Beauty treatments are now more accessible than ever—some prefer to get them done locally, while others jet off to countries like Korea, famous for its advanced skincare and beauty know-how.
But what do you do when a simple routine goes unexpectedly wrong?
One incident has shaken the beauty world. Keep reading to find out what went down with content creator Esther Jeong in this beauty treatment mishap.
A Beauty Treatment That Took a Turn for the Worse
California ceramic and product designer, Esther Jeong recently shared a shocking story that has left many people stunned. She disclosed that a collagen-boosting injection she got during a skincare session in Korea unexpectedly caused her to lose vision in one eye.
In a now-deleted TikTok that went viral, Esther explained that she chose what she thought was a ‘safe’ skin booster. She emphasised that it wasn’t surgery or a filler, but rather something she believed would just brighten her skin.
Source: @estherjeong/Instagram
However, not long after the injection, she started losing vision in her left eye. At first, her doctor assured her it was just a temporary side effect from the anaesthesia, but unfortunately, she ended up permanently losing sight in her left eye.
When she hurried to the emergency room, the doctors mentioned that if they had treated her within the first two hours, the vision loss might have been reversible.
What was supposed to be a simple procedure to enhance her glow turned into a serious medical crisis.
Eye specialists later confirmed that Esther had experienced a branch retinal artery occlusion, which means there was a blockage in the arteries of her eye, leading to lasting damage to her retina. She described her vision in that eye as looking like “dead pixels” on a screen.
Sadly, Esther’s case isn’t unique. A woman in Singapore also lost her eyesight following a dermal filler treatment — a stark reminder that while rare, these risks are real and can happen closer to home than we think.
Read more about the Singapore case here.
What the Experts Are Saying
@dr.alexahecht @Esther ✨ thank you for sharing your story! Please share with your friends! #fillercomplication #eyedoctor #optometrist #brao #visionloss
In a TikTok clip, eye doctor Dr Alexa Hecht shared that Esther experienced something known as Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion (BRAO). This occurs when injection material mistakenly enters a blood vessel and makes its way to the retina, cutting off the oxygen supply.
She also pointed out that “this issue can arise with other filler procedures too, particularly in high-risk areas.” While this complication is pretty uncommon, it can lead to sudden and permanent vision loss if it does happen.
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Dr Muneeb Shah, a Board-Certified Dermatologist, also commented on Esther’s situation, noting that “blindness from any filler is always a risk—even if it’s really rare.”
Source: @doctorly/Instagram
Dr Shah pointed out that all fillers come with a risk of accidentally getting injected into a blood vessel, which can cause serious issues like skin death or, in rare instances, blindness.
He mentioned that specific areas of the face, including the forehead, glabella, nose, and nasolabial folds, are particularly at risk for this kind of blockage.
To help everyone stay safe, Dr Shah shared three important tips in his Instagram post.
- Know your injector: Always go to someone you trust who is well-trained and board-certified.
- Check for a complications protocol: Ensure the clinic has hyaluronidase on hand (for hyaluronic acid fillers) and access to a local ophthalmologist.
- Act fast if something feels off: Warning signs like blanching of the skin, extreme pain, or sudden vision issues require immediate action.
Related Read: MRI Scan Shows Surprising Expansion of Dermal Fillers: 2 Experts Share Their Insights
