Glabella impending skin necrosis: a case report

A 47-year-old female patient undergoing hyaluronic acid injection in the glabella region suffered intravascular injection leading to marked discoloration (whitening) of the whole angiosome of the supratrochlear artery, extending to the areas of the anastomoses to the left upper eyelid, the dorsum of the nose, and the left sidewall of the nose. The syringe was immediately withdrawn while aspirating and prompt salvage counter-measures were taken, including application of warm compresses, vigorous massaging, oral administration of aspirin, repeated injections of hyaluronidase, and application of nitroglycerine paste on the affected area. The patient was followed up on a daily basis and the only additional treatment was the application of a combined antibiotic/steroid cream. The area affected healed satisfactorily with no scarring after 20 days. Our treatment protocol is discussed with special mention to the emerging role of hyaluronidase as the single most important rescue measure in the treatment of hyaluronic acid filler-related vascular adverse events.

Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study