Does Bellafill ever really go away?

The PMMA particles that are injected with a Bellafill treatment do not go away.  They will always be there.  Most people are hesitant to say the results from Bellafill are permanent though, because there will still be changes in appearance as the face ages over time.  

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. 

Bellafill is a permanent filler. I would caution patients to avoid permanent filler augmentation in favor of safer HA fillers. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian#Realself100 Surgeon

The PMMA in the filler is permanent and stimulates a network of collagen around it. The filler is permanent but the FDA does not approve the company to say this since the original studies submitted were not supporting this yet. In my experience the results are permanent but if for example you loose weight the volume in the applied area will diminish due to fat loss not filler loss. 

The PMMA is unable to be broken down in the body. A matrix of collagen and macrophages forms around the PMMA spheres of Bellafill and creates a stable, long term correction. Over time, the body continues to lose volume and more filler is required. The patients from the Bellafill study which gave it the 5 year indication were studied even further. There will be 10 year data soon published. Just as any other implants in the body (breast, chin, cheek, hip, knee), there is a risk of infection but probably no more than any of the others. The 5 year data showed a granuloma rate of about 1.7%. There was one facility that accounted for half of them. Only 0.5% continued to be present after treatment. HA fillers have similar infection/granuloma rates and they have not been studied for more than 2 years. Bellafill is the most long term studied filler in the world.

Bellafill is a permanent injection which is FDA injection for acne scars and the nasolabial area.  The five year study only tracked the results for that many years but it is believed to be permanent.  For these and any other permanent treatments please consult an expert.  Best, Dr. Green

Hello and thanks for posting.
Bellafill is the only FDA approved permanent filler. The company can only comment on 5 year results because they performed an FDA mandated 5 years safety study.

But when you look at the biology of the product, the results are permanent. Bellafill is composed of 80% bovine (cow) collagen and 20% PMMA microspheres. These microspheres are in the 50 micron diameter range which is about 3 times as large as a neutrophil white blood cell. After injection, the bovine collagen is rapidly removed by white blood cells as part of the body’s immune response. But the PMMA particles are too large for white cells to engulf and dispose of.  So what happens is that macrophages, another type of white cell, undergo transformation into multinucleated giant cells. These cells surround the PMMA microspheres, locking them into place in the tissue and preventing them from migrating.  So a mature PMMA implant is composed of PMMA microspheres surrounded by bands of native human collagen and multinucleated giant cells.

Because Bellafill is permanent, late granuloma or infection is a possibility. The risk of granuloma in was 1.7% in the 5 year safety study. Late infection would be a very remote occurrence. 

Below see an attached video of the use of Bellafill in an off-label indication - as deep structural filler for redefining the jawline. 
I hope that this information helps and best of luck to you!  

Bellafill will last a long time.  Just how long it will last has yet to be determined but you are right, the formal 5 year FDA approved data shows no drop off at 5 years and the 10 year data is about to be published with no drop off!  Additionally, the studies on Bellafill show that it is as safe if not safer than all the other fillers on the market in terms of complications.  I have seen and spoken with patients who have had “problems” with their Bellafill years later and the problem has always been not related to their Bellafill injection.  The prior formulation of Bellafill that was used prior to 2005, did have some long term problems but there are no concerns with Bellafill.  There are also some fillers that are not available in the US but are like Bellafill that will cause some problems.

Finally, Bellafill is a wonderful solution to many facial aging and volume loss concerns but remember that it does produce a long lasting result so make sure you see a provider that is very experienced with it.

I have added a video about filler safety for you.  I hope that helps. 

Best regards.