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POSTED UNDER ArteFill REVIEWS

Extra Expense For Disappointing Results - San Francisco, CA

ORIGINAL POST

I have been getting various fillers for the past 4...

7699anonMay 10, 2012
$3,500

I have been getting various fillers for the past 4 years to fill out my face, which is rather gaunt. I thought that because artefill was permanent it would be more economical than continually spending $900-1000 every 6 months. Well, I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. After the bovine collagen was absorbed I looked as though nothing had been done. I went back to my dr who added another syringe. A couple months later people were telling me I looked tired or ad if I'd lost a lot of weight. I don't know what to attribute to this disappointing experience. I just got 1 vial of radiesse and look so much better now.

Replies (2)

Megan P
May 11, 2012

Sorry to hear it didn't last. That really is a bummer with how pricey it is. How long did it last before people started making comments?

7699anon
May 11, 2012
About 2 months after the second injection. This doctor has done all my previous injections, so I know his experience or skill level was not an issue. I should also say I'm 36 so it's not like I have major sagging or wrinkling, which requires more volume to correct.
UPDATED FROM 7699anon

-Happier with results the second time...

7699anonAugust 23, 2012
-Happier with results the second time around---

I decided to try Artefill once more time and I realized that I have to use twice the volume to achieve the same level of volume I had received with other fillers. My doctor explained that in a about 3 months half of the volume would disappear (the bovine collagen component) and the rest would likely be permanent. He said the tests had only followed patients for 5 years so that's why they cannot give a definitive time frame, but that PMMA (the plastic particles in Artefill) are not able to be absorbed by the body.

So, I'm only a few days out and I'm really pleased with the results and hope that most of the volume remains. With the two vials I had my nasolabial lines injected, upper cheek area and chin.

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM 7699anon

+++Right Tool for the Job++++ I also wanted to...

7699anonAugust 23, 2012
+++Right Tool for the Job++++

I also wanted to mention that my doctor used a cannula instead of a needle, which drastically decreases bruising and potential injury to muscle. blood vessels or tissue. If you do get Artefill go to a doctor who uses a cannula. It is a thin flexible tube that allows for a more precise injection.

Replies (4)

nadiahoney
August 23, 2012
My doc told me that Artefill is not like sculptra -- that it fills immediately and does NOT go down. Is this not true? I don't understand.
Megan P
August 23, 2012

That would be a great question to pose to the board certified doctors who volunteer on RealSelf.

I've posted the below Q&A so we can all read their opinions on this:

What is the Difference Between Artefill and Sculptra?

7699anon
August 24, 2012
Hi there, It's true that Artefill does fill immediately. The problem is that about 50% is bovine collagen which is absorbed by your body and the other 50% remains. I couldn't really get this definitive answer from my doctor until the second time I'd had Artefill. I wouldn't say it's not at all worth it, because it's more economical in the long run. It does seem to require more injections than other fillers to accomplish adequate filling. Hope this helps you!
nadiahoney
August 24, 2012
So I wish I had started with this artefill bc all my injectiions have put me in the poorhouse, ydet if I had started years ago with artefill I'd be sitting pretty now! Plus I don't think they say you can put artefill over sculptra which I just got (it was bought on special a year ago, I went ahead and used it and now I feel roped into that.)
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