Dermal Fillers for Volume and Contour in Chicago

Safety Considerations

Before treatment — We begin with a consultation and assessment of the treatment area, planning for a natural, refined result rather than a dramatic change. We review your health history and the medications and supplements you take, including blood thinners and any recent botulinum toxin treatment.

Safety basics — Temporary swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection site is common and usually resolves on its own. We review your medical history and medications before treatment. Treatment is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Individual results and duration of results may vary. Outcomes are not guaranteed.

Recovery & follow-up — Downtime is minimal to none, and most patients return to usual activities right away. We typically reassess patients at 2 weeks after their first treatment to evaluate response and fine-tune results when appropriate.

Risks and warning signs — Dermal fillers are generally well tolerated, but as with any medical procedure, risks exist. Common side effects include temporary swelling, redness, tenderness, and bruising. A rare but serious complication is vascular occlusion, which occurs when filler affects blood flow in a blood vessel. This can lead to skin injury and, in very rare cases, vision changes or other serious complications. Seek emergency care immediately for changes such as white, gray, blue, or dusky discoloration, vision changes, or stroke-like symptoms. Fillers may not be appropriate for everyone. Your provider will review your medical history, allergies (including severe allergies or lidocaine sensitivity), medications, and conditions that may affect healing or bleeding risk.

Often reversible with hyaluronidase, though it may take more than one visit and full reversal isn’t always possible.

Aftercare — Aftercare for dermal fillers differs from aftercare for neuromodulators such as Botox® and Dysport®; your provider will review filler-specific aftercare at your visit.