Bio-Alcamid Causes Dangerous Infections, Do NOT Consider Using It!
I had bio-alcamid injected in my cheeks, temples,...
I had bio-alcamid injected in my cheeks, temples, nasolabial folds and edges of my lips while living in Europe. This was hands-down the stupidest thing I've ever done. Not only did it not improve my looks (it did NOT look natural) but, years later, I developed a horrible infection as a result of trying to have it removed. When they injected it they told me it could be removed if I wasn't happy with it but in fact this is not at all easy.
Back in the US I finally decided to try to get the awful stuff out. My skin tone was becoming more lax with age and the stuff was quite visible as lumps under my skin. I found a reputable cosmetic surgeon who was willing to try.
With great difficulty he extracted some of it with a large needle. He had never done this before; it was trial and error, but he wanted to help me. I would say it was about 50% successful. We did this in several sessions, which were quite expensive, and the third time, a few days afterwards I developed an infection on the site where he had attempted to remove the gel.
The infection grew worse and worse in spite of my taking antibiotics. I developed a huge abcess in my cheek which, after about a week, popped. This is very dangerous. If pus from an abscess gets into your bloodstream you can die, which is why abscesses should always be drained. But my doctor didn't do anything - I think he was afraid to touch it. When it popped and started to ooze pus my whole face swelled up. I called the doctor and he rushed me to the emergency room where I had surgery to clean out the abscess. It was the most traumatic experience of my life.
I spent 2 days in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics. I ended up with a cheek stuffed full of gauze which I had to pull out myself a bit every day while the abscess closed. Now, a year later I still have a scar on my cheek from the surgery and I still have lumps of bio-alcamid in my face. I would like to have more removed but I'm afraid of more infections. Afterwards I found out by googling that the gel has a high rate of infection.
I emailed the doctor in Europe and she was very apologetic, she said they hadn't know the risks when they started using it, and that she didn't know how I could get it out. I am still hoping to get it out of my face somehow; any tips would be welcome.
Replies (5)
I am so sorry to hear about your experience with Bio-Alcamid. I too have had a terrible ordeal with this product and currently in bed after major surgery to remove it.
I naively had the product injected into my lips about 6/7 years ago in my early twenties. I have since learnt through painful experience that this product should NOT be put in the lips ever due to its bulk, immobility, and the likelyhood of lumps etc.
It looked very bad from the start but I suffer from accute BDD and could not see that I looked so artificial and was just gratful I no longer looked like me. It functioned a bit like a mask and gave me the confidence to do things. Anyway soon after I started getting heckled in the street and people were always making comments. I got very depressed by this and started having the Bio-Alcamid removed by a very kind and skilled Dr in London. But then a large absess appeared whilst I was abroad and developed into a massive infection in June of this year. My whole face swelled up and I was hospitalised for 3 days and put on a combined anti-biotic drip. The infection never went away and the Dr's tried over 10 types of anti-biotics,but to no avail. I was told my only option was to have it removed surgically. The Dr who had been helping me in London referred me to a man who is experienced at this procedure and I had the surgery two weeks ago. This surgeon has been very kind and this was a highly complex procedure. They had to cut across the whole of the top of my lip and suck the product out with a special device. The surgery went well but they did have to remove some of my own tissue because the product had began to attach itself to it, so I will need a fat graft or something later down the line. I don't think that there are may Surgeons who have the experience to do this so I was very lucky to find this Dr and he has done a very good job. My advise, get that stuff out as soon as possible, it can bond with healthy tissue and become impossible to remove without removing it too. It is such a dangerous product I don't understand why they are allowed to market it as easily removable and safe when there are so many reports of problems. I would be happy to supply both Dr's who have helped to remove the products details if you like because they have both been great. Please seek help, don't let this ruin your health and happiness as it did mine for so long. Good luck.
Who was your doctor? and Where?
I had BA filler injected 6years ago, to cover a rubbish liposuction op done by Paul Levick, and now I'm mildly scared from what you have said - there doesn't seem to be many people over the 5 year mark.
I've had no problems but....
You say it attches to your own tissue??? Is this true??
Regards
Thanks so much for sharing your horrific experience with Bio-Alcamid, which is so similar to mine. I live in the US now, where it has not been approved for use, so there are not many doctors who know about it here. I too am surprised that in Europe it continues to be used, considering the high rate of infection.
I'm also surprised that a doctor would inject a permanent filler in your lips! As far as it "attaching" to your tissue, my understanding is that the body forms a capsule of connective tissue around it because it is a foreign body. This happens quite soon after it is injected. That's why, when you develop an infection and take antibiotics, the drugs don't work - because the infection is inside of this capsule and the antibiotics don't reach it. When my doctor here tried to remove it, what probably happened was that some of the fluid came into contact with blood and got spread. So removing it is very tricky.
In the process of researching the infection, I discovered a medical journal online documenting the work of a clinic in Israel where they are removing Bio-Alcamid by rinsing the site with water via needles for several days, while keeping the patient on IV antibiotics. It is quite a process. I will look for it and post a link here if I can find the article again.
I wish you all the best in your recovery. I assume that you are also working with a good psychotherapist to help you in your healing process.
Catherine
Catherine
This is not the medical article I was referring to, but it is a very useful article on Bio-Alcamid and dealing with infections:
http://www.poz.com/articles/hiv_bioalcamid_polyalkylimide_401_16308.shtml
Also, I want to say to Britt and anyone else who has already received B-A injections: if it isn't causing you problems, then DON'T try to have it removed. Most infections occur with injection and attempted removal. Once it's in there and surrounded by its capsule it's probably okay. It may not look that great any more as time goes by, but removing it is far more risky than leaving it in. If you are going to remove it, find someone who knows the risks. Do NOT allow your doctor to try to remove it from inside the mouth, as there is far more risk of infection this way. And the doctor should take care not to allow any blood to get into the injection site during the removal process.
Good luck!
Hi CatherineSF,
Thanks for all the useful information you provided to the community. Please keep it up and let us know how you are doing along the way.
-Britt
Wow, I'm so sorry what you're going through...thank you for sharing this experience with our community. I wish you good health going forward,