“Bad side effects”

I signed up for lipo dissolve treatments at Fig in Duluth, GA in July of this year. At the time, I was overweight but not so much that they would not "treat" me. I had three sets of shots in my upper abdomen. Since the treatments began, I have started experiencing weight GAIN and swelling. My lower legs/ankles swell now until when pressed, it leaves an indention. I have a thyroid disorder (hypothyroid) which I told the representatives that spoke to me during my initial consultation and I am very concerned at this point that the PCDC injections have caused an adverse effect with the medicine I take to control my hypothyroidism. At the time I signed up, the company was offering a money back guarantee so I have now started trying to get the process going to have my money refunded. If there is anyone who has had similar problems, please let me know how you handled it.

Update: 9/25/2007

After receiving treatment in the Duluth, GA Fig. office and having some serious side effects, I have taken measures to have my money refunded. I have hypothyroidism (NO - NOT HASHIMOTO'S DISEASE) and have taken medication for this condition my entire life. Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder. The treatments Fig administers through multiple injections is called PCDC. PCDC is a soy-based product combined with bile salts. Medical research has proven that soy isoflavones have no effect on a person without thyroid disorders but for someone who is hypothyroid, it causes the body to not absorb the synthetic thyroid hormone which is taken daily to provide the body with the growth hormones the thyroid gland would normally produce. I emphasize that I do not have Hashimoto's Disease because the "doctor" (???) in the Fig office was pretty insistant that what I have is Hashimoto's. Well...I know why now. Fig has a page of medical facts and information on their website (check it out!!). The first article on this page is Clinical Safety Data and Standards of Practice for Injection Lipolysis: A Retrospective Study. Please feel free to read the entire article. I would like to quote a couple of things that were reported.
1. "An allergy to soy products, or other formula components
such as benzyl alcohol, was clearly noted as a contraindication
to treatment with these injections."
2. "Respondents noted that a patient with severe chronic illness
should not be injected, especially those who are immuno compromised.
Network-Lipolysis recommends not treating any patient with autoimmune disease, with the exception of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis."

I believe the above information is why Dr. Hammer (he is not a board certified/licensed plastic surgeon according the the Composite Board of Medical Examiners) tried so hard to make "light" of the pitted edema and kept explaining the effects of hypothyroid and Hashimoto's to me. I did tell him that I was not in the office for a diagnosis because I already knew that I am hypothyroid but I was there to have my money refunded!!!

Several of the articles that Fig has posted on their Medical Facts and information page state information just like the article I have referenced. Am I the only one who thinks Fig should have been aware of these reports and instead of telling me that as long as my hypothyroidism was being treated with medication and my thyroid levels were normal, there would be no adverse effect? I specifically asked the question!!!!!!

I have been contacted by a reporter from a well known news channel and have shared my experience with them. I am hoping that before this is all over, maybe there will be a lot of publicity so that other people can avoid what so many of us are having to endure. In addition, I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General's office, and the Composite Board of Medical Examiners. I have also disputed the charges on the "Care Credit" card that was billed.