Good face gone bad

Fat Transfer - Gambling with Your Face - California

EMATRIX - JUST SAY NO! - California

Hi Blossoms,   Sorry for not responding sooner. I was out of the country.  The devascularization actually occured from an IPL I had had done prior to the eMatrix.   I am about 1.5 post my last eMatrix.  I had several treatments done and it was too agressive.  My hope is that since you have only had one done - your skin will recover.  My advice is to do nothing at this point.  Let your skin heal on its own.  Keep it very well hydrated/moisturized and stay 100% out of the sun at all costs.  You really can minimize any damage at this point - but you have to be patient. You don't want to do further damage to the skins natural barrier.   My damage was too extensive and progressive over the course of time.  eMatrix is suppose to rejuvenate under the skin, but it does ablate as well, so repeatedly aggressive treatments can cause thinning of the skin. I used to hear what great skin I have. . . now every doctor or skin rep I meat comments on out thin my skin is.  You can see the blue veins and using some fillers is a problem - because lumps are more likely to show.  Anyway,  If I could do it again. . .I would have been much more patient and let my skin do it's thing without intervention.

You will probably be just fine. After five days,  you could still have some swelling, etc. The skin has an amazing way of healing if you don't push your luck.  Be kind to it and allow it to heal. My treatments were way too aggressive and the results were not reversible.  Trust your gut and if things still don't feel right after a few weeks, then don't do the next one.  I wish I'd been more patient and not done anything. . . but these Doctors convince us that more is better - and it's simply not. Good luck Blossoms.

Hello everyone,  I'm so sorry I haven't responded more.  Since RealSelf changed a bit  - it is not as convenient to just respond as it used to be and I travel for work - so it's been a hiccup.  RedRoxie, you have gotten some good info from the responders. We've all been at this for a while and have been various stages of "fix it".   There are things that can be done. . . Take a deep breath and don't do anything until you have found the absolutely best doctor.  Quick fixes don't exist and rushing into anything will only compound the issue.  The fat does continue settle and since you have facial atrophy - removing the transfer can create other issues down the road. Don't do what I did and try to keep your weight artificially low to avoid "fat blow up"  - it could cause issues later..  Maintain good health.  My low weight and struggle to maintain it now because of the anxiety that developed has created an atrophy issue (and not evenly) that is far worse that what I initially went in to address. This procedure can steal your life - don't let it.  (Easier said than done.) I had some luck with the 5 FU, Cortisone, Micro-Lipo. . . It's been 2.5 years since this was done and I have just reconciled to getting fillers every two months to stay "topped off" around the lumps.   In other words, this cannot be completely reversed. . .but I've seen some look pretty good in the right doctor's hands. 

Hi Jane,  I have a big blue'purple vein under the eye that showed up right after the FT and it's been there - two and a half years later.   Some days it shows up more than others. . but it does bulge.  I had some veins show up on the temples where fat was injected too. No idea what exactly causes this - but these veins can be tough (and dangerous) to treat.  I know some of the fat is sitting on a nerve close to the vein and that area was painful to tough for almost a year after the surgery - but not sure that's related. A Yag laser that could be used for veins in other areas - is too dangerous to use under the eye.  (I did have a doctor attempt Yag on my temple veins several times - but no help.)   I have never heard of someone performing sclerotherapy under the eyes - those injections are even risky on the forehead.  When you're dealing with your eyes or an area close to the brain - it's probably best to just cover imperfections with make-up.  I doubt that's the answer you are hoping for. . but having looked into this myself and tried a few things -  I'm learning the hard way!

Hi Jane, I don't remember exactly how he numbed the area.. . I believe I was injected with anesthesia and then given some light oral sedatives.  I think we did use marker to identify areas :).   I was also able to talk throughout the procedure - and could direct him to some of the areas that I felt were problematic (for me). It's risky taking out too much, of course.  He did a great job.  That said,  I'm past the year and a half mark post procedure, and it's a little tough to say what's going on.  I still have some strands/lumps that I don't like.  (It's amazing how such seemingly small pieces can distort your features.) They may have grown, or are just more visible with the "natural and unnatural" fat loss I've experienced.  We're not sure. At this point,  he very, very carefully fills Belotero or Restylane around the lumps.  I don't have enough extra skin to do a bleph, so that's where we are at.  I believe the original micro ran about $2500-3000. I don't know what's next.  We may consider another micro, but some of the fat (particularly the most tell-tale, unnatural looking strand) is on a nerve and really close to eye so it's not worth the risk. Bottom line - none of it is a perfect science.