Longer follow-up bodes well for filler in periorbital hollows

(HealthDay)—Hyaluronic acid gel fillers of the periorbital region are well tolerated over five years of follow-up, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Hamzah Mustak, F.C.Ophth., from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and colleagues conducted a long-term follow-up review of complications associated with periocular injection of hyaluronic acid gel fillers. A total of 147 patients had at least five years of follow-up since their first injection.

In long-term follow-up, the researchers found that malar edema (11 percent), blue-gray dyschromia (31.3 percent), and contour irregularities (30.5 percent) continued to be the most common adverse effects; however, most of these complications (90 percent) were mild and no intervention was required. The investigators noted no significant association between the mean volumes injected and severity grading of each complication.

"Conservative treatment and tailored treatment approaches, in terms of volume and frequency of injections, may decrease the tendency of these adverse effects to occur," the authors write.