POSTED UNDER Restylane REVIEWS
Bad Filler - Fairfax, VA
ORIGINAL POST
I can't speak to Dr. Bitar's surgical work....
NoVaFaceJuly 20, 2016
$400
I can't speak to Dr. Bitar's surgical work. However, his Restylane injections have left me not only disappointed but facing an uncertain future of how to correct it.
He first gave me an injection in tear trough area about a year ago; it went fine. A year later, I went back for a minor "touch up." The amount he injected was far too aggressive, despite my request for a very modest (and what I hoped to be final) injection. He was rushed that day and, as I look back, wasn't fully engaged. I should have listened to the alarm bell when his medical assistant insisted that he "always uses two syringes" after I said I wanted only very modest additions.
At two weeks out, the asymmetrical results were clear: one side overfilled, the other with an odd "line" or ridge. I massaged it at one week as instructed but clearly there was too much product. Also, I developed what may have been the beginnings of a biofilm infection. At that point I was no longer in the DC area. I went to another board certified plastic surgeon who agreed with the asymmetrical results and the need to use vitrase to "undo" the filler.
Two months later, I've developed a noticeable and growing depression in my cheek, well below where the filler went and likely related to the vitrase. The attempt to solve Dr. Bitar's overfill created a new problem!!
For a sanity check, I went back to the surgeon who did the vitrase, and a dermatologist to examine the depression. Both acknowledged the depression of skin, as though I had lost volume / soft tissue. I sent Dr. Bitar pictures and asked for his help in deciphering what was happening to my cheek and what to do about it. I noted my growing alarm. While he was prompt in his response back, he was dismissive and -- shockingly -- said he saw nothing. While it's true he was going off of pictures I sent him, they showed an obvious depression. I'm not sure why he said there was nothing to see.
My experiences with Dr. Bitar have been deeply disappointing and left me a bit distraught, as I'm now scrambling to find other doctors to help diagnose what's wrong and how it can be fixed (if at all).
He first gave me an injection in tear trough area about a year ago; it went fine. A year later, I went back for a minor "touch up." The amount he injected was far too aggressive, despite my request for a very modest (and what I hoped to be final) injection. He was rushed that day and, as I look back, wasn't fully engaged. I should have listened to the alarm bell when his medical assistant insisted that he "always uses two syringes" after I said I wanted only very modest additions.
At two weeks out, the asymmetrical results were clear: one side overfilled, the other with an odd "line" or ridge. I massaged it at one week as instructed but clearly there was too much product. Also, I developed what may have been the beginnings of a biofilm infection. At that point I was no longer in the DC area. I went to another board certified plastic surgeon who agreed with the asymmetrical results and the need to use vitrase to "undo" the filler.
Two months later, I've developed a noticeable and growing depression in my cheek, well below where the filler went and likely related to the vitrase. The attempt to solve Dr. Bitar's overfill created a new problem!!
For a sanity check, I went back to the surgeon who did the vitrase, and a dermatologist to examine the depression. Both acknowledged the depression of skin, as though I had lost volume / soft tissue. I sent Dr. Bitar pictures and asked for his help in deciphering what was happening to my cheek and what to do about it. I noted my growing alarm. While he was prompt in his response back, he was dismissive and -- shockingly -- said he saw nothing. While it's true he was going off of pictures I sent him, they showed an obvious depression. I'm not sure why he said there was nothing to see.
My experiences with Dr. Bitar have been deeply disappointing and left me a bit distraught, as I'm now scrambling to find other doctors to help diagnose what's wrong and how it can be fixed (if at all).
NoVaFace's provider
Replies (6)
August 12, 2016
Sorry to hear this. I hope my experiences at least give you some solace you are not in your own! I had Voluma injected last March (15) and 6 months later developed bio films under both eyes which needed invasive treatment to remove and left me with depressions under both eyes. A few months later and upset at the disfigurement I saw (string words but that's how you feel at the time) I was persuaded to have Botox and a lighter filler in the upper cheek and outer year trough. Whilst I had little improvement due to the fineness of the filler, on one side I developed a depression/ pouch line similar to yours. Having had the treatment to improve already damaged areas I was distraught. My injector insisted it was nothing to do with the filler and was down to the fat pads separating- just on that side and within 24 hours of the filler????? I've been to others for second opinions. At first they thought it might have been atopis from the Botox but it's now 4 months after and the conclusion is that I was overfilled and its left a pouch underneath. Given I had to have a lot of vitrase to dissolve the biofilms at Xmas and its left me with skin depressions that are permanent I'm not keen to have any more so my only solution is to wait out the filler. Thankfully it's a fine filler which should only last about 6 months so I'm hoping it goes soon. Its frustrating that no one will admit issues when these things happen but I guess there's so many actual causes including bad practice that it's easy for someone to point the finger elsewhere. I can only say I know how you feel. It's been 8 months since the first problem under my eyes and cheeks and I don't even remember what my face used to look like. On the positive side your pictures don't look too bad and we are looking for what you've pointed out. I know myself that my urn face looks horrendous to me but others don't see the issues until I point them out and they think they are just looking at a normal aging face. Keep positive that if it's the filler it will go. Restylane usually lasts 6 months doesn't it? You should see improvement soon!
August 12, 2016
Loving my spelling mistakes by the way. Posting from a mobile phone means it's hard to see your text until posted sorry!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you find support here in the community.