Is Bellafill dangerous? Is it successful as a long lasting filler? (photos)

I've been using Bellafill regularly for 10 years and have never seen a serious side effect. Bruising is possible with any injectable and mild swelling can happen for a day or so, but I have never seen anything worse than that. Bellafill does last a very long time and for that reason you should be careful to go to a practitioner who is very experienced and conservative in the use of the product. It takes 2 to 3 sessions to get the final result and I space these sessions 6 to 8 weeks apart. The material is soft and natural looking when injected properly. One option that some of my patients take advantage of is to use temporary fillers like Voluma as a trial run and then switch to Bellafill when they are sure that they will like the results. Voluma is easily reversible and lasts for about a year and a half. Hope that helps!

Filler migration and granuloma formation can cause longterm problems with Bellafill and Artefill fillers. This is similar in patients who have Artecoll and PMMA fillers. Longterm filler complications include migration, edema, chronic swelling, and nodularity. If patients have filler migration or nodules, we recommend a combination approach of filler reversal with enzymes, corticosteroids, and scar tissue modulators. Our HIDEF approach can break down filler scarring and granulomas so that they are less apparent. If the filler material itself does not dissolve, it either means the filler is likely not HA material or is unresponsive to conservative therapy. This technique may be followed by surgical removal of the filler if there is a suitable target for removal and the chance of scarring is low.

Surgical removal of Bellafill is possible and we have a wide ranging experience with the treatment. Some areas of the face can be treated because the Bellafill removal scars are barely visible. We have found that Bellafill nodules, if palpated, can be removed from the tissue. Undereye Bellafill, nasolabial fold Bellafill, and lip filler can be treated successfully. Diffuse Bellafill is difficult to treat.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Thank you for the question. Bellafill® is composed of 80% bovine collagen and 20% polymetylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres. Bellafill® is considered a semi-permanent filler and has 5-year post-FDA approval safety data published (we are still awaiting the 10-year data).  It is a very useful and long lasting filler, but it is difficult to reverse so you need a highly experienced injector.  Also, you’ll need a skin test to be sure you're not allergic to the collagen component.
As always, an in-person consultation with a board certified dermatologist with cosmetic training is the best way to assess your needs and provide medical advice. 

Thank you for your question. Bellafill is a FDA approved 5 year filler to treat the nasolabial and strophic acne scarring. It is important that you find a plastic surgeon who is comfortable and experienced with Bellafill. Schedule a consultation and see is Bellafill is right for you. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago 

Bellafill is injected differently than other fillers; less over time and then it builds collagen naturally. It is not an immediate fill like other fillers. Bellafill is more permanent than other fillers and thus it requires meticulous injection technique and someone skilled and experienced. Some physicians do not use this product for those reasons. I use a significant amount of this product and find it very useful and beneficial for patients. Best, Dr. Emer.

Thaley91  Thanks you for your question and picture. A comprehensive consultation is necessary to determine your best course of action.  As  A Belladiamond injector for Suneva,  I have utilized Bellafill for several thousand syringes.  It is one of my favorite fillers as it is long lasting, soft and has studies behind it showing its safety and efficacy. Unfortunately  the internet is filled with misinformation, no current FDA approved filler on the market is known  to cause cancer.  All fillers, even your own body fat has risk.  Studies show that Bellafill is one of the safest.  Make sure you find an injector who is well versed in this filler.  As the top injector in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, I welcome you to visti my office! 

Bellafill is a safe filler when used correctly.  It frequently is used to add volume to the cheeks and can improve the nasolabial fold area.  The procedure would involve a series of treatments spaced apart and this would provide gradual filling of the treated areas.  There are other fillers that could be used, but they would not last as long as Bellafill.   

Bellafill is safe when injected correctly by a skilled doctor.  It is the longest lasting filler available in the United States and has been shown to last at least 5 years (though it probably lasts even longer).  No FDA approved fillers have been linked to cancer or other long-term conditions.A good way to think about Bellafill vs. other fillers is: how confident are you that you will like your results and want them permanently?  If you aren't completely sure, communicate closely with your doctor.  Since Bellafill is considered permanent, it is important to go slow when using it to treat areas.  It is much easier to go back and add more later vs. trying to remove some if too much was injected.If you want to "dip your toes in" before committing to Bellafill, you can also try a temporary filler like Juvederm or Voluma.  Voluma can last up to 2 years when injected in the cheek area.  These products will give you similar results, but can more easily be reversed if you aren't completely happy.  You can also switch to Bellafill later on after you have become more experienced with dermal fillers.Best of luck with your decision.

This is a very good question because there are a lot ofmyths out there about Bellafill. Theshort answer is that Bellafill is very safe and an excellent filler.
The longer answer is that the FDA 5 year studiesshow that Bellafill had less complications and a higher satisfaction rate thanall of the other fillers. In addition,Bellafill was still working great a 5 years, while the other fillers had losttheir volume.As an update, the 10 year post market safety data with Bellafill, remains the same year after year with a reported problem of some kind being 1.2% of all syringes sold and this is identical to the safety data for all other fillers!I hope that helps.Best regards.