Bio-Alcamid: Stories

Hi, my name is Sean and I had Bio-Alcamid injected into my cheeks in 2008. It was my left cheek that I mostly needed plumping out. I visited the Derma Laser Clinic in Leeds after seeing an advertisement for Bio-Alcamid on the internet. I then visited the 'Consulting Rooms' website for Cosmetic procedures and clinics, a very informative website if you are wanting to get a procedure done. This website sold me the product, saying it was semi-permanent, which I thought sounded quite safe if there were any complications it could easily be removed. The website also told you the clinics in my area that used this product. On top of this the procedure cost only £300! The surgeon who carried out the procedure also told me the life span of the product was 3 years and put most of the BA in my left cheek, then some in my right to even them both out. It wasn't long after that my cheeks seemed very uneven and far too plumped. My cheeks are now very hard, uneven and I also have a ridge in my left cheek. This is altogether unsightly and has made me very self conscious. to the point of not wanting to go out. I quite often get comments, some very bad on my appearance. I re-visited the clinic and he said he could take it out from the front of my cheeks for £1000, but it would also permanently scar me!! He advised me to see an oral surgeon. So I have also been to see a consultant at my local hospital. At first it seemed promising, then a another consultant said they did not want to remove it and I should go back to the clinic for removal or see a solicitor. But you can understand my reluctance to go back to the clinic, after the utter mess he made in the first place. I am really concerned now that I may develope other complications like I have read. Also I feel like I'llnever have my life back. Please can someone help with advice on, places, doctors, costs and latest research regarding this horrendous product. Sean

I completely agree, this has cost me thousands of pounds and unmeasurable emotional upset x

There is so much publicity about the dangers of PIP implants, but why is nothing being said about BioAlcamid and the manufacturers, Polymekon. They shouldn't be able to get away with it. We are left wondering what will happen to us in the future, should we leave the BioA where it is, or get it removed? Nobody seems to know! I try not to think about this horrible stuff moving about in my face as it makes me ill with worry. I hope it is no longer in use, and if it is, do not even think about having it injected into your face. It has been a nightmare.

i am now in my 7th facial surgery to try to stop the effects of bioalcamid over my life. I had severe lipoatrophy (i´m not HIV positive) and my doctor (a reputable surgeon in Spain) injected bioalcamid, which went well til 4 years later when I developed an infection and ended up hospitalized for 3 months and almost lost my vision. Bioalcamid does MIGRATE, a lot, and it is incredibly difficult to remove, if that occurs. Putting anything where it used to be is CRAZY (i´m talking from experience), particularly sculptra or radiesse. I would advise to anyone who may still any bioalcamid in their face to stick only to hialuronic acid, anything else will add to your problems. I have spent over 15k on this to try to get my face to where it was, and that will never happen. I am getting married in just a few months and will probably be still semi-deformed due to these products. Please do not put this on your face, whatever you do, do not do it, you will regret it every single day of your life. dont do it.

Hang in there Blondie, what a nightmare!!!! Has all of the product been removed? It sounds just like what happened to me and at the same age. It sounds as though all the product in your lips is harbouring infection and should all be removed. Good luck and stay strong. I have the name of a brilliant Dr in London if you should need a second opinion xx

Hi everyone, today I woke up with even bigger swelling of my lip and also my neck and cheek got painfully bloated. I had to seek the medical help as temperature was increasing and started to see abces creating in my lip. Again, reminding you all that not on the side of my lip which was operated, but on the opposite side. After discussion with doctors, they have decided as the best option to go seek help in stomatology Clinic which specialised In oral surgery. It is apparently much better then classic ER or general surgery room, as they deal with mouth delicates on daily basis. Immediately doctor decided to perform surgery, because it is extremely dangerous to spread infection into brain and could cause brain infection/damage or toxic shock.
It was very painful and after digging quite a deep hole in my lip I could see plenty of puss, blood and whitish BA material coming out from there. Not pleasant at all. After cleaning it and taking out what was visible, doctor inserted little plastic tube as a drainage.
Swelling hasn't improved much yet, but I can feel sort of relieve from the pressure. Now I hope that there is no bioalcamid left and it won't cause any more problems, pain and infection.
I'm actually thinking about taking a law action, as all this cost me great amount of finances and time off. Also my lips will never look the same.
Very disappointing that such a product gets approved at all.

This stuff is nightmare and nasty. I had my lips Injected with bioalcamid 8 years ago in Czech republic. I have been told, that there is no reported allergy and if not liking the result, can be removed with easy surgery. Immediately after treatment, doctor hit some blood vessel and despite the massive pain and fast swelling bruise formed on one side. Other side went relatively ok. Next 24hours was extremely painful and felt like my lips will explode any moment. After 24h it started go away thankfully. For few years I was relatively happy with result, except a little lumps and bumps. The whole time while kissing and when accidentally bumping my lip strange pain occurred. As the time went on, material started migrating and created ugly lump "hanging" from my upper lip. It was becoming more and more visible over next two years and I was slowly starting to look for a doctor willing to remove it. I went for several consultations in London, Dubai and Prague and heard many different opinion. One doctor wanted to cut my lip underneath in it's whole length and remove it. That sounded just way too scary. Another wanted to suck it out with syringe and then finally two or more surgeons agreed on cutting little incision and removing only whats excessive and necessary so went with that option.
As soon as doctor cut the edge of my lip in that problematic area, White cloudy stuff water/gel like rubbish came out and he needed to dig a bit more to remove the "ball" of bio alcamid. Then they sew one stitch inside and two more on outside. Done in 15 min, not painful, no complications or swelling. 7days later on Thursday stitches were removed and next 48h went absolutely fine. Scar was barely visible and healed. Now here is where my nightmare starts..... on Sunday afternoon I started to feel little discomfort and fast growing swelling on the opposite side of my upper lip. I took paracetamol and later ibuprofen and put ice on it over night. What a surprise when I woke up with even worse swelling and pain shooting all the way to my cheekbone, ear and eye.
I called my surgeon immediately and went to his office on afternoon that day. He never saw anything like that before and mainly doesn't make sense why infection developed on the opposite side.
My opinion after searching online, is that the side where bio alcamid was removed is not getting infected because there is no material left, although it might have been somehow connected ( via little tunnel which they create when injecting this implant) and possibly drop of blood spreader into side, where BA still is.
I'm not a doctor, I'm just guessing as the whole thing is ridiculous and even experienced doctors don't know what to do and what is causing it. I can barely close my mouth and swelling is not going away. :(
I have been given antibiotics, antihistamine plus anti-inflammatory drugs and hope to survive the night without going to ER.
I will post updates how it all went, but for the time being I advice to everyone to stay away from this product or if have it already, have it removed all at once and take antibiotics preventively after the treatment. Forgot to mention that I'm absolutely healthy 29 year old woman.
Bio alcamid is evil product and lie in description.
Best luck to everyone having difficulties with BA

The manufacturers, Polymekon and the UK distributors, Cloverleaf, are blaming the adverse reactions on the injectors, not administering the product properly. Read the following article, it shows that people all over the world are having problems. Until recently, I thought I was the only one.
www.thebody.com/content/art59390.html#

I agree, I've been left thousands of pounds out of pocket because of this product. My doctor also denied putting it in my lips and actually said his only injected the outside and it migrated with I could not believe! I don't know what other people think but maybe we should approach the manufactures for an answer?

I was injected with Bio alcamid as a model for a training session for Doctors, 5 years ago. Now I have a hard lump under my eye and one in my cheek. The Doctor who carried out the training denies having any notes about me. I have been offered removal by the Clinic but I have been frightened by the number of people reporting that attempting to removal Bioalcamid can actually cause infection and make matters worse. Nobody is accepting responsibility for the adversse reaction to Bio alcamid. Surely it must be the manufacturers who should be made liable for our life sentence with this horrible stuff in our faces.

Bio Alcamid
I am also another victim of Bio alcamid,I had it administered to increase volume in cheek area in 2005. since it has migrated around the face and lumps under and around eyes appeared. I have had to undergo 2 major ops to remove product which is the only way to remove the product even tho the manufacturer states it can be easily removed. IT CANNOT!!!, Even after these ops there is still product there!! I am not alone with this misery,I have met 6 others to date and more and more people are getting together to tell their stories, All people that have suffered at the hand of this product should let everyone know by responding to these blogs. It would be good to know how many of us are out there.
In the meantime DO NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR THIS PRODUCT!!!!!!