Bellafill is Not SAFE

How is it different from Artefill? See the multiple reports of granuloma formation with use of that product under "reviews".

The product has caused physical and emotional trauma for many of us. I would not classify it as wonderful.

I agree, but also I feel certain that many of the issues are caused by injectors that don't grasp the full nature of what they are doing to the patient by using the product in an off label fashion. I hold the manufacturer responsible at least in part for this. Their product training appears to be sorely lacking, and it should be a part of that training that off label use of the product be more than strongly discouraged. I've seen surgeons on this site and elsewhere talking about offlabel utilization of Bellafill and those folks ought to know better. The manufacturer should discourage this far more strongly than they appear to be doing so.

I respectfully disagree. The product is unpredictable and can cause inflammatory response. This has nothing to do with the skill set of the provider/injector.

Absolutely 100% agree! I’m now dealing with granulomas and nodules that have “woken up” again and it’s beyond maddening.
I had this plastic/cement garbage stuffed into all off label places in my face over 5 years ago by a plastic surgeon that also left me with the poor lip lift scar.
Thankfully Dr Pearson seamlessly revised the lip lift scar a few weeks ago.

It was my trust as well as ignorance to allow the previous provider to even use this. It’s even more upsetting as they are in places where excision would most definitely leave unsightly scars behind.

I’m going to have a consultation this week to see if another Doctor that I researched as well as recommended to has experience with treating PMMA gone bad and hopefully can help me manage this problem. Taking antibiotics is no longer keeping them dormant and managing them anymore. In fact, more recent information coming out saying that antibiotic treatment isn’t really the best treatment as there’s no concrete proof that it’s biofilm/bacteria that causes this type of inflammation years later.
This product should not be put in anyones face!
Permanent fillersPermanent problems. It is PERMANENT not this 5 year nonsense suneva claims. I hope it gets pulled from the market. Please when considering fillers stick to HAs they can be reversed if anything goes wrong unlike this terrible product. Hoping for the best with whatever treatment is recommended to me. Will also post a review regarding that.

Not disagreeing with you about Bellifill. However, the very fact that highly educated doctors are using a product that causes inflammatory response speaks volumes. I hold them both accountable for greedy immoral, unethical behavior.

^this guy gets it

What a horrible gross way to respond.

Yes, i did the allergy testing. If you are able to go back you will understand the story a little better. The environment because unsterile during injection and the abscess started 10 days later at the injection site. The hole is from the things the doctors tried to use here in the US.

Sorry for the typos.... typing on my phone.

Thank you for sharing your experience and pictures. You are doing a wonderful public service. Am so very sorry that you endured this physical, emotional and financial trauma. God bless you and heal you.

I would only recommend HA fillers. I would not even recommend “semi-permeant”. HA fillers are much safer . Good luck!

Only HA fillers or Re density are approved for under the eyes. Only use a semi permanent filler in your nasiolabial folds of marionette lines. I had bellafill done to my nasiolabial folds about 2to 3 years ago and it looks great. No one would ever know.

Yes, the entire area was treated regardless on bumps. A special ultrasound is used to determine the location of the product. The most difficult spot is under my eye, but it's much better. Who told you that you couldn't have the products removed with laser? Dr. Cassuto works around the eye. I don't know all the details, but he has mentioned using different heat under the eye, due to the way the bone absorbs the heat. That's his specialty..I don't know all the details other than I have had treatment under my eye without issue. Lump or not it still can be melted out using microdrainage with laser. Who told you that? This specific laser treatment is not available in the USA.

I have heard there is a doctor (Dr. Nasrin Mani) in La Jolla, California that does the laser. The doctor I’m currently seeing didn’t think the laser can be used unless there are granulomas or hard lumps or bumps to target. I’m really interested in your experience. I have gone to a lot of doctors and none of them were willing to help me with my bellafill complications or know what to do with the problem. Thank you so much for the information. If there is any further information or suggestions you have for me it would be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to stay hopeful.

I'm not sure it's the same treatment. Send me an Knox message.. I think I have already sent you one.

I'm not sure how to do a Knox message?

Sorry fast typing on my phone.. lol PRIVATE message

How can I get a private message to you?

You have an inbox on RealSelf. I sent you a private message much like you would on Facebook. On my phone it just says "inbox". Look for your inbox on realself.. ..you should have one.

I'm going to give my 2 cents worth here..I had bellafill removed in April from under my eyes...I had granulomas which had been getting worse. I had 6 vials out in me around my eyes and upper cheek bones. My dr was amazing. He slit under my eyes and it took him an hour and a half just to scrape the cement plastic [RS bleep].... Whatever it is from under my eye...I asked him to save it..which he did. He said it was very apparent what was going on....I had granulomas the size of grapes ...and other type of particles. ...after 2 weeks you couldn't even see the stiches...my eyes are back to normal and everyone tells me how good I look...everyone told me after I had this done. That it looked like my upper face looked all puffy and on steroids..I hated the way I loliked...ladies. I wouldn't trust someone trying to melt this crap away...doing lasers or steroid injections...think about it...it's cement. At least that's what mine felt like...my dr in nashville is dr seiveking
He is awesome. He has done so much more for me...I don't wish this on anyone..be happy to answer any questions. He also removed it from my lower lip. That healed within a week

I also needed to have frat grafting after the removal. Sorry forgot to post. The price was well worth it.

Did he just remove the granulomas or was he able to remove it from other areas? Where did he put the fat grafting? Can I ask how much it was for the surgery? I have corresponded with Dr. Sieveking and he said he'd have to fill in divots with fat. That's the part that I'm worried about is having divots after the surgery. Under my eyes is always swollen and puffy and gets worse at times. I'd really like to get this nightmare behind me and look normal again.

The most important thing is that you are doing well. Medical excision was not advised for me, due to the possibility of major facial deformities, because of the location. I chose to try a minimally invasive procedure as a first line treatment and fortunately for me it has been successful so far and I've had no side effects or scaring. I will need to repair the original area. My hope is that we can all support one another to make decisions that are best for us as individuals. Really just being able to give people hope for treatment options. Dr. Cassuto is a highly skilled plastic surgeon, professor, researcher, and is know internationally as being a dermal filler complication expert. There are multiple studies that he has contributed to if you have access to a medical data base. Most of the studies are in national/international professional journals, so it's difficult to access them without being charged a fee for the publication. I THINK he has now treated over 500 people internationally with this laser treatment.. most of them with permanent filler..not just Bellafill. I was on life saving PIC line medications that were doing nothing from the infection spreading to my eye and was being treated by the university infectious disease clinic and not a single person knew what medication to give me for my infection. Within two day of having my pic line removed and staring the antibiotic regimen Dr. Cassuto advised the inflammation started to go down. Just imagine.. no one wanted to prescribe me the medication. Even the doctors on real self if you go back to my original question.. not a single person knew what to do. These complications can be very difficult to treat. I'm glad you're feeling better now. Thanks for offering another option for people. I also hope that you have filed a report with the FDA. If there is anything we can do from our experience is to be able possible effect change. I'm sure like you.. I had no idea this was permanent and the way the product is marketed is important for consumers to know..especially if your doctor is not educating you that the product is permeant.. as in my case.

After he scraped the artefill
My cheek area was very very hollow and in order for me to look normal he did a mini lift between my lower and upper cheek area .don't have my report in front of me...I can give you proper term later....he also did fat grafting under my eyes and upper cheek area...the rest of arte fill in my face was too embedded for him to remove...if it surfaces later then we will deal with it...once removed You most likely will have to have that area filled with fat..I believe the cost was around 6 k....I had other work done so I am giving you a ballpark...when he slit under my eyes he pulled back the skin as far as he could in order to operate on me...I am very happy with the result...I don't know how to upload pics on this site otherwise I could show you what he removed including before and after pics....I was a challenge to him....and again very pleased with result. Am fully healed

I'm glad that he is removing yours and pleased he has so much experience in this...it looks so painful...I couldn't imagine what you are going thru...I had no idea it was permanent either...I kept getting injected by the incompetent dr..who happened to be an orthopedic surgeon not a plastic surgeon as he advertised...also I did not have a skin test ...I had 13 vials altogether...including my lips...I wish you well and look forward to your recovery

The only way I know to upload pictures is in a review or if you are asking a question. Just for clarification when did you get the product? I'm glad you're doing well now, because so many people end up with lifelong problems unless it's removed somehow. ❤

Why was this man injecting Bellafill into your lips? This product states specifically not to inject into the lips. That is just beyond comprehension.

The certified plastic surgeon I went to put the bellafill off label in my eye trough not lips. The eye trough is the worst place to have bellafill injected.

Wyatt is the name of bellafil off label. And about what would it cost approx

I'm finally getting better, but it's still very difficult. There were times I just didn't think I was going to make it. I think the more I learned the more scared and hopeless I felt. It certainly felt like a black tunnel at times, but my progress has been slow and steady. Which was difficult, because we just want to be well and reassured that everything will be alright and sometimes we don't always get the reassurance we need. Dr. Cassuto has been amazing and I wouldn't be where I am today without him. I feel incredibly blessed that I have been able to get the treatment I needed to start recovering.

That's so sad. It's time for this product to be taken off the market and not just rebranded. The emotional toll must be excruciatingly difficult to handle. I'm so sorry and grateful that you are sharing your story.

I send you a private message to your inbox on realself. You just need to find your inbox.