In a since-deleted TikTok video, California-based ceramic artist and product designer Esther Jeong recently took to the platform to share her story: Having travelled to South Korea to undergo the popular Juvelook treatment—an injectable designed to boost the skin’s collagen—she immediately experienced a loss of vision in her left eye when the treatment was administered. Despite being quick to raise concern with her doctor, she was reassured that it was a temporary side effect.
Devastatingly, it turned out to be the opposite. Later seeking emergency treatment and consultation with ophthalmologists, Jeong was informed that branch arteries in her eyes had been blocked, leading to dead retinal tissue. Infuriatingly, Jeong was also told that her vision could’ve been saved had the treatment been reversed within two hours of being administered.
“I’m a designer and I’m a ceramic artist, and my livelihood is based off of what I see,” Jeong tearfully explained. Though she is now seeking compensation, the damage left by what Jeong thought was “a very harmless skin booster” will endure.
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Aesthetic treatments are only becoming more popular, including those performed on the delicate eye area and treatments involving overseas travel. Vogue Singapore reached out to Dr Stephanie Ho, consultant dermatologist at Stephanie Ho Dermatology, for her advice on the risks and precautions to keep in mind when seeking these treatments.
The eyes have it
“Aesthetic treatments to rejuvenate the thin skin area around eyes are commonly performed, as these areas often show signs of ageing earlier,” Ho explains. Such signs include eyelid laxity, fine lines, or a ‘hollowing’ appearance due to reduced fat and elasticity in the area.
Ho offers a rundown of the most common eye area treatments, including their potential side effects and precautions to take:
Botox
What does it target? The appearance of crow’s feet and frown lines, and promoting a brow lift effect.
Potential side effects Bruising, ptosis (upper eyelid drooping), dry eyes, heaviness of the brows or eyes, and headaches.
How can I minimise the risks? “Go to a trained and experienced injector who administers such procedures regularly,” says Ho. “Avoid blood thinning medications before treatment, and avoid pressure applied to the face and strenuous exercise in the first 24 hours after treatment.”
Fillers
What does it target? Volume loss under the eyes and dark circles.
Potential side effects Bruising, bumps and lumpiness, the Tyndall effect (a blue tinge under the skin) and vascular occlusion (though rare, this can lead to blindness).
How can I minimise the risks? Again, Ho stresses the importance of seeing a trained, experienced injector. “Their use of a blunt cannula is generally safer than when sharp needles are used,” Ho advises, while cautioning against fillers to high-risk areas such as the nose area, glabella and forehead. Ho also recommends avoiding permanent fillers: “When dissolvable fillers are used, their effects can be reversed using hyaluronidase.” If you experience side effects including pain, blanching, a mottled skin appearance or changes to your vision, seek medical help immediately.
Laser or micro needling treatments
What does it target? Improving skin texture, pigmentation, the appearance of wrinkles, and skin tightening.
Potential side effects Redness, swelling, crusting, infection, hyper- or hypopigmentation, scarring, burns or—in rare cases—eye injury.
How can I minimise the risks? You guessed it—as always, your choice of injector is key “to ensure appropriate parameters and adequate intervals between treatments. Avoid excessive treatments with intervals that are too short—this can impair the skin barrier and cause sensitivity or side effects.” Sun exposure should be avoided before or after treatment, while it’s of course essential to follow the pre- and post-care instructions given.
“Avoid inexperienced clinicians or unlicensed individuals who offer cheap prices, promise unrealistic results and use pressurising sales tactics,” says Ho of selecting the professional you work with.
What conversations should I be having?
“An experienced and ethical clinician will be open and forthcoming about pre- and post-care, set realistic expectations, and address any safety concerns,” says Ho. “They will be happy to answer any questions during the consultation and will not be pressurising, giving patients plenty of time to consider whether or not to proceed with treatment.”
Points that an experienced clinician will cover with their patients include:
- What concern/s is the patient hoping to address?
- Realistic expectations about results.
- Any underlying medical conditions, as well as side effects the patient may have previously experienced with aesthetic treatments.
- Current medications such as blood thinners or retinoids.
- Potential risks, complications and side effects will be discussed. The clinician should provide a breakdown of common risks, as well as rare but serious side effects (for example, vascular occlusion that may lead to blindness.)
Patients should feel free to ask questions, express any concerns, and have open and detailed discussions without being rushed or pressured. Ho recommends making sure the following questions are addressed:
- Who will be performing the procedure?
- How many times have they performed the treatment?
- Ask to see ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos if available.
- What are the common side effects? Have serious side effects ever occurred? How were they managed?
- How long is the treatment and what are the immediate side effects?
- What is the downtime and what kind of recovery is expected?
- Who should I contact if side effects occur, including out of hours?
What side effects are normal?
Of course, with any aesthetic treatment, experiencing side effects is likely—it’s most important to know what’s to be expected, and therefore what isn’t.
“For injectables such as Botox or fillers, normal side effects include mild swelling, tenderness or bruising at injection sites, and slight asymmetry or lumpiness early on as the filler settles in—especially for thinner-skinned areas such as under the eyes,” Ho shares. Most side effects will resolve within one to two weeks.
Meanwhile, normal side effects of lasers and micro needling include redness, peeling or crusting, skin sensitivity, and pinkness of the skin. Similarly, most of these side effects should recede within a one- to two-week timeframe.
Having an established idea of what side effects to expect before undergoing your treatment will help to provide ease of mind should you notice them, while making it easier to note what is out of the ordinary and therefore requires attention. Ho advises medical attention should be sought for side effects including:
- Severe or worsening pain in a localised area
- Sudden vision changes, including double vision or problems with eye movement
- Blanching (whitening) or unusual discolouration of skin, such as a mottled appearance
- Progressive redness, pain, warmth or pustules
- Fever or chills
- Numbness or muscle weakness that does not improve
- Worsening symptoms
“An experienced clinic will often provide their patients with a leaflet detailing the potential side effects of their specific treatment,” reiterates Ho. “There will also be contact information for during and after office hours, while the clinic may contact their patients within 24 hours of the treatment to ensure there are no concerns. A patient shouldn’t hesitate to contact their clinic for reassurance if they have worries about anything at all.”
Above all, as Ho’s advice reflects, “going to a trained and experienced specialist is the best way of minimising the risk of potential side effects.” Aesthetic treatments are becoming increasingly commonplace, and their benefits should outweigh the risks. While placing faith in a professional, keep yourself as informed as possible, and follow your instincts should something feel off. You may be the patient—but an ideal procedure will be in collaboration with you.
