photo: Như Ngọc).
Immediately after the injection, she experienced intense pain, blurred vision, and quickly lost her sight. She was rushed to three different hospitals before being advised to go to Vietnam Friendship Hospital.
Dr. Hà stated that the woman was diagnosed with ocular artery blockage and central retinal artery occlusion, causing severe optic nerve damage. Although the patient’s health stabilized after intervention, she lost vision in her left eye, which remains protruding and severely swollen, with no guarantee that it will return to its original state for aesthetic purposes.
14-Year-Old Girl Nearly Lost Her Sight After Self-Injecting Filler
Dr. Hà reported that a 14-year-old girl from Hanoi was brought to Vietnam Friendship Hospital on January 15 with severe vision loss in her left eye, swollen and drooping eyelid, bruising on her forehead and nose.
The girl explained that after watching social media advertisements promoting quick and easy nose augmentation using filler injections, she decided to self-inject at home without any knowledge of safe medical procedures.
A 14-year-old girl nearly lost her sight after self-injecting filler into her nose (Photo: Như Ngọc).
During the procedure, she felt sharp pain but continued due to what she thought was normal discomfort. Soon after, she became dizzy, saw double, and experienced blurred vision. Her family rushed her to Vietnam Friendship Hospital for emergency care.
Dr. Hà noted that this is the youngest case of filler injection complications he has encountered. He expressed concern about the lack of public knowledge regarding safe beauty practices and the widespread availability of unregulated filler products and tutorials online.
The girl injected filler into vessels connected to the brain, leading to cerebral artery blockage, dizziness, double vision, and blurred vision. More seriously, it caused central retinal artery occlusion, resulting in partial or complete vision loss.
Dr. Hà explains the current condition to the patient (Photo: Hồng Hải).
Dr. Hà informed that they performed an emergency angioplasty, one of the most advanced techniques in the world, to restore blood flow and save her vision. Fortunately, after the procedure, the girl’s vision began to recover.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Hồng Hà emphasized that improper filler injections can lead to vascular blockages, infections, tissue necrosis, and even life-threatening situations.
In all reported cases of complications following filler injections, the procedures were performed at unauthorized spas by individuals lacking proper qualifications.
Experts recommend:
- Only receive filler injections at licensed hospitals or clinics.
- Ensure the injector is a certified plastic surgeon.
- Avoid self-injection or procedures at unqualified facilities.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience swelling, pain, vision loss, difficulty breathing, or other complications.
