Filling the Periorbital Hollows with Hyaluronic Acid Gel: Long-term Review of Outcomes and Complications

Introduction: Hyaluronic acid gel has been used for rejuvenation of the periorbital tissues since 2004. The in-office, nonsurgical procedural nature has resulted in the growing popularity of the use of fillers. The periorbital region poses unique challenges to the cosmetic surgeon. Malar edema, blue-gray dyschromia, and contour irregularities are well reported short-term complications. We present a long-term follow-up review of complications associated with periocular injection of hyaluronic acid gel fillers.

Methods: Retrospective review of 147 patients with at least a 5-year follow-up period since the first injection. Five senior masked reviewers were asked to grade photographs of patients in comparison with preinjection photographs. Grading was based on a reference photographic key looking specifically at the presence and severity of malar edema, blue-gray dyschromia, and contour irregularity.

Results: Malar edema (11%), blue-gray dyschromia (31.3%), and contour irregularities (30.5%) continue to be problems in longer term follow-up of patients. The vast majority (90%) of these complications were mild and required no intervention. There is no statistically significant difference in the mean volumes injected by severity grading of each measured complication.

Conclusion: Hyaluronic acid gel fillers of the periorbital region are well tolerated in our long-term follow-up experience. The vast majority of cases of malar edema, blue-gray dyschromia, and contour irregularities are mild and do not require intervention. Conservative treatment and tailored treatment approaches, in terms of volume and frequency of injections, may decrease the tendency of these adverse effects to occur.