My cheeks are uneven due to the filler injection that the doctor gave me. Is he obligated to fix it free of charge?

This is a difficult situation.  I like loyalty with my patients, but filler is often unpredictable and more may be required than what is done at a given setting.  Having good before and after photos really help clarify this issue most often.  If someone is unhappy though, regardless of what the reason, I always try to find what will make them happy and acomplish that.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Every plastic surgeon will have their own policy on refinements or touch ups for fillers. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with either injectable treatments or surgery. In many cases, if the initial procedure was performed properly and a patient requires more filler than initially thought there will be an additional charge for the product. That could be full retail cost or a discounted amount but there is often some charge as the products are expensive both to you and to the plastic surgeon. I hope that you and your injector come to an agreement of some sort. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Hi Adam. Your question does not have a simple answer.  In some cases, we do touch-ups for free when we see that the results did not come out loooking like we hoped.  In other cases, patients have a pre-existing situation that prevents them from meeting their goals (without surgery) or they sometimes have unrealistic expectations.We always take before and after pictures so that we can review the results with patients.The bottom line is that your injector is not obligated to provide a touchup for free.  They may do this if they feel the work could have been better or if they see a long term relationship with you as a possibility.  If instead they view you as unreasonable, then perhaps that would not be offered.  Good luck with the disagreement and we hope it works out.  To see examples of Radiesse injections in Los Angeles, click the before and after photo link below.  

This is not an uncommon scenario, but thankfully is not common either. With all of my patients, I always try to explain that all fillers are not completely predictable, some being less predictable than others. For this reason, I charge patients for the amount of product that is used. I give an estimated amount for the first treatment. In most cases, that is all that is needed. In others, more is needed than expected. Some will need a touch-up syringe at a later date, for which I do charge patients for the additional syringe usedand this is made clear at the time of the consultation. I make no guarantees to patients, nor can I, regarding the final outcome and the patient's satisfaction and this too is made clear at the time of the consultation. It is always best to under-treat someone rather than over-treat. You can always add more product, but removing product is not always so simple (depending upon the product used).In many cases, any minor asymmetry noticed will resolve over 1-2 months as the product and any possible swelling settle down, and it is not uncommon for surgeons to recommend waiting. I understand that many want instant perfection, but sometimes being a little patient and less aggressive pays off with huge dividends.Reviewing pre-treatment photographs is very important to see the difference before treatment and after. It sometimes takes a little finessing to get things just right.  The good new is that usually with future treatments things usually go much smoother as you will find the recipe that works best for you. Good luck!Dr. Bader