Hyaluronic Acid in Modern Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery - Hyaluronic Acid for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications - page 144

7.2.3 Complications

All surgical procedures, even non-invasive ones, involve risks and
complications. The most common adverse effects of HA injection are
pain, induration, itching, swelling, redness and inflammation around
the injection site. These adverse effects may resolve within a few
days without intervention [27]. Another less common complication,
known as the Tyndall effect, is a dark shadowing under the skin,
caused by superficial injection of HA or nodule formation. Rare
complications include allergic reaction, hypersensitivity, and biofilm
formation around the HA. Granulomatous reaction can also occur
around the HA. However, these are typically invisible, although
they remain palpable [6]. Noticeable granulomas can be treated
with corticosteroid injections. The most severe complications of
HA application, although very rare, are skin necrosis and blindness,
caused by compression or occlusion of a blood vessel [28, 29].

Biorevitalisation with HA is also considered to be a safe procedure
with limited side effects, mostly associated with temporary swelling
and redness of the skin. Rare complications may include inflammatory
reaction and infection.

7.3 Overview

In addition to the many applications of HA in materials science and
chemistry, plastic surgery has extensively adopted the use HA in
everyday standard aesthetic treatments. Its excellent hydrophilicity
and biocompatibility makes this molecule a safe and attractive agent
in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

References

Booklet of Information , 1 st July 2011-30 th June 2012,
The American Board of Plastic Surgery Inc., Philadelphia, PA,
USA.

1.