1 syringe of Bellafill for moderate to severe rolling acne scars, disappointed 5 days later... Any suggestions?

Question

Bellafill txmt 5 days ago and was very happy immediately after. Swelling and bruising receded and now see every scar and I'm so disappointed. Derm did 1 syringe saying would rather underfill and add more later than overfill, which I understand. The plan was 2-3 syringes. I go back at the 4 week point for more. Can I expect a better outcome or does Bellefill not work for some? Injected scars on the temples and deep scars on cheeks. Is there a chance I will see improvement before my next round?

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

Bellafill has some temporary immediate results, but it mainly works by stimulating the body’s collagen production, which takes time. Generally, full results appear after 2-3 treatments over 6-12 months. Bellafill is a very long-lasting, semi-permanent filler, and many doctors prefer to be cautious when initially performing injections, as it is much easier to add more filler later than to correct for too much filler.

Raymond E. Lee, MD · Answer

Thanks for sharing. Your doctor is doing the right thing by starting with one syringe and not over correcting and repeating with another treatment a few weeks later.  It is better to come back and do more later than do too much at once.  Some acne scars will respond better than others and this is another issue. The more distensible the scar the better potential result. The doctor needs to select the right type of scar. There are no guarantees but I do think at least 2 treatments are warranted. Scars will never go away completely but just improve to some extent depending on the type of scar and injecting technique.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Since Bellafill is a stimulating agent, it takes several weeks to see the results from a treatment.  There normally is some immediate improvement which dissipates over several days and it is not unusual for it to appear exactly like it did before the injection.  Over more time, there will be some improvement as the stimulatory effect occurs.

Louis P. Bucky, MD · Answer

Bellafill is comprised of 80% Bovine Gel Collagen, which offer that  immediate filling effect; 20% PMMA  which stimulates long term dermal remodeling and 0.3% Lidocaine for patient comfort. Improvements in scar and skin quality can be noted in patients usually around 6 weeks, but expect improvements for up to 12 months after injection.

Brian Windle, MD (retired) · Answer

I hear your disappointment. 
One syringe is not a lot of volume and frequently, with using just one
syringe, the areas that are being corrected will be under filled.  Remember, your plan was to have 2 or 3
syringes.  The beauty of Bellafill is
that you can add to it without any loss of the volume from the first
treatment.  You should get a lot more
visible correction with the next treatment.

I hope that helps.

Best regards

1 syringe of Bellafill for moderate to severe rolling acne scars, disappointed 5 days later... Any suggestions?

Answers (5)

Answer: Be patient with Bellafill results

Answer: Be patient with Bellafill results

Answer: Bellafill fo Acne Scarring

Answer: Bellafill fo Acne Scarring

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Everything you need to know about Bellafill

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1 syringe of Bellafill for moderate to severe rolling acne scars, disappointed 5 days later... Any suggestions?

Answers (5)

Answer: Be patient with Bellafill results

Answer: Be patient with Bellafill results

Answer: Bellafill fo Acne Scarring

Answer: Bellafill fo Acne Scarring

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Bellafill

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