The backstory is... I had nerve damage and lip assymetry that a beloved (& now departed) dermatologist recommended liquid silicon for. She had a PS at that time in her office who administered said silicon, Dr. Rudy Triana. I have been disfigured 13 years now. Over a decade of no pictures of myself, and no smiling! Dr. Melvin Propis IS a life saver. It can take more than one try to get but I don't mind, am just pleased to get back to me! I highly recommend Dr. Propis! Updated on 13 Nov 2017: Dr. Melvin Propis in Davie, Florida. I cannot say enough good things about him, and his kind beautiful staff, Lori and Lisa. He is not only an excellent, knowledgeable and experienced surgeon, but also offers stem cell therapy as well as medicinal cannabis license as well; both of which are the future of medicine. Dr. Propis has got such a great way about him too, truly a fascinating, dynamic human. My backstory is that my then beloved (& now departed) dermatologist recommended at that time, freshly approved liquid silicon, to correct lip asymmetry/nerve damage from a childhood injury. Dr. Rudy Triana was a PS working in her office at that time and administered it. I was disfigured! So, smiling as little as possible and pretty much NO pictures of me with these ducklips for 13 years!! Dr. Propis is a life saver. Do not be discouraged, to do it well, and right, MAY take more than one try. But most do not have Dr. Propis' experience in this area. And I can now smile again! Thank you for helping me get my life back!

Hello, I'm a registered nurse working in plastics and I always volunteered to be a "guinea pig" with new products. The micro-droplet technique was used to pump up my cheek bones and lips over 2 years from 2010 thru 2012. the effect was awesome. Beautiful high cheekbones and pouty lips.... Now, years later, my cheeks have dropped to the center leaving me with a "cabbage patch doll look " and my lips keep growing scar tissue which makes the lips grow bigger and bigger. I have had a lip reduction last year and will have to have another this year. There is no way to remove the silikon 1000 from my lips so the tissue has to be taken out. Also, I have been getting an allergic reaction to the silikon all over my face. Some days when I wake up it will be there and it takes a week to go away. I have been on prednisone for 3 months last year! I think this is from this strange foreign substance. It's a nightmare! Don't do it! Updated on 8 Mar 2015: Hello Everyone, I finally found a Dr. that knows how to take the Silikon 1000 out of the cheeks without any scarring. I'm only 4 days post op and I can already see the results. I'll post the before photo's now. I'm still swollen and black and blue so you won't be able to tell that well. Dr. G is the best! He takes his time explaining everything and the procedure is done under local and a block ( like the dentist ). It took about 1 hour and then I got to see the Silikon material in the canister. It looks like oily white globs. It's poison! Afterward my facial rash and the itching stopped! I'm so glad I found Dr. Gallerani. He saved my life. Updated on 19 Mar 2015: Hi Everyone, I had the silicon in my lips removed about 3 weeks ago and then the cheek removal about 2 weeks ago. Still numb and bruised but you can tell the difference. I felt as though I was turning into a different species on this planet with the strange way the Silicon was transforming and deforming my face! LOL Updated on 14 Nov 2015: Hi Everyone, It's been awhile since my post. I had the silicon removed by the liposuction technique. Well, maybe not the best idea. I have dents in my face that I now have to fill with voluma from time to time. Help! Does anyone have any ideas or advice? Thank You Updated on 19 Feb 2016: I everyone, haven't posted in awhile. Scheduled a consult with Dr. Harrison Lee in New York City last Monday. His office manager Susan assured me that he will be able to help me and prepared me for surgery the next day, Tuesday! I was so excited that this poison would be out of my face and I would not have any weird eczema like reactions on my face any longer. I booked my flight $250.,paid out of pocket for my MRI $250.and also I had to pay lab work $304, and hotel for two weeks $2,000. Dr. Harrison looked at me and said there was nothing he could do for me and couldn't get me out of the office fast enough. He just stated to go to an Immunologist.... I don't even think he looked at the MRI Disk because his Mac computer was not compatible. All that expense for nothing. It was really heart breaking. I feel his office manager should apologize for all the work and expense I had to go through only to be turned away. Also, the other dark haired receptionist was very rude. Where is the compassion ladies? My advice to Dr. Harrison Lee would be to hire nurses or other women trained in the medical profession so at least the be treated with respect, knowledge and kindness. Updated on 28 Jun 2016: Hi Everyone, I found a dermatologist that wants to help me but he needs my medical records and Dr. Melvin Propis's office, where I had the injections done, will not send them. It's like they don't want to help me! My face is now getting really red and it seems as though the Silicon migrated to my chin area...I can feel small lumps and bumps. Still itchy as help and keeps me up at night. Haven't worked now in over two years and my savings are almost gone! Any advice would help my Real Self Friends. Updated on 5 Dec 2017: Hi Everyone, I wanted to update you about my horrible experience with permanent fillers. After years of research and going to Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons and Immunologists etc. I found out that sometimes with permanent fillers a "biofilm" can develop. A young Dermatologist figured it out....I was told I had Lupus by the last Derm! It is a chronic condition and I have to take an antibiotic tablet and a low dose steroid when I flare out. I take Minocycline for flare ups. It is managable but the sun and tap water is not my friend..... I hope this helps somebody out there that is suffering from the same thing. Check out this website: http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com/dermatology-times/news/modernmedicine/modern-medicine-feature-articles/biofilms-dermal-fillers-manag Updated on 21 Oct 2025: Two years ago, I made one of the biggest changes of my life—I packed up and moved to Manhattan. As a Registered Nurse, I’ve always believed in hard work, resilience, and taking care of others. But after years of focusing on my patients and career, it took a toll on me and I was looking older then I felt. I realized it was time to refresh. I had a full facelift back in 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. But recently, life in the city that never sleeps has a way of inspiring transformation. So it was time! After months of research (and I mean real research), I interviewed at least six top-rated plastic surgeons throughout New York City. I wanted someone experienced, board-certified, and most importantly, someone who truly listened. That’s when I found Dr. Mark Albert, an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon located at 950 Park Avenue in Manhattan. From my very first consultation, Dr. Albert stood out. He’s down to earth, professional, and genuinely kind—a rare combination. He took the time to explain every step of the procedure in detail, from the local anesthesia process to the recovery timeline, which immediately put me at ease. I never once felt rushed or pressured; instead, I felt informed and confident in my decision. On October 15th, I underwent a mini facelift under local anesthesia. I’ll admit, I was nervous walking in that morning, but the entire experience turned out to be surprisingly smooth—and truly painless. Dr. Albert and his team made sure I was comfortable throughout the procedure, and before I knew it, it was done. The results? Love my new look, subtle, smooth, natural, and exactly what I hoped for. I look refreshed, not “done,” and it feels like my outside now matches the energy and confidence I’ve always felt within. I’ll be taking pictures along the way to document my healing and progress—because I think it’s important to show the real journey behind the transformation. Every stage tells a story, and I’m excited to share how beautifully the recovery process unfolds. Looking back, I’m grateful for this experience and for taking the leap to do something just for me. Moving to Manhattan was about chasing new opportunities—and this mini facelift was simply an extension of that same spirit of renewal. If anyone is considering facial rejuvenation and wants a caring, knowledgeable surgeon, I can wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Mark Albert. His expertise and calm demeanor made all the difference in turning what could have been a stressful experience into something empowering and positive. Updates are forthcoming!