POSTED UNDER Juvederm REVIEWS
Juvederm Disaster -San Jose, CA
ORIGINAL POST
I went to my Doctor for a simple juverderm...
juverdem nightmareJune 11, 2013
$500
I went to my Doctor for a simple juverderm procedure. He was supposed to inject my lips with the product. After I left I noticed that my upper lip had no color in it at all. I have had this procedure done before and so I knew my body tolerated it and that no color in my upper lip was odd. The next day I woke up and my upper lip was swollen huge. My nose was also swollen as well as the area in between my nose and upper lip. I was also very bruised in that area and had developed a rash there as well. I also began to get very painful sinus infection like symptoms. I was also getting white sores that were popping ip both on my upper lip line as well as the area under my nose. I had developed sores in my mouth with made it impossible to open my mouth let alone eat or even brush my teeth. The swelling and pain got so bad that I went to the ER. I was given steriods and anti-histamines for the swelling. I went to the Doctor the next day and he told me that sometimes the juvederm block veins in the lips and this is what happens. He gave my antibiotics and biafine to topically put on the area. He also injected a solution he said would disslove the juvederm. I read the instructions on the Biafine and it says not to put it on skin rashes or infections. HELP!! What do I do? I am almost 6 days from this injection and my lip and area under my nose look terrible. I am afraid I am scarred for life and this burn/rash will remain.
Replies (30)
June 12, 2013
Was it juvederm plus?
June 12, 2013
The doctor said it was Juvederm XC which is what I have had injected before although at this pooint I dont believe anything he says.
June 12, 2013
I'm a dermatologist. You need to see someone very experienced in fillers who knows how to deal with this complication. Although rare, filler injected into the artery of the lip results in cutting off the blood supply needed for the tissue to survive. Hyaluronidase injections can be repeated and hopefully the tissue will get some blood supply. Nitroglycerin paste is also applied to the skin to open the blood vessels in the area that aren't blocked to help supply additional blood to the tissues. This is a true emergency, see someone as quickly as possible who can help.
June 12, 2013
Thank you very much for your input. I had gone to a dermatologist yesterday who perscribed a different antibiotic and ointment than the plastic surgeon who did this to me in the first place perscribed. (Bactrim instead of Azithromycin and Mupirocin instead of Biafine for the upper lip area). I dont know who to believe and what to do. Should I continue what this inital doctor perscribed for the dermatologist or neither????The area between my nose and lips is very raw and bleeds to the touch. I also have sores there as well. Even though he injuected hyaluronidase two days ago, my upper lip still feels numb and looks discolored. I just want to heal and not have any permanent scarring from this.
June 12, 2013
The antibiotic is a precaution against infection and at this point it may take awhile for this to heal. Hopefully the hyaluronidase injected was enough to melt the juvederm. The sores on the lip, inside the mouth and elsewhere are not from infection but from the tissue breaking down from lack of blood supply. The mupiricin is best for skin like that and the bactrim will help prevent infection. Sometimes hyperbaric oxygen treatments are used to speed the healing. Find the doctor you trust and stick with him, even if that's the initial doctor. This complication can happen to any injector regardless of experience, it's just experience that helps us deal with the complications more effectively. Good luck...
June 12, 2013
So you're basically saying that it was 'just' bad luck and that even the most experienced injectors can hit a vein, just like that ? If that would be true, then why would Restylane be even FDA approved ? Dying and rotting pieces in your face seem quite serious to me.
June 12, 2013
I had Restylane injected myself last week. I wanted several parts of my face done, one part being the area above my temples. My doctor refused injecting me there since he said that there was risk of hitting a vein in that area. He also said to me that he NEVER had to dissolve filler for any of his own clients (he did it for others though). I'm no expert but to me it seems the risk of hitting a vein can be circumvented by selecting a good doctor.
June 12, 2013
The thing is I selected a "great" doctor. Someone who has been a PS for years and is highly regarded in his field. He actually trains other doctors! That what the dermatologist that I saw yesterday told me. I cant even think of long term scarring or damage right now. I just want to get better soo bad. thanks for your comments
June 12, 2013
Based on my pictures can you tell the likelihood of necrosis forming? Will this leave a permanent mark? Thanks for your feedback!
June 12, 2013
I've been searching this board here and most doctors here say that it all comes down to the experience of the PS and the proper injection technique. I'm not sure if they're right, but your story is scaring me quite a bit ...
June 12, 2013
Wow !! This looks like a real nightmare. Your doctor made it sound like this 'just' sometimes happens, but I'm pretty sure it was totally his fault and you should sue him. But first focus on getting well. I wish you all the best
UPDATED FROM juverdem nightmare
20 days post
Recovering...
juverdem nightmareJune 20, 2013
Thank you to all who commented and sent well wishes. You really helped me get through this very difficult time. The good news is that I did not lose my lip. I have been seeing a very good dermatologist. I still have some swelling and the area between my nose and upper lip continues to be red. I am told that it will remain that way for months. Hopefully it will heal without a scar. I consider myself to be very lucky knowing that it could have been much worse. My advise to all is to research any and all procedures fully and be 100% confident in you PS. I am sorry I did not post sooner as I had some technical difficulties. Take care!!!!
Replies (0)
Replies (26)
June 20, 2013
Thank you guys sooo much for inquiring about my condition. I could not post sooner but did as sson as I was able. I updated my post with pictures. I wish you all well!!!!! Thanks again!!!!!
June 20, 2013
Glad your better, I had a small amount in my upper lip only, for the smokers lines( I don't smoke) just aging signs,doc was conservative, but now top lip after 2 weeks is a lot larger and duck looking. Wondering if I should have small amount in bottom to even them out? Bottom lip quite smaller tha top, just looks wired, problem, I Am very afraid, I didn't set out for big lips, just wanted wrinkles around lips diminished. Any suggestion from anyone what you think I should do?
Thanks
June 20, 2013
I would wait a bit longer. From my experience (with the right injections done in the past), it takes at least three weeks to settle. You may just let the stuff take its course and dissipate on its own and then re-evaluate for next time maybe a smaller amount of injection. Considering what I am recovering from, I may be the wrong person for advice....cause I am leaning toward advising against injections altogether. Good luck!!!
June 21, 2013
Me too, every time I have had my lips injected, I look horrible, guess I will take what God gave me, thin lips,rather than trying so hard to look like all the movie stars who seem to have seductive lips, that my husband likes, but on me, it's horrible, my face is too slim to have the pouty duck lips, plus at 57, I look ridiculous .. Why did I even try??? Must be crazy
WOW that looks so painful. I can't believe how swollen the area under your nose is. I hope everything calms down for you soon, are you going to get a second opinion or stick with the original Doctor? Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Good luck!