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POSTED UNDER Hyaluronidase REVIEWS

JUVADERM Nightmare!

ORIGINAL POST

I was interested in getting a more refreshed look...

tcullis
$1,100

I was interested in getting a more refreshed look but was not looking for a surgical approach. I consulted a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach and Juvederm was recommended to diminish an asymmetrical hollow look under my left eye for $550.00.
After receiving the injection of Juvederm my left eye had the appearance of a bug bite instead of a refreshed look. I went back to the plastic surgeon and she injected another syringe of Juvederm under my left eye for another $550.00. (A product of Allergan)
1 year later I returned to the same physician and reported that I was tired of this lump moving around under my left eye and being asked if an insect had bitten me. The physician injected Vitrase into the area where the Juvederm was placed to dissolve the lump that was put under my eye. I decided to have my eye tissue tightened by a different plastic surgeon to stop wasting time and  considerable expense on this filler.
My left eye literally fell apart in surgery at the injection site of the Juvederm.
The physician that injected me originally did not know why this happened. She did not offer to compensate me for the failed filler experiment and basically washed her hands of any responsibility for this mess.
I had to under go 2 painful skin grafts from behind each ear, painful steroid injections to soften scar tissue, hours and miles of doctors office visits and antibiotics.
Presently my left eye still does not close. It constantly burns and feels irritated. I did file a claim with Allergan and their response was " we checked with the physician that injected you and there was nothing wrong with the product so there is no claim" I have filed a claim with the Dr. that injected me and "they are looking into anything that was done inappropriately" . The indication for Juvederm clearly states mid to deep dermal areas not the thin area under the eye.
Please be forwarned, in my case a disaster happened and the physician and Allergan stuck together and stuck the patient with the cost of the product and the expense to fix the entire mess. It has cost me thousands of dollars and 2 years of my life and eyesight to get my eye back to this point. Allergan is aware that they can wear down any attorney for years to fight this. The patient assistance hotline people at Allergan  are polite, request information and then report that there is no problem with their product.
BUYER BEWARE!!!

tcullis's provider

Tenley Lawton, MD

Tenley Lawton, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

tcullis rating for Dr. Lawton:

Overall rating

Replies (25)

December 10, 2014
what ever came of this scary case? How do you know it wasnt the Vitrase (an enzyme) that ate away your eye?
August 14, 2015
Yes, Vitrase is hyaluronidase, a proteolytic enzyme--it breaks down connective tissue in connective tissue and elsewhere. It is in snake venom and is referred to as "spreading factor" allowing snake venom to spread after a snakebite occurs.
September 2, 2015
Thank you for posting this atrocity that happened to you. You are absolutely right that when things go wrong you are on your own. I hope that you are well healed now but thank you again for sharing your story.
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February 12, 2016
am internal medicine Dr ., not cosmotic one
ulcer occurs when , artry feeds an area got ocludded or massive destruction factor to the tissue , if the ulcer occured directly after injection of vitrase so it is by wrong injection , if in 2nd or 3rd day it occured by arty occlusion . sorry for what happening would like to share with us ur new pic now
September 24, 2016
Oh gosh :( Are you okay now?
October 27, 2016
This is so terrible! i am truly sorry you went through this nightmare! How are you feeling and looking now?
UPDATED FROM tcullis

Dr injected me with juvaderm, looked red and puffy...

tcullis
Dr injected me with juvaderm, looked red and puffy left eye lid. Dr. Telney Lawton plastic surgeon dissolved it with Hyaluronase resulting in a large open ulcer. 2 years later, 2 skin grafts later, my left eye is still permanently damaged. Allergan and Dr Lawton still advertising , taking money and injecting away. They say they have no idea what happened, do not help the patient and you are on your own! This is Big Business at its worst!

Replies (84)

May 4, 2012

My goodness...thank you so much for sharing your story and posting pictures. I can't imagine what it must have been like to wake up from your eye surgery to find this out.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing and what comes of this.

May 4, 2012
Thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry you had this experience. I thought about getting hyaluronidase because I had juvaderm 2 months ago and was over filled. I have a little discomfort from being so puffy,but after seeing your review I am going to try to stick it out and let it dissolve on its own. I just hope I can do this because as I said my eyes don't feel the same since. I am going to the eye doctor Monday so he can make sure it is not impacting the health of my eyes.. Keep us posted and you will be in my prayers.
May 4, 2012
Thank you for you note. When my lesion/chemical burn, adverse reaction happened no one had an answer for me. I asked the Dr., Allergan and Ista Pharmaceutics who makes the acid used in my case. No one had an answer. It has taken me 2 years to resolve this mess and thanks to my insurance company helping these bills would have been staggering. A year of steroid injections, antibiotics, sunglasses day and night and dressing changes. My left eye still burns day and night and does not fully close.
Do not plan on Allergan for any support they only help when they are selling more products. They reviewed my claim. the images and surgical reports and informed me that Juvederm is safe and my claim was denied.
May 12, 2015
tcullis your picture was on the right hand of my screen. I thought that it was a lure by some advertising company. I am truly sorry for what you have been through. I am quite aware that it is now 5.2015,however, I felt compelled to write to you. How are things coming along? I believe that you have finally answered my question? Should I go for filler under the eyes to rid the dark circles? There are many things which are used "off label". Many people on this sight have complaints and horror stories about juverderm. I live in NYC(manhattan) and the drs. push this stuff a lot. I never see anything on t.v. or in the local papers>. Hope that things have improved. Bless you and good health always. :)
May 12, 2015
Can you pls. tell us how did the laser go?(even out eye color?)
May 4, 2012
Do you have to have more surgery on the left eye?
May 16, 2012
No one knows what the next step is because now my eye lid does not close and ir is constantly red and irritated. Options are more steroid injections to soften the scar tissue under my eye and laser to smooth out the scar tissue. The Dr. who injected this juvaderm claims she has no responsibility for any costs of damages as a result of this complication.
May 15, 2012
OMG! I am so very sorry this has happened to you. :-( I am really shocked.
May 23, 2012
Do you think it was more the juvaderm or the hyluronidase that caused the damage? I still hate the juvaderm in my face, but I am afraid to use hyluronidase partly because of what happened to you.
June 9, 2012
Good question. I am curious about that also.