What Researchers Did
Chinese cosmetic surgeons reviewed outcomes for 41 women who developed tissue-threatening vascular complications after nose filler injections, all treated with a protocol that included HBOT, enzyme injections, skin growth factor gel, steroids, and a blood vessel dilator.
What They Found
All 41 patients achieved complete wound healing. Patients who sought treatment within 48 hours had significantly fewer lasting skin color changes (p < 0.05). Residual complications included scar formation (21.9%), visible small blood vessels (39.0%), and pigmentation changes (53.7%). HBOT was one component of the multi-treatment protocol used for all patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Filler-related vascular injuries are a serious risk of cosmetic procedures and can cause permanent facial scarring. This study reinforces that HBOT combined with other early interventions can prevent tissue death and that time to treatment matters, within 48 hours is the key window.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study had no control group, used HBOT as part of a multi-drug protocol, and all patients were from a single cosmetic centre, making it impossible to determine how much HBOT alone contributed to the outcomes.