When Do I Contact my Doctor if Unhappy with Juvaderm Results?

asked 3 years ago by Libbysmom in Boston, MA
Latest answer by Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD
Question viewed 6,827 times
Tags: nasolabial folds, lumps, side effects

Help!! Had Juvederm yesterday and it doesn't look right!! Yesterday I had Juvederm Ultra Plus injections to my naso-labial area and the dermatologist added some in the crease that makes a parenthesis around my mouth one one side. Today it looks like I have an earthworm under my skin in that spot. It does not look natural. It appears that not enough Juvederm was injected in the area that meets the side of my nose. What should I do?? When doctors make an obvious mistake will they typically correct the mistake at no extra charge?

9 answers to When Do I Contact my Doctor if Unhappy with Juvaderm Results?

You Weren't Going for that Earthworm Look?

Hi Libby's Mom, Sorry to hear about your Juviderm mis-adventure; hope that you haven't scared Libby. I have found that after 24 to 48 hours the swelling and lumpiness of Juviderm should have resolved, or at least is significantly improved. If things still don't look so good, I would see your physician and hear his/her advice. We usually recommend massage, and sometimes will add more product to blend the areas. If more product is used in my practice, the patient is charged only for the... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Unhappy Juvederm results

You might be just seeing swelling and maybe your result will improve with time and massage. But, if you are unhappy, I would call the next open day (not an emergency!) and go back for a visit. Ask the doctor what is going on and if this is what they expected. As with anything in life, not all people are as good at injecting as others but the doctor should know what they expected to see and hopefully will honor their work if it is less than expected.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Be patient but feel comfortable returning for an honest discussion

Libbysmom, Juvederm and Restylane injections can come with some short term unpleasantness based on the reaction of the patient and the skill of the injector. Short term swelling and bruising can occur and it is always possible to achieve undercorrection if not enough filler is utilized. I would recommend patience until 7-8 days from the procedure. Massage the area gently and give yourself time for the swelling to subside. If, at that stage, you are still dissatisified, an open and... more

Shepherd G. Pryor, MD
Scottsdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.valleyfacialplasticsurgery.com

Juvederm treatments can easily be "tweaked"

As one of the dermatologists who performed the FDA study on the effectiveness and safety of Juvederm, I can attest to the usual excellent results that can be achieved by an experienced injector using this dermal hyaluronic acid filler. One of the real pluses of Juvederm is that it can easily be reversed if you are over injected or injected in the wrong level, which is what would cause that earthworm-like lump. Please see your doctor as soon as possible to fix this. Many people have mild... more

Mary Lupo, MD
New Orleans Dermatologist

When should I contact my doctor if I'm unhappy

You should always feel comfortable contacting your doctor. I would hope that if any of my patients had any concerns they'd let me know immediately so I could see them as soon as possible. Every physician has their own policy, but in general I'm sure your doctor would be happy to help you get the result you desire. It may be something simple like placing a little extra product to help you be more symmetric. Regardless, I'm sure he/she would be open to... more

Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Juvederm treatment and physician follow up.

First and foremost I am sorry that you have had an unhappy result with your Juvederm injections. I would contact your physician immediately and discuss your concerns. He/she should discuss with you massage, possible hyaluronidase injections to the site if you were either over injected or it was placed in the wrong area this will help it dissipate faster. Personally I have not had the need to do this and my patients have experienced excellent results with Juvederm and Restylane both. I... more

Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

michaelelammd.com

Going back to the doctor if Juvederm results are bad

Hi Libbysmom, Sorry to hear that things are not looking good for you. While some swelling is normal after Juvederm and if you are very uncomfortable with your results, you should call right away. To some extent whether to call and request an appointment right away depends on whether you have had the procedure before. In some cases, patients will be horrified for a day or two (the first time around), but once swelling resolves and they see final results they are happy. If you've had the... more

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Immediate massage can improve Juvederm result.

Hi. 1) Go back to your doctor right away. Juvederm can be improved by massage even a few days later. The "earthworm" area maybe can be made smoother. 2) In Manhattan, our policy about charging for touch ups is to charge for the actual cost of the filler only.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Visit your doctor

Generally within 1-2 days most of the swelling associated with the initial injection have resolved and you can get a fair idea of the final look. At this point if you are not happy with the result, I would definitely visit with the physician who performed your procedure. Generally massage will take care of any irregularities but remember you can also have hyaluronidase injected to make the injections dissolve.