“One Year, 3 Corrections Later - Atlanta, GA”

hi Sharon,
I'm not sure what about the fat transfer caused the pigment problems-trauma to the skin, shadows from the indentation? I do know that adding filler to it helped, and I'll be going back to the derma to get more.

I went to dr. Hopping in D.C, and had the exact problems you experienced. One year later its like I did nothing but I have darkness.

Filler queen, I think it's both.

Why isn't factual information out there. Why do we have to be disfigured and injured first to figure out our mistakes and who to avoid. How come no lawyers will even look at cosmetic surgery cases unless death or amputation is the outcome?

Hi FillerQueen,

So sorry we've all gone through this. Live and learn, right. Happy to hear the filler is working for you!! You seem to be handling things well. I have some brown pigmentation issues, broken capillaries and red splotches that in my case - I think were associated with the prolonged inflammation, swelling and injection sites.But that's my opinion :).So much of this elective crap is really one big crapshoot and can anyone really predict the outcome? I'm mean seriously, how does someone pretend to know how much fat one side of the face will take vs.the other - no matter who you are?! This is just a really strange procedure. I have lopsided under eyes. The fat goes different ways, etc. I'm passable if I never smile. If I do, the bulges and crinkles pop! My smile and eyes were two of my best features. I can't be photographed at all because the "ledges" show up - particularly if a flash is used. Very odd. I've had 2 rounds of 5FU injections to try to reduce the scar tissue and am going in for Micro-lipo in two weeks. Fillers have helped fill around the little lumps - but can't hide the "chunks"! Like you, I looked better before. This was under a PS who also felt I was exaggerating! NO other professional, friend or foe thought I was exaggerating! They thought I was pathetic to ruin a perfectly nice face! :(.

Dear GFGB,

I am so sorry. Yours sounds just like mine - the pigmentation issues, broken capillaries and red areas are so frustrating. I have done laser a couple of times, but it hasn't helped that much. How are the 5FU injections working? I can really see how bad mine looks in my daughter's pre-prom pictures :( Ughh. This has really turned me off to cosmetic surgery in the future and to the lower face lift I had planned on having. Natural aging is preferable to looking freakish like I do in pictures.

I've done laser too, IPL, and eMatrix. Frankly, I think my brain and face need a rest! At least when we were aging naturally - it wasn't lumpy and uneven:). The picture thing is definitely wierd. The 5FU helped a little and I recommend giving it a try if you're desperate. It helps resolve scar tissue and may reduce some of the volume. I'm going in for Micro-lipo in two weeks and hoping for the best. Some areas are too weird and the little hard lumpy strands under the surface are hard to define and we probably won't be able to tackle those - only fill around them. The goal is to go after the lumpy chunks under the eyes that distorted my face.Moving forward and forgiving ourselves is the best we can do! Funny how TV doesn't show this side of Plastic Surgery - only the pathetic, hollywoodized glamour where you can win a free wedding or beauty contest - instead of a freak show.

I just thought of two of the real kickers here. . .The story I got is that fat is suppose to look and feel so much more natural than fillers. Honestly, the fillers I always had felt way more natural than the fat junk that's in me now. Also, I was told that it was an "undisputed fact" that I would benefit from the transfer of stem cells. What a load of horse pucky . . Pardon me if I'm failing to see the benefit of my new crappy skin!!!

I agree about the fillers - at least they don't turn hard and lumpy, at least they eventually go away. Someone should start a website like real self about solutions for plastic surgery gone bad. There are so many doctors who just FIX plastic surgery mistakes. Let's hear from them.

I did alot of research on fat transfer - most of it here - and recall all the doctors saying how great it is if you go to someone who knows what they're doing. The guy I went to here in Atlanta had great credentials, my dermatologist recommended him, and he had done so many fat transfers. And yet, what a disaster it's been. There was one doctor I think from Beverly Hills who discouraged ft and warned of the complications, but I don't think I got to his posts until after I had done it and had problems.

Follow the money. Of course they all think ft is great. Who can you trust? I'm so mad at myself for falling for this quackery.

There are some wonderful Doctors out there. . .but they probably don't want to fix others' mistakes all day long!! It's not an optimal situation for them. The doctor who messed me up was from Newport Bech. The doctor who is fixing me is in Beverly Hills and he's been great. Not once in my conversation with the first doctor was any potential for complication verbally expressed. There wasn't one warning, discussion about the risk, etc. It was going to be little refreshing walk in the park - NOT. There is also an organization that protects many doctors from negative postings online and "frivilous lawsuits" beyond the application of malpractice insurance? Apparently screwing up someone's face, life and career is considered frivolous l?!?!?!

So, 5FU is suppose to go after the Scar tissue. I'm not clear as to it's actual impact on the fat itself. Optimally, I'd think that the objective with a chemo drug (which it is), is to minimize "healthy tissue" damage - but we know tht healthy tissue can be a casualty as well. That said, I did get some reduction in volume - but not enough. It's inexpensive and worth a try prior to doing anything more invasive. The issue with the pigmentation and changes in skin appearance remains a mystery to me and I've been told I'm crazy :). If you didn't have it before, I have no idea what caused it - other than the fact that the stress of the surgery on my skin clearly broke capillaries. In theory, fat transfer should minimize the appearance of dark circles and shadows, as does the addition of other fillers. Thus, I can't speak to what 5FU would do since I don't know what's causing the issue. Again - some VooDoo science here. 5FU initially creates redness and a little residual brown at the injection site that dissipates. I've authored the "Gambling with your Face" review and talk a little bit about some issues there. As far as it reducing it evenly. . . Wow, I suppose that has to do somewhat with how experienced the injector is. Mine if very experienced and knows what he's looking for. . . but none of this is perfect. My scar tissue isn't even! My fat isn't even! My lumps aren't even! So, to expect even reduction is probably too much to ask. I'm assuming the micro-lipo will be a much more controlled process. But again, an experienced Dr. will control the amounts of 5FU! Exhausting isn't it!!!???

Filler queen. How did your original guy try to fix this? I don't think you mentioned that. You haven't used steroids yet correct? Steroids can cause denting but it sounds like that was a result of the fat transfer. I'm thinking that what you call dents us what I call ledges tootsie rolls or snausages They are sharper little cliffs than a normal fat roll :) and indent when smiling.

The original doctor tried to fix it with another fat transfer, which I had to pay for. I then went to a dermatologist who injected a filler. All of these injections have made the area underneath my eyes/ upper cheeks quite red and inflamed. I have had a couple of laser treatments for the redness, and like you said, it's probably broken capillaries. No to the steroids. Yes to the ledges sentence. Mine are not like craters with sharp edges, but they are the shape you describe, and they are slighlty caved-in, dark and wrinkly. It is exaggerating to say that it looks like a football player who has black grease under his eyes to cut down on the glare, but not much. I've noticed that alot of women have this look naturally from age, this dark, horizontal thick line on either side of the nose, that starts on the cheek right under the cornea and ends on the same plane, below the inside corner of the eye. Ironically it has given me some comfort to think that maybe people assume that I'm just looking old.

I could live with the fat cheeks if not for the dark stripes on the top of my cheeks and the indentation. My daughter's graduation from hs is in a few weeks, and thinking of all the photos that will be taken has me anxious and thinking I should try a tiny bit of filler again on the main dent and get more laser for the pigmentation. But then there could be more bruising and discoloration - it's just a vicious cycle. It's like a drug addict who has to do all this with little result, just to keep afloat.

All of the money it's taking to fix the blasted f/t was unanticipated, like you said, and as you documented so well, could add up to be as much as a face lift. If I could only find someone here in Atlanta who knew how to fix my messed up face.

I want to hear about your micro-lipo when you do it! Your gambling review is right-on. I hope people who come to this site will read it before they do f/t.

Omg. A 2nd f/t! That would have sent me over the "ledge". You were courageous. The only favor the ps did was tell me not to do it before my brothers wedding. You'd think that would have been a sign! These were the last nice pictures I may ever have. Thankful I didn't mess up his day with a bad attitude and bulging eyes. Problem with plastic is that it's inherently imperfect. Sad part is that so many of the people who have it done are perfectionists who are already lovely As with a few character marks who erroneously think they will be A+ post ps. Newsflash! If ur an A there is no A+ in plastic. The only direction to go is unnaturally down!!! At this point I'm half human and half unnatural substance!! I will keep you posted on micro. If it's worth it, it could be worth a trip to cali. For $2500 and a flight it may mean getting your life back. There is hope!!!! Chin up and have fun at the graduation. They'll be looking at her in the pix anyway!!!:)

Hi Filler Queen. I went through Micro-lipo 3 weeks ago. This has definitely helped and worth it . . but not perfect. The catch is that the Dr. has to find a balance between taking out enough and not too much. You have to appreciate the conservative approach. I go to follow-up on Friday. Depending on the outcome, I may go another round, or I may have to live with it?!? As great as my Dr is and as blessed as I am at this point, I still have some visible " fat strands", but my facial contours are starting to come back. It's still a little early to confirm final results. I've posted results on my thread and will do it again on Friday after my appt. How was the graduation :)

Hi GFGB,

Graduation was crazy! I am afraid to look at the pics, so I haven't yet. There are pics on your original thread? I missed that but will look now.

No courage to post pix yet :( Just info about process. I can email you some though. I conservatively have 80 percent correction Final results in 2 months. I will always need fillers and I have a few funky things going on,including asymmetry of course, but i am a year older and stress has certainly taken it's toll. That said, my eyes are open and pretty again and those problematic "ledges" that showed up in pix are gone. This procedure was definitely worth doing in the hands of the right doctor. :)!!! Id even be willing to go another round but the trade off might be looser skin, etc i had another member who saw my recent pix say that based on the results she doesnt think people would feel too sorry for me anymore Lol We simply have to accept that once you make these kind of choices theres no going back No sense looking back but I haven't quite made peace that the original doctor did this to me :( for a lousy extra 3500 bucks in his pocket! I hope he thinks of me every time he makes his car payment. Haha. But I doubt it. Good luck girl.

would love to see your pics. Who is your good doctor and where is he?

cveroleyva, gosh I'm sorry that I missed your post! No, it wasn't Dr Brody, but I know who he is, and he is quite reputable. In fact, I was thinking of going to him to see if he could do 5fu injections to help correct my bad ft.