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POSTED UNDER Hyaluronidase REVIEWS

Belotero and Hyaluronidase Mess - Los Angeles, CA

ORIGINAL POST

I am having a problem with belotero and the...

wish i had known
$800
I am having a problem with belotero and the subsequent treatment with hyaluronidase. I had Belotero under my eyes. I do not believe they were overfilled but apparently Belotero can draw water. It's a benefit to most but for some, especially if you have thin skin, it creates puffy bags under your eyes. When it didn't go down on its own, I had a small amount of hyaluronidase injected. The puffiness went down a bit but the skin looked terrible, doughy and crepey. After a week or so I had puff directly under my eye and then a valley like a coma along my orbital ridge (think that's what it's called) so my PS injected a bit more hyaluronidase. Again my skin looks terrible, doughy, crepey, like deflated bags or an old lady's skin. My eyes were not like this just 5 weeks ago. I have had Restylane under my eyes before with no negative effect so this whole thing came as a total surprise to me. Does anyone know whether this will ever resolve? I think what is the oddest thing to me is that almost every doctor on the Internet says that hyaluronidase has no long term negative effects...but admits they use it sparingly. What the heck? I'm so confused and have no idea what to do. My PS wants to follow this course and then add restylane when all the belotero is gone. I'm scared but the current situation is not okay. I'm totally self-conscious and feel like I've aged 10 years in a month.

Replies (21)

July 3, 2014
I'm so sorry you had this experience! I've read many posts from people who have noticed their skin improving over time with hyaluronidase. I'll try to find them and send you the links. I know what its like to feel like your skin is hopeless post-procedure, and I think it helps to hear steps others have taken to achieve progress. My understanding is that hyaluronidase has been used in ocular surgery for over 25 years, with no negative side affects. This is why plastic surgeons feel so confident in the results. However, in science, everything can change when something new is introduced to the environment. There has been no significant research on the effects of hyalurondiase with fillers. I did find one research paper on the internet, but the focus was on impacts to health (vs. cosmetic). Most plastic surgeons are not research-minded, and they buy into the drug company promises until they are presented with research findings that tell them otherwise. I'm sure there are quality plastic surgeons out there who take the time to investigate claims from their patients, but most just repeat the party-line claims they hear from the drug companies. Don't feel bad, many of us on this site have fallen victim to the confident promises of plastic surgeons. I even spent 2 months 'thoroughly' researching the risks before my procedure. However, the drug companies have of course manipulated Google search so its difficult to get to 'truth' unless you know the right websites to visit. My advice is give it a little more time and find some good products to help the delicate skin under your eyes. I had fillers injected in my tear trough area and thought I was going to lose my mind, I was so upset. I ended up not using hyaluronidase. I lost faith in the PS industry. My eyes look a little better then they did 8 months ago, but not great. That being said, I'm not distressed about it any more. Every once in a while it bothers me, sure. However, I was so fixated on eyes previously, my imagination was getting carried away and I did not look as bad as I thought. I wish you peace with whichever decision you choose to make and a great outcome. Please keep us posted!
August 5, 2014
Hyaluronidase does not appear to degrade natural tissue if injected in an area with no filler. I had a test shot in my arm and nothing happened. However, it DOES appear to degrade areas that have been filled. This might be because the filler has integrated with natural tissue or because it has pushed the natural tissue out of the way so the use of hyaluronidase on filled tissue creates dents, divots, dark marks and trenches. It also appears to be particularly bad around the eyes as the tissue is thin. This leads to doughy oedema and crepey skin and the bruise like discolouration. In my experience, you do not need more dissolving. Any more hyaluronidase and you will just be further damaging your eyelids. The swelling will eventually go away. The dark colour may also eventually go away. Many months for both. But the crepey loose skin around your eyes will take so long to tighten (if ever) that you might as well speed it up. Again, in my experience there is no other way to rid yourself of the indent and tighten up the skin other than more filler. If you can stand how you look then wait a month to give the swelling a chance to dissipate. If you look so dreadful that you have to stay home from work (me!) then you will need at least a week for a refill. I completely agree with the previous post that a lot of the hype of HA filler depends on being able to claim it is easily dissolvable. This gives patients confidence to use the products. It is just marketing. There are no conclusive studies. There are no studies at all. All of the doctors rely on the ophthalmology use to claim safety and efficacy, but it is a use unrelated to dissolving filler so in my view it is irrelevant.
December 11, 2019
I'm having similar experiences and debating whether to wait it out or risk Hyaluronidase. Did your eyes improve with time or did you end up dissolving? I'd love an update! I'm terrified I've ruined my face forever.
August 7, 2014
It's the worst when this happens with hyaluronidase. It happened to me and I thought it would never get better. And the anger and embarrassment that I paid to do this to myself, that I made myself look worse, just wrecked my self-confidence. And it cost a fortune to keep filling the same area over and over (because the trough was so deep after hyal and new product didn't spread smoothly or stay long. I am so tired of doctors saying hyaluronidase doesn't effect the collagen there naturally. It absolutely does. I just had lips overfilled by a new doc and i didn't want to him to use hyaluronidase but they looked ridiculous so I did. no big catastrophe this time but it migrated outside my upper lip and now there's a dent the size of a quarter on my face there. UGH. So I'll have to get THAT filled and the doctor will act like I'm picky and I'll feel like crap because i spent 1000 to look worse than when I went in, less filled. For 1000 of anxiety, a medical staff treating me like a problem, and to be slightly LESS attractive.
November 20, 2015
Omg. I know exactly how you feel. You can feel like a fool.
September 21, 2014
Thank you for posting this. Can you tell me how long you waited before deciding it was too long for the bags to resolve? I had Belotero before with a great result but this time have these bags and shadows which I am covering with makeup- I could have been creative with makeup to hide what I felt were hollows and tired looking face. Now I have been back 2x, spent a ton of $ and also feel very self-conscious. I can almost see the face I wanted in the mirror if I pull on those bags... how long to wait before I spend more $ and time and then worry about what I will look like? Wondering if I should chalk it up to a bad decision and continue to wear makeup and hide my face until this dissipates. Not a pleasant option but afraid of what could happen if I dissolve, especially now that I read your experience. Advice?
September 22, 2014
Hyaluronidae can be a complete disaster under the eyes. It ruined my lower eyelids. I have waited three months but it has not improved. After the filler was dissolved, the skin under my eyes became loose and crepey and wrinkled. I have lower eyelid puffiness, eye bags and horrible discolouration. My tear troughs were deeper than before and I had a line of indentation where the filler originally was. I look terrible and I don't know how it is going to resolve. More filler helped a bit but it has not reversed all the effects. Some people say they have had success with hyaluronidase but I certainly did not.
May 23, 2015
It's a tough call. I really wish I had waited mine out. I also think the fact that I had Botox a week before was a problem. I had it on my "bunny lines" which are close to the tear trough. I think this relaxed the muscles that hold down the filler and that help swelling dissipate. I was clueless that the Hyaluronidase could damage my eye area or I would have waited at least 6 to 9 months to see if things were resolving on their own.
May 27, 2020
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May 27, 2020
Hello KP72 this is what exactly happened to me!!! Ugh!!!! Could your skin improve with time?!? Hope we can get in touch
October 24, 2014
Two medium tca peels under the eyes helped me- go to a ps or derm. They will do a stronger peel which you need.
January 20, 2015
I agree KP72. as I had a little hylurodinase injected under my eyes and top of cheeks. My eyes looked horrible for several months and my face swelled up even where I did NOT GET THE DISSOLVER!! I am not allergic to bees either ,this stuff is poison and should not be used unless it is a true medical emergency! That said my eyes are slowly getting better ,although they have aged 10 years and are puffy and the tissue not the same anymore . I will probably have to have surgery.
UPDATED FROM wish i had known

Hyaluronidase Update

wish i had known
It's been almost a year since I had a bad experience with Belotero and was advised to use Hyaluronadase to dissolve it. It was the worst decision ever. I have been trying for a year to repair my damaged skin. It is crepey, doughy, loss of elasticity, a bit discolored and it had aged about 15 years from this process. I've tried a deep (phenol) peel, dermapen treatments, and other procedures but nothing has really made a difference for me. Whatever anyone says, Hyaluronidase can seriously and permanently damage your natural skin. My Belotero was not good but I wish I had waited it out. I really recommend staying away from under eye filler and definitely staying away from Hyaluronidase. I've posted some pictures of my "before" eyes and my current eyes to show the damage. So sad. If anyone knows anything that helps, please let me know.

Replies (13)

May 21, 2015
Thank you for sharing, Wish. Many others have had terrible reactions to Hyaluronidase and the word does need to get out that this compound can damage the tissues in the under eye area. In my case it was too dissolve the 'tiniest bit' but it dissolved the whole area + the surrounding tissue leaving a distinct line where the skin is healthy. I've not found this to be any miracle cure and I wish that I would have known the risk going in but I was told that there wouldn't be any negative reaction, it would just take down the puff 'the tiniest bit'. If you do find anything that helps...please post!
May 27, 2015
I also posted a question on the doctor's Q &A and virtually all doctors say this can't happen. How can so many patients have complaints if this can't happen from hyaluronidase. It baffles me.
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May 21, 2015
Thank you for sharing your experience. I had Juvederm injected into my "tear troughs" three weeks ago and now have a long white puffy lump under one eye and a white ridge under the other. I am so disappointed as it has made matters worse. Also my eyes water and feel sore, and I am wondering whether this is another side effect from the fillers which attract water. I wish I had my original hollowness back and had kept away from filler under the eyes. I have an appointment to see the nurse who injected the filler, and was going to ask for Hyaluroniase to dissolve it, but in light of your experience, I will wait it out until it dissolves naturally and just put up with the awful results for 6 to 9 months.
May 27, 2015
I hope it resolves! You can always get the hyaluronidase if you can't stand the puff and ridge. Take pictures monthly so you can see any progress. Best of luck!!
May 21, 2015
omg thank you for posting this, i had restylane and one is is great the other is not, i was going to have someone dissolve a little of the puffy bag but after seeing your post i will NOT. this is so ridiculous. why don't drys tell anyone of the bad side effects? I'm sorry you are going thru this who did u see for your initial fillers a PS?
May 27, 2015
A dermatologist did the initial fillers. Initially I thought the problem was the product (Belotero) but I've heard so much conflicting information and many seem to say it's the technique. That said, I see Belotero complaints regarding the under eye seem frequent especially since it's not used too often.
August 3, 2015
I was told that Restylane is NOT meant for filling the tear troughs! I was told it is only supposed to be used for the lower half of the face i.e. lips, nasiolabial fold and marionette lines. Any Dr. that tells you that you can use it anywhere else i.e. under eyes, cheeks or forehead is full of s**t! They are just trying to take your money. However, if it's any consolation, I have been getting restylane injections in my marionette line area for over 5 years and it has sagged my skin some, since I don't get the injections anymore. I'm staying away from this stuff. It's poison!!
August 1, 2015
For what it's worth, i recently had a consult with a very prominent oculoplastic surgeon in beverly hills, to help me with chronic edema i have following radiesse to the cheeks - not relevant to your situation, BUT he recommended dissolving the restalyn in my tear trough to help clear room for some lymphatic drainage that may be blocked. He discussed with me at length what happens with the dissolving enzyme... He said that sometimes you can see a visible line of filler in the skin while the dissolving process is happening, and also that the skin may take on a boggy or doughy appearance for 48 hours. He also said that if you go on the internet you will see tons of posts from people saying that hyaluronidase ruined their skin and that what actually has happened is that they actually did not have enough hyaluronidase to remove all of the old filler, or remove it all evenly. The HA fillers, according to him, get harder and harder to dissolve over time, but can persist for up to 9 years!!! It is also very clear that the dissolving enzyme is a much more difficult treatment to master than the insertion of filler, so one much choose a doctor with a massive amount of experience with hyaluronidase.

Ultimately, i was not able to have this treatment done with. Mr. Super fancy doctor, because of the price tag, so i can't share my experience, but i am posting what i learned in case it is of any benefit to you in your thinking process. Wish you all the best.
August 1, 2015
That distinct line could be filler that didnt dissolve. Just a thought.
UPDATED FROM wish i had known

Trying to End on a Neutral Note

wish i had known
I would like to say that a number of doctors do not believe the loss of collagen and elasticity is due to the hyaluronidase. Some suggested that the various procedures and injections can take a toll on the skin. I personally would not use hyaluronidase under my eyes again and I am very skittish about fillers there as well especially if you have thin skin. But I don't want to scare anyone and my issue may just be my issue.

Replies (6)

August 2, 2015
Sorry to hear your issues with this. It seems many people are having this problem. It has scared me from doing this. My p.S. Also does not think i should do filler either .
Have you considered fat gratfs?
Good luck to you, I'm sure you will find resolution.
August 3, 2015
I do NOT believe that it's just your tissue. It had to be the hyaluronidase! Thank you for posting this as I will take it as a good warning and tell my friends about it too.
September 25, 2015
Can you post pictures?
February 18, 2018
Did you situation ever improve. I am one month in and experienced the same issue. Praying.
March 11, 2018
So am I!! Belotero on the cheek but we are trying to dissolve it and its so puffy it’s actually scaring me.
April 14, 2018
hello! Did you find any solution?