Aquamid Late Complications - looking for help in the U.S

Hello everyone! If you had read my previous posts you know I when I was quite young I had Aquamid injected into my lips. I was told Aquamid was not permanent and would dissipate after 3 - 5 years, 15 years later here I am. The little pocket that formed on my lip years ago, had suddenly inflamed this last September 2018 and became a hard nodule. It happened out of nowhere. All of a sudden I felt tingling and pulling and something hard in my lip. So scary! I panicked and put an over the counter topical antibiotic on it. The nodule went down in about an hour or two. Then it was fine, until it happened again, this December. Since it's been constantly pulling and tingling. Again, the topical helped initially but did not resolve the problem. It is clear something is happening there and it is frightening. I have been in touch with Contura (the makers of Aquamid) - they have been somewhat helpful, but quite slow to respond - and many other doctors in the US, including my dermatologist and general practitioner. They unfortunately don't know much about Aquamid as it is not legal in the US so they are just following suggestions and guidelines from Contura. I had a terrible reaction to one of the antibiotics, so we had to change them, now after a week of treatment, I am having another reaction to another antibiotic, and to boot, nothing seems to really help. The pocket is still there, changing, tingling and visible. I can't sleep for fear it will blow up. Feeling anxious and depressed and now dealing with potentially serious side effects of the strong antibiotics I took. At this point I have to discontinue the use of antibiotics as I can't endure any new issues. I am hopeful though about the Eufoton Laser being used in Italy. I am in touch with one of the clinics there in Rome and am trying to see if I can visit them. This situation is infringing on my life, peace of mind, and even relationships. It's so frightening and exhausting. I feel like a guinea pig and quite helpless. If anyone has experience with Eufton Laser or the clinics in Italy, especially Simed clinic in Rome, please post your reviews and stories. It would be very helpful to all. I am curious to know what the results look and feel like, if all of the material is removed, if the issues are resolved, and if one or multiple sessions are necessary. I am readying and gaining some knowledge, but first hand experience is the most helpful.
Thanks

Hi all! It's 12/13 years after the procedure. My lips are still full. The good news is, that little bump on my lip didn't require further operations. Both Dr Bachelier and Dr Dayan, advised me not to touch the bump, as it was very small. I also feel the bump, which resembles more or a tiny pouch, seems to have dissipated a bit, and is even smaller now. At this point I think it is only really perceptible to me and a skilled Doctor. It doesn't bother me aesthetically that much.
I am still a bit concerned about the future, and what will happen with this product in my lips, down the line; whether it will affect my health and look. However, I feel a little better knowing that there are at least a few skilled professionals in the U.S who could offer some potential solutions .

in 2001 or 2002 I decided to fill my lips a little bit. I was referred to a reputable doctor; Dr Bachelier. I was then living France, and that's where he practices. I do not remember the name of the original product but he injected something that was supposed to last about a year. I was very happy with the result, and it actually lasted a little bit over a year. In 2004 I decided to return to Dr Bachelier to repeat the procedure. But I asked him if he had any filler that would last longer. He said that he had something that would last about 5 years, called Aquamid. From what he explained it would be the same process where the filler is absorbed into the body over time. I went for it, and the result was amazing. My lips were beautiful and natural looking. I had no complications after the injection, aside from some bruising. Years went by and my lips were the same. I remember noticing it and wondering about it. I started researching the product just by sheer curiosity of why the volume wasn't decreasing. At this point I moved the United States. Through google, and message boards I learned that this product might be permanent, but also that some people experienced late complications, that the product was not fda approved. At this point I had no problems, but was just curious and reading up on the product. Fast forward to about 2012. one morning I woke up and felt that something on my upper lip felt strange. When I went to the bathroom I noticed there was a little pimple-like raised growth in that spot on the upper lip. I absolutely panicked. It looked a little inflamed & I put topical antibiotic on it. I wasn't sure if it was on the surface like an actual pimple. Or if this was from the aquamid. In a couple of days it seemed to go down. And then it was barely perceptible. But from that point on it has remained there. A year ago, when I was in France I decided to visit Dr Bachelier and have him examine it, which he did. I asked him questions about the product and the complications. He didn't tell me much but just that sometimes these sort of things can happen in later years. He suggested that we can inject something into the area to make it go down ( product called diprostane I believe - which is french of course, but not sure if it's a steroid or antibiotic), but after examining me thoroughly said it was so small he didn't want to risk any infection and decided not to inject anything. At that point I was actually relieved, because tinkering with my lips more frightened me.
Unfortunately, about 2 weeks ago I started feeling something in that area of my lip again. I wasn't sure if I was paranoid or if it was changing. But I'm under the impression that the little growth is changing a bit. I can see it sometimes more than others depending on time of day or lighting. I did a lot of research and couldn't really find answers. So I contacted Aquamid directly. They were actually quite helpful. They listen to my whole story and directed me to a doctor in my area in the Midwest who has done a two-year U.S study with them, and knows a lot about the product. My big fear was not finding a knowledgeable doctor in the US since Plastic Surgeons here don't know much about aquamid. The lady even went as far as contacting the doctor for me to avert him. His name is Steven Dayan and he practices in Chicago. I'm going to call him tomorrow. She said he would either treat me with antibiotics or try to remove some of the product from that area via needle aspiration ( I know from reading this isn't easy to do). I do have to admit that I am absolutely frightened about the future. I don't know what will happen with this product in 10-20 years and the effects it will have on my body and appearance. I don't know what my lips will look like after aspiration (the lady from aquamid said the area might be uneven), and how safe that procedure would be. I wish I had know this was permanent because I wouldn't have done it. She said they are working on new procedures to remove the product, or rather to breakdown the biotin with ultrasound, but have not perfected it yet. After I have my consultation I will post more info. And if you know of Doctors in the U.S who have experience with aquamid, please post here as I am sure this will be helpful to a lot of people