A viral video about fillers raises concerns – specialist doctor: “It could happen”

The clip, posted by a plastic surgeon from the United States, shows a patient in his 30s who has had 12 milliliters of filler injected into his face over the past six years. The plastic surgeon claims the amount has doubled over time – to 28 milliliters.

According to specialist doctor Dmytro Onukovych, this phenomenon can be explained by the fact that the vast majority of approved fillers contain hyaluronic acid, which binds moisture.

– Fillers often collect a lot of water and so there can visually be a lot of filler, but in reality it is the same amount of filler that received twice the amount of water, says the specialist.

Not sure how long it will last

In marketing, it is often stated that hyaluronic acid fillers remain in the body for four to twelve months – something experts believe is difficult to determine. The widely circulated video claims that the fillers accumulate and remain in the patient’s body for several years.

Previous studies have concluded that hyaluronic acid fillers can remain in the body for up to twelve years after injection. Something that was pointed out, among other things, in an article in the journal Aesthetic Nursing Journal 2022.

“The duration or effects can depend on many things, but it mainly depends on who is doing the injections, what technique is used and what type of filler,” says Onukovych.

Potential risks with large amounts of fillers

The video's comments section was filled with concerned comments, with the popular filler also claimed to block the body's drainage system – the lymphatic system.

“My filler and I are freaking out right now,” one user wrote.

Another wrote: “My fillings have definitely clogged my lymphatic system.”

According to Onukovich, there isn't a lot of research on whether fillers can block lymphatic channels, but he believes there could be risks if you use too much filler.

“What goes against lymphatic collection is that we have never seen any lymph node enlargement in patients who use fillers,” Onukovych says.

The specialist also confirms that the video shows a patient with an unusual amount of filler material, which may have contributed to the effect.

“I don't think there are many people who have 12mm fillers in their faces, so there's no need to worry,” says the specialist.

See more in the video about the validity of viral stuffing claims.