Follow-Up: Depressed about my face after too much filler has distorted my natural look. Options?

Question

I ve been using fillers temporary ones for 10 years I'm currently aged 35 . I have injections once every six months . Ive injected the naso labial lines , eyes , cheeks and jawline and marionette lines . I had juvederm vo lift 4 months ago Im now Puffy ,with no cheekbones ,my nose looks wider, eyes smaller . I wake depressed every day . Should I leave my face for 2 years and look super ugly or dissolve it and look like a deflated balloon there are no specialists in the uk .

Munir Somji, BSc, MBBS · Answer

Unfortunately, it seems that your fillers have been injected in such a way that they have made your face round rather than sculpted. This is normally something your surgeon would discuss with you prior to injection. From experience the fillers that you have had do last long. I commonly have the dissolve fillers but I wouldn't advise to go ahead with it without an in depth discussion with your surgeon to assess the risks and benefits.

Daniel Ezra, MD, FRCS · Answer

Thanks for sharing your pictures and your problems. The distress you are experiencing is unfortunately all too common. I regularly see patients like yourself who are unhappy with their appearance after repeated and excessive filler injections. We have to ask some difficult questions about why this is happening. It is clear to me that there are many practitioners whose aesthetic sense is quite simply inappropriate and who feel that the 'puffy face' look is desirable. A convergence of factors have led to this look being quite acceptable and even fashionable in some places. I have a lot of sympathy for patients who put their trust in practitioners and end up with a result like this. It should not happen.
Im also concerned that you have been having top-ups every 6 months, this is quite excessive. Although top-ups are sometimes necessary, regular injections will inevitably lead to this kind of result.
On a practical note, you are in a difficult position. looking at the pictures, it would appear that you have been treated with highly cohesive fillers like Juvederm. These fillers  tend to persist for a long time and so you may find that waiting will be a very long game. the alternative is  to have the fillers dissolved. You will need to exercise great care in dissolving these fillers as the hyaluronidase can also dissolve your own natural connective tissues and lead to even worse hollowing, so do ensure that you have a very experienced physician treating you.
Given that you are an attractive young woman, I would  advise dissolving the fillers and if the appearance is a concern, build up with fillers again more subtley with a different physician, or consider some limited fat transfer which tends to give a more natural result.

Wishing you the best of luck with your future treatments.

Christian N. Ford, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs.  Based on your narrative and photos, I would recommend that you see an experienced injector for an in-person consultation to fully discuss your concerns and your goals and expectations in order to determine the best course of action.  If hyaluronic acid based fillers were used, any unwanted product can be easily removed with hyaluronidase.  A good option for you might be to postpone any additional fillers for 1 year and then reevaluate.  Beautiful and natural results can be achieved with conservative use of injectables.  Hope this helps and best wishes!

Marek Kacki, MD · Answer

I couldn't agree more with Dr. Ezra. Injection of fillers per se is not that difficult; what is extremely difficult, and all too often unattainable by many, is something  you can not learn from books, the ability to see the effect before it's done, knowing exactly what to expect from tissue not only at the point of injection but also in distant areas, a creative visual perception and imagination! 
If you look at your first and the last images you can detect the problem even though the light conditions and projection of your face are not the same. It appears that the filler did not even address the key areas that should be of concern but, more importantly, it added the weight to the soft tissue subjecting it to omnipresent gravity that has distorted the ovality of your face.
There are many specialist in the UK who are true artists, those who would never create unnatural look either using fillers or surgery. How to find them? Through the word of mouth, from friends, through analyzing images posted on doctor's websites, through educating yourself on the basics of classic beauty, not the type of "beauty" created by the trendsetters from Hollywood. 
The remedy for your concerns - if you are patient, the filler will eventually disappear. If you are determined to do it as soon as possible, it could be dissolved quite rapidly. Once it is gone you should have a detailed re-assessment of your needs by a different injector, preferably Plastic Surgeon , but you must inform him/her about your past experiences. Good luck!

Matthew Elias, DO, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  We do not have VoLift in the US, but it is a Juvederm product and should be easily dissolved with hyaluronidase.  It is best to follow up with a board certified Dermatologist to evaluate you in person and create a proper plan.  Likely the best option if you are so dissatisfied is to dissolve the filler and see what you are left with - if unhappy at that point then you can attempt to reflate with additional filler.  Regards, Dr. Matt Elias

Follow-Up: Depressed about my face after too much filler has distorted my natural look. Options?

Answers (6)

Answer: Distortion following filler

Answer: Distortion following filler

Answer: Unhappy with fillers...

Answer: Unhappy with fillers...

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Juvederm

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Follow-Up: Depressed about my face after too much filler has distorted my natural look. Options?

Answers (6)

Answer: Distortion following filler

Answer: Distortion following filler

Answer: Unhappy with fillers...

Answer: Unhappy with fillers...

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Juvederm

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.