Probably not the HA anymore

Richard P. Rand, MD answers: How can I get rid of cosmetic injection lumps from six years ago?

I had a filler injection done six years ago. The doctor said it was hyaluronic acid. After a few months, visible lumps began to appear. I've had kenalog injected once or twice a year into the lumps. They flatten out a little for a couple of weeks and then come back. I'm trying not to get the lumps excised as it would leave a noticeable scar on my face. Are there any other solutions out there?

One of the doctors on your site suggested making a small incision and squeezing it out - will that work after all this time?

I tried hyalase injection but did not work either. One doctor I saw suggested more aggressive treatment of kenalog but I have concerns about skin atrophy as a result.

Please advise. I'm not sure what else I should do.


Richard P. Rand, MD
13 months ago

You seem to have a very good grasp of the complexity of your situation. I would doubt that there is any hyaluronic acid left after 6 years and that the problems you are having are more from cysts under the skin. Excision of these, while leaving a small scar, is usually less conspicuous than the bumps themselves at conversational distance.

It is also possible that what you had injected was actually not HA. Back then people were using some more permanent fillers like Artecol (Artefill) and liquid silicone. These have been associated with granuloma formations years after treatment that are very difficult to eradicate.

I would recommend getting your medical records and confirming what you had injected because a good doctor will specifically record that in the chart. Nowadays, we even place a sticker from the syringe directly in the patients chart.

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