“Hyaluronidase nightmare - permanent damage to lower eyelid tissue?”
Hyaluronidase: NOT worth it
Pain: Mild
10/08 juvederm in tear troughs for eyebags/dark circles (looked great). 04/17/09 restylane in tear troughs (top up). Unhappy with the result. 06/15/09 dissolved with hyaluronidase. All product dissolved. Big mistake! Within hours of the hyaluronidase injections my lower eyelids were terribly swollen (like large bags of water) and black - much worse than original bags.
I used Advantan steroid cream in case it was an allergy to the hyaluronidase. Not much improvement in the swelling. 06/26/09 juvederm ultra put in tear troughs because it looked so bad that I had to do something. Product was placed the same as in Oct 08, but has not had the same effect. In Oct 08 the juvederm corrected the puffiness and bags and felt 'firm' under the skin. This time the puffines and bags are still there despite the juvederm.
The skin feels spongy and there is a layer of jelly-like fluid across both of my lower eyelids, including over the juvederm (I can feel the product beneath the spongy layer). I have used all of the recommended treatments for eyelid edema - ice, cold compress, warm compress, bruise/swelling cream, caffeine lotion etc etc etc. I sleep with my head elevated. Nothing works. The puffiness and swelling remain. My left side is particularly bad.
What should I do to resolve the puffiness and swelling in the lower eyelids? Will it resolve over time? If so, how long should I expect to wait? Or has the hyaluronidase done irreversible damage to the tissue of my lower eyelids and the edema is therefore permanent? There is not much information about hyaluronidase on the internet. I look ghastly. Please help.
Jul 3, 2009Comments and replies (14)
316 posts
4 Jul 2009
Clearly I meant to tick the NOT worth it icon. RealSelf, can you please amend this? Thanks
374 posts
9 Aug 2009
Wow, your results to this procedure sounds awful. I am sorry that you are having such awful results. Why did you change from the juvederm to the restylane if the juvederm worked well to begin with (just wondering if the doc suggested the change or if was cost issue?)? Have you gotten a 2nd opinion on what could be done to help the swelling? I do hope you find something or someone that can help you with this problem. Best, Chrystal Eckes
316 posts
10 Aug 2009
Hi Chrystal - the doctor gave me the Restylane WITHOUT ASKING ME if I wanted to try a different product. I had no idea it was Restylane (and not Juvederm) until I paid the bill! I am no longer concerned about the hyaluronidase nightmare - read my botox review and you will see why. The doctor thought she could 'fix' the swollen appearance under my eyes from the hyaluronidase with botox. I was so depresssed about how I looked that it did not even occur to me to ask the rational question: HOW is botox going to help swelling? Of course paralysing the eye muscles only makes swelling worse because it further diminishes the pump action around the eyes which clears fluid. To make matters worse, my skin had all broken out from the stress of the hyaluronidase fiasco so the doctor put me on antibiotics (tetracycline antibiotics called Doxycycline). I had been taking them for 18 days before the botox and then took them for 7 days after the botox. Tetracycline antibiotics are contraindicated with botox. They increase the physical effect and the side effects of botox. The doctor claimed she 'didn't know' that you are not supposed to administer botox and tetracycline antibiotics at the same time. I found it in THREE SECONDS on the internet. The Allergan literature says that certain antibiotics may potentiate the effect of botox. The physical effect on my face is awful and it was already no good from the hyaluronidase. I am seeing a plastic surgeon next week who has a sub-specialty in facial paralysis to see if he can help me make this horrible disaster on my face recover more quickly. My whole face has dropped like I have had a stroke. I simply cannot see how my poor weakened eye muscle is going to be able to pull all of my facial fat back up my face. It will need some help. The eye muscles are still completely paralysed, so it is going to be a long time before I see any improvement whatsoever.
316 posts
11 Aug 2009
Oh and by the way, the Restylane was MORE expensive than Juvederm!!
316 posts
11 Aug 2009
Thanks for your support Chrystal - although I am very angry that Restylane was used instead of Juvederm without my permission, after reading the diabolical reviews of Radiesse and Sculptra (particularly under the eyes) I feel lucky that she didn't decide to use either of these products on me. Please keep us up to date on poor Morgan and how she is doing with her LSL nightmare. I hope the infection clears up soon for her. Best, TbF
316 posts
13 Aug 2009
Thanks Chrystal - I'll keep an eye out for your updates on Morgan.
374 posts
15 Aug 2009
Morgan is still receiving IV antibiotics and is being tested and biopsy (multiple) for other areas. Christana23 Sister is also in the hospital - you can read her post on the last page of my bio. Lets all pray for their speedy recoveries so they can come online here and tell their stories. Get better soon! Chrystal Eckes.
316 posts
16 Aug 2009
My best wishes to both Morgan and Christana23. Thank you for keeping us updated Chrystal. I will keep looking out for your posts. Cheers, TbF
11 posts
14 Sep 2009
How is your swelling coming along from the Hyaluronidase?