Bad Experience with Juvederm - Medicine Hat, AB

Hi there

While this may not be the case with everyone, in my experience Juvederm is a huge waste of money. If you are going to get it done and you sign a consent form I would write on it "If this doesn't last more than 6 months I want my money back" Do NOT sign a consent that says it may not work and that is your problem.

My story. I went in for botox and signed the general consent that says that they are not liable if the product doesn't work. It was "spas products", it didn't say either botox or Juvederm. I had botox before and knew it would work, so what the heck. I signed it.

Two months later I was only going in for a consult for my lip lines above my lips (not the lower lines) The physician already told me that he probably wouldn't use any "filler" (I didn't know much about them except they were expensive. He brought in the director from out of town (Female doctor "Burger") to help him decide what to do.

This Dr Burger was a total sales woman. She managed to size up my face and put a "bit of filler here and there". She talked so fast, I didn't know how much I was paying. I was guessing around $1000,,but was fearing it would be upwards of $1500. I wasn't too worried though because she said I would only need a "top up" in 7 months.

When I left the office, my bill was $3575!!! $3087 was filler,,the rest botox. But did I look good?! ,,,,for 4 weeks....then I noticed it wasn't as full. Then at 5 weeks I looked like before anything was done.

They used 6 syringes,,,to lift my cheeks (decreasing the smile lines) in the smile lines, marionette lines, etc.

I called the office and got the run around for 2-3 weeks. Finally the physician called me after consulting with the director. She had been sent recent pictures and she said that the cheeks had deflated too fast and she suggested that he put another syringe in each cheek, but to only charge me "Cost"...my share would be $600,,their $600ish.

I said that there is no point in putting any more filler in since two more syringes isn't going to help if the first 6 didn't work. I asked if since they were going to give me $600 worth of free filler to just give me the refund of that money instead,,OR give me botox units worth $600.

They said no to both, and the director wrote me a reply that said that it was my fault that the juvederm wore off so quickly since I am a runner and that she told me not to run for 6 weeks and I had been running. She also said that I was to avoid extreme cold weather and putting my ski goggles on too soon would cause it to absorb. She said that the physician told her I said I was still running 4 days a week for 40 minutes at a time so due to my "non compliance the juvederm wore off. She also said that if you get into a car and drive it into a brick wall you cannot go to the dealership and ask for your money back,,,and this is similar,,,what???

The handout I was given was to not do strenuous activity for 24 hours,,,she told me 36 hours which contradicted the info I was given, but I stuck to the 36 hours. When I called to say that the juvederm wore off too quickly, the physician questioned if I was running too much. I told him that I have been running over 10 years (so my body is used to it) and as of late not more than 40 minutes. AND it is September,,,,ski season doesn't start until late November!

In all the literature I have read (and called to the Juvederm company) there is no evidence to support what Dr Burger said about exercise causing Juvederm to absorb faster. Also,,the stuff is supposed to last MINIMUM of 6 months...up to and even longer than a year.

So the director is unethical and I have sought legal advice. I am waiting for my appointment, as I am not sure if the consent would hold up since I had no idea I was getting filler that day,,and when I signed the consent two months earlier, I had no idea that I was signing it for all future treatments.

Just my 2 cents...
Terrie