Hyaluronidase: Stories

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Hyaluronidase Nightmare - Permanent Damage to Lower Eyelid Tissue?

  • Not Worth It
  • Cost: $500
  • Australia

10/08 juvederm in tear troughs for eyebags/dark...

  • 3 Jul 2009

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.

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Comments (115)

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Wow. That's so distressing. The doctors want us to trust them then they leave us disfigured. Sad. Hope in time yours will fade away! Keep us up to date please!
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Thru browsing I found these site too late. I just had botox to address a deep skin fold in between my eye brows. My face is heavily scarred by acne thru the years but it is now clean and break out free but scarred. The only thing that I just wanted is to ge rid of this deep folds in my forehead in between the brows. So I got botox and the results were WOW, skin tone improved and fairly looked beter but still there is a fold and I am happy, then the doctor suggested that she will administer Restylane and that her most senior and competent Aestheticist will administer the filler. She broke a blood vein during Restylane administration and the vein that was injected Restylane started getting heavily bruised down to the tip of my nose in 2-3 hrs and the pain and pressure was terribly painful, the next day they injected hyaluronidase to correct it, the pressure subsided but it left a dark deep crevice following the veins and it look a like a deep purple from the forehead down to my nose. The whole affected vein burned and turned out like a deep wound. This only happened last week. I am so dissapointed and felt so low right now. I don't know what to do, the dermatologist has referred me to another doctor tomorrow. I don't know what's going to happen. I am thinking to get my Restylane procedure of $700 refunded at least and negotiate a treatment plan for this damage for free. I know lawsuits here in Canada for this type of case has never been favorable to victims and lawyers doesn't seem interested to take my case. Any inputs would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Shazam
(my forehead down to the tip of my nose looks like there's a lightning wound on! sigh)
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My swelling went away about a year ago. I had swelling for about 3 years after filler under eyes and subsequent hyaluronidase. Luckily I didn't resort to a lower bleph, as suggested by some doctors and others, as that would have left me with very hollow eyes at this point. I still use botox around my eyes once or twice a year, with a good dermatologist. Seems filler under the eyes can cause some serious damage. I'll never do that again.

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Hi Susan do you think your own HA has regenerated back to normal now? I mean there's always normal aging but i think you know your body and would be able to tell the difference in how it looks before the hyaluronidase and then after. And then after that (when the welling went away).
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Yes, it seems I'm back to normal. It was really strange that it took so long. I probably didn't need the filler that much, I let the doctor and his staff convince me to do things I shouldn't have done. I guess after seeing how bad the swelling looked, I have a new appreciation for my natural look!

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That's great, that really gives me hope. It seems you did the right thing by leaving it along and not getting lower bleph.

I think they should be testing hyaluronidase on normal tissue, like underside of forearm or something to see how much skin it dissolves and when it returns to normal...at least then they can speak with some certainty how the skin may react to it. Would it be so difficult to carry out a test like that ???
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girl_Los...Sounds good, as long as the tissue is similar enough to the area they're testing for (in contrast to the area being tested, for example, under arm). Skin is so thin near the eyes. I think that's at least one of the factors the doctors didnt realize.
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That was just an idea at the top of my head...born out of frustration and anger. I am just very curious to know what medical research has been done regarding vitrase effects on your own HA.
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how time it take you ,, im going thought the same the hylauronidase have dissolve my own ha in one cheek , I dont know what to do , Im 36 and I look 60
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susan19713, during those 3 years how frequent was the swelling? I am 4 months out and swelling every other week. My doctor wants to administer hyaluronidase to stop the swelling, but are you saying you kept swelling even after the hyaluronidase? I, too, am so sorry I did this. Originally wanted a lower bleph, but my doc convinced me this would be less invasive. Didn't expect it to be disfiguring.
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Been 4 years since I had Juvaderm under my eyes, the puffiness and crepiness has never gotten better, so I am saving the money to get a lower bleph. $5700.00! My lower lids are so puffy it's hard to open my eyes all the way and it feels like I can't see unless I pull them open. Makes me feel like I'm tired when I'm not. I can't deal with it anymore! Now I get to pay for being so stupid! !!
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I have been saying the same thing, how could I have been so stupid and have done this but it's not that we are stupid. We made the mistake of puting too much trust in our plastic surgeons and bought into all the hype about the wonders of fillers. I'm so done with quick fixes like fillers and botox. They may be quick with no downtime but you have to keep coming back for more because they make you dependent on them. And sooner or later, it's going to cause problems and you're going to have to deal with them. It's like being an addict really. It makes you act desperate, esp when things go wrong.
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psoldoff, 4 years is the longest duration for hyaluronic filler I've heard of and the first I remember that interfered with eyelid opening/closing. Can the bleph be done without melting with hyaluronidase? I plan to have a bleph or cheek lift but the doctor says he needs to melt the filler first. Good luck with whatever you end up doing and hope you post after you have any news about how you're doing.
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I dont actually think we're stupid, just needed more info than we had. Hindsight is to see former patient of the doctor a year+ post-procedure with the same filler in same area or at least see a photo. I did see photos of a patient with lower face filler and then had mine done and it all was fine but later had the eye area done. I may have been his first patient for eye area filler -- maybe even his only one! I learned, see at least one former patient who had the same procedure on same location of the face/body. What's considered the "same" area may have a gray area (no pun), and I think that should be addressed, but I know now lower half of the face is not filled same way as eye area. Make sure if you go by a photo that it is a former patient of THAT doctor. I once had a consult with a doc who used ad photos of people who did not have him do their procedure. :/
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I still have the "water balloon effect" under my eyes after 3 years. The p.s. said he needs to use Vitrase (hyaluronidase), an egg-based ovine version to melt the restylane that was injected too superficially. I am looking into allergy testing. If this ever resolves, I'd like a cheek lift but doctor says let's wait to see the Vitrase result first. Please everyone, keep posting here to keep this important thread going and updated!
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Please just tell me...will these eyebags and swelling ever go away??????

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Hi Guys! Has restylane injected into the orbital rim Jan. 27, 2012. I found that I developed dark semi orbits on the rim that I never had before! I had it dissolved 7 days ago and the darkness and the rim has thickened and widened and darkened. I am besides myself as I have a child to take care of and I seriously dont wanna leave my house and makeup wont even cover it up! Please help!!
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pinkwillow, i know this is very late but I just saw your post and if you can get to Jonathan Hoenig in Los Angeles area, I heard he's a wonderful doctor for the face. I think he's an oculoplastic doctor. Always good to do your own research on the doctor before having anything done, I think. If I hadn't found someone in my area who I think is at least adequate, I'd be saving for a trip to see him myself. Good luck!
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Hi All, I was wondering how things are for each of you guys now as it's been several months since the last posts. I really hope that things have improved and that the worry and stress of it all has eased. I am looking for some advice as I am due to go and get hyalaise in 2 days time after having Juvederm injections to the tear trough area 3 months ago. Now I am left with swelling (tear troughs) and streched skin (upper cheek area). I have read that if I leave things it could take years for the filler to go and if I have the dissolver it could cause more damage? I would really appreciate any feedback on your experinces please?
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Just updating....

I had more hyaluronidase and will post updated photos soon to show the horrid state my lower lids are in.

Yes, most of the Juvederm is now gone. I went to a new practitioner who was actually able to provide me with fresh hyaluronidase and give me a decent dose where needed. Thank you to the docs on this forum who suggested that. All this time I was receiving weak doses and not always a fresh batch.

However...

My skin is ruined from both being stretched for nearly a year and from the hyalurondiase (repeated injections in all different eyelid planes for the last 9 months).

My eyelids are now covered in purple discoloration, transparent, has no elasticity and i now have loose, saggy skin that bunches and folds when I smile. I just turned 30. I look like a cancer patient who is gravely ill.

I will post photos of my eyes from 12 months ago (just before this fiasco began) to show I never had bags/sagging/folds/wrinkles before.

The eyelid plastic surgeon gave me mild botox to assist with the excess wrinkles, but it has only helped some of the dynamic lines toward the sides of my eyes. My real problem is loose ruined skin below the eye.

He told me I now need a chemical peel or laser resurfacing to fix this mess.

So, after just turning 30, rather than being normal and starting a family like my peers or saving for a holiday, I am now spending thousands on specialist treatment (which involves interstate travel), plus having to budget for not earning money while i recover from my treatment.

Not a good time to be self employed, ha!

Now i just need to win lotto.

Sorry, what a rant. Really had enough of this today.
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Hi Raleigh4718

I just want to know how you're doing now.. Did the elasticity of your skin came back after a years time? I also had hyaluronidase to dissolve the restylane. It was a big mistake, it made the surrounding skin look wrinkled and thinner. I think it has improved since then but not really sure... just got this sinking feeling that hyaluronidase fastforward the clock 5+ years. I am hoping that in a year's time though the elasticity and appearance of the skin will look normal again as I keep hearing that this could happen. I hate hyaluronidase and I HATE the guy who did this. I just can't believe that he did not warn me beforehand!
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oh my!!!! lam the same, dented look, shadowy, skin wrinke, jelly like appearance, EXACTLY!!!!
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Sorry to hear you guys have had these problems too? I wish I could take all this back and go back to normal.
I've had yet another hyaluronidase injection and I am looking worse than ever. Purple tear trough stains, blue/black color in eyelid. Crepey skin that sags more than ever. Plus swelling or product STILL THERE.
It's been nearly a full year of this. now i look 15 years older and everyone says I look sick.
My doctor recommended Fraxel to fix the saggy lower lid. What if I'm just walking straight into more problems?!
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This is my exact same story. Purely Hyaluronidase damage from trying to dissolve Juvederm. Anyone, please email me someone in Australia who can help me. I have puffy lower lids still despite several injections, it looks like they haven't worked. It's a fluid look. However, the worst part involves my skin being ruined. I have a strange indent below the bag. A shadow semi-circle ring below the bag too (each eye). The skin wrinkles, ithas jelly like appearance....Please PM with a good specialist to see. I will travel anywhere! I am not even 30 yet and my eyes are ruined.
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l am from australia and l am going to through the same thing, hyaluronidase has ruined my tissue, left it hollow with a dent look and l only had it 14 days ago, devastated...
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