Key statistics
- A Dermatologic Surgery analysis of FDA MAUDE (June 1993-August 2014) found 3,782 dermal filler complications: 44% involved HA fillers, 40% poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra), 15% calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) and under 1% PMMA. [6]
- As of openFDA's October 13, 2026 update, FDA's MAUDE database held 23,036 adverse event reports for dermal fillers (product code LMH, 1993-2026): 19,307 coded as injuries, 1,645 malfunctions and 14 deaths. [1]
- FDA received 1,478 dermal filler MAUDE reports in 2023, 1,393 in 2024 and 1,825 in 2025 (product code LMH, by date received); in 2025, 1,819 were injury reports and 1 a death report. [2]
- The most frequent patient problems coded in dermal filler MAUDE reports are swelling (2,894), edema (2,702), inflammation (2,622), infection (2,003), nodules (1,850) and obstruction/occlusion (1,548); necrosis appears in 934 reports (2026 data). [3]
- Dermal filler MAUDE reports mention 'vascular occlusion' in 2,099 narratives and 'blindness' in 650 (product code LMH, all years); these are text matches, not confirmed cases (2026 data). [4]
How common are dermal filler side effects and complications?
A Dermatologic Surgery analysis of FDA MAUDE (June 1993-August 2014) found 3,782 dermal filler complications: 44% involved HA fillers, 40% poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra), 15% calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) and under 1% PMMA. [6]
As of openFDA's October 13, 2026 update, FDA's MAUDE database held 23,036 adverse event reports for dermal fillers (product code LMH, 1993-2026): 19,307 coded as injuries, 1,645 malfunctions and 14 deaths. [1]
FDA received 1,478 dermal filler MAUDE reports in 2023, 1,393 in 2024 and 1,825 in 2025 (product code LMH, by date received); in 2025, 1,819 were injury reports and 1 a death report. [2]
The most frequent patient problems coded in dermal filler MAUDE reports are swelling (2,894), edema (2,702), inflammation (2,622), infection (2,003), nodules (1,850) and obstruction/occlusion (1,548); necrosis appears in 934 reports (2026 data). [3]
Dermal filler MAUDE reports mention 'vascular occlusion' in 2,099 narratives and 'blindness' in 650 (product code LMH, all years); these are text matches, not confirmed cases (2026 data). [4]
Hyaluronidase is mentioned in the narratives of 5,207 dermal filler MAUDE reports (product code LMH); a text mention is not a count of dissolving treatments, and hyaluronidase remains off-label for dissolving filler (2026 data). [5]
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What these numbers can't tell you
- Counts are Google Maps listings we classify as med spas, so they include dermatology and plastic surgery practices that offer med spa treatments and exclude spas without a Google listing.
- A treatment counts when the spa's Google listing or website names it, so a spa with an outdated menu can be over- or under-counted.
- We hold no patient records: every figure describes providers, their listings and their Google reviews, not who gets treated.
Frequently asked questions
How common are dermal filler side effects and complications?
A Dermatologic Surgery analysis of FDA MAUDE (June 1993-August 2014) found 3,782 dermal filler complications: 44% involved HA fillers, 40% poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra), 15% calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) and under 1% PMMA.
Sources and methodology
Our data. October 2026 snapshot of 53,215 US med spa Google listings and their websites. How we build these numbers
- api.fda.gov · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- api.fda.gov · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- api.fda.gov · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- api.fda.gov · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- api.fda.gov · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · National Library of Medicine
MedSpaStandard. (2026, October 30). Dermal Filler Safety Statistics 2026. https://medspastandard.com/statistics/dermal-fillers/safety/
Medical disclaimer. MedSpaStandard is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own health, and check any provider's license with your state board.