Juviderm is Ruining Lives 2 Years Later - Southampton, NY

Thankyou. I think I would have died without the support of this community. My eyes are about 85% better; I am however, left with stretched skin, but there are cosmetic remedies for this. I can only hope it goes as well for the lips, but I will certainly keep this board up to date.

Yes, please do keep us updated on everything.  Sending good vibes your way!

Dear Veryhopeless - best wishes! Thank you for your story. I'm glad to hear you've improved 85%! That is great news and very hopeful! My left cheek is swollen and tight and still tender. If I don't smile, the issue is almost undetectable. However, I love to smile and I can't on the left side right now because of this infection/reaction/biofilm! I have a feeling the juvederm is encapsulated or the mid face implant is affected. I hope not, but if we don't see improvement over the next week or so, we're going to have to check it out. (Sigh).

Hi Michael77777 - this is actually either becoming more common or now more reported. I had Juvederm injected in Nov '13 and the adverse reaction came in March '14. There is absolutely something going on with these HA's and our bodies. HA may be in our bodies, but something about whatever Juvederm and other HA's are made from is causing this reaction or infection in a small percentage of this. Maybe a strain of bacteria? Who knows. But I was surprised, for sure. I'd had fillers before (Radiessse) no problems at all. It has been about 2 years since I had filler in my cheek area, because I got permanent mid face implants as a remedy. And they were done perfectly, btw. I did them in 2012 and allowed any filler to dissolve months before I had the surgery. But the craziest thing is, the visit in November was to get filler in my nose bridge to remedy to it being broken in '97. I had read about it being an option to surgery. I thought, "cool, let's try it." So, I go back to a local spa that I'd had recenently had botox - which is mostly hit or big time miss with me every time I try it - but this doctor did a great job. I like it sparingly so to diminish lines but still have some movement. My over all goal is naturalness in these procedures. I hate the overdone look! So after this doctor injects the juve in my nose, he says there's some left over and why not put it in the hollow of your cheek on the left side. (That precious hollow that is my perfect asymmetry that I now miss every day! Oh how I love that hollow now!) Because I have never had any issues with fillers, I said "sure!" And it looked fine, too. I could have done without it, but hey, like I said - it was there and no problems before. Now, I went back to the same doctor in Feb '14 for more juve in my lips. They looked great! By mid March, the symptoms come...tenderness, intermittent swelling, then normal-ish again. By May, the swelling just took over. I first thought, "oh it may be the implant." I go to that PS (who's a 2 hour drive from me) to have him check it. He doesn't see any infection, but puts me on Amoxicillin for 2 weeks. Mild improvement. So, I then get on line and start researching and that's where I found how about this reaction. I went back to the doctor who injected the juve - he's puzzled. Never happened before, but he gave me 2 free hyaluronidase injections. A bit more improvement. I finish the Amoxicillin and the swelling returns. I want to go back to the doctor who injected it to get to the bottom of it, and he was kind and concerned - reported to Allergan - but it's like I was speaking in another language to him and his nurse. Like, "what? I don't understand?" even though I was linking tons of research to me. Turns out, he had to go out of town for 2 weeks and I was like, "well - okay. No offers of help or who to go to in Atlanta from these guys....I'm going back to PS in Augusta to work this out." And thank God did! This guy, who did my implants, Dr. Achih Chen is amazing because even though he's never seen this before either, he is helping me through this and has been so gracious and open to the information I have sent him. We both hope this biofilm - as we are now treating it - has not gotten to the implant and infected it. Not sure yet. Which of course, means surgery for me 2 more times. Which is, honestly, daunting to think about in several ways...emotionally, financially, time down to heal again. We hope it's located above it and the skin's surface. I am now beginning to think it's encapsulated, which has happened to several people on this forum. In that case, it's still surgery to get it out. I recently had the third vitrase injection and it is slowly improving. And Dr. Chen put me on Bactrim - a very strong antibiotic - which another person on the forum suggested (thankfully!). The doctor who injected, who never encountered this before would like to say it's something to do with Juvederm. A lot of the research I've done says more about how they prep your face so that bacteria on the surface doesn't travel down with the needle. I suspect the latter. I cannot remember what the doctor did to prep me for juvederm....other than maybe alcohol swab. But since the hollow of my cheek was an "afterthought" he may have never even wiped it down. I cannot remember. I do recall, before I found out about biofilm in my research, when I went for the 2nd hyaluronidase shot with him, he barely wiped my face with alcohol, then left the room to get the product. I intuitively jumped up after he left, grabbed an alcohol packet and wiped my face down even further. I'm not trying to "indict" this doctor, I'm simply saying, I feel prep is the main culprit and as professionals in that industry, I am shocked they are a) so relaxed about prep and b) unaware of this syndrome occurring. Having to be one of the small percentage of these cases sucks, but now I'm all about awareness and prevention. The doctor who treats me now has a very elaborate prep - and if I go anywhere else (which is now doubtful!) I will insist on it. However, after this, I'm done with fillers. I will miss the lovely lips, and maybe I'll trust it again one day with my PS, but not for a while. This has been a brutal journey born from a split decision so casually made. Cautionary tales of the quest for youth! All good, in moderation, but at some point you gotta let nature take it's course and realize the beauty in that! Best to all of you struggling with this. I think it can be overcome! I'm taking this lemon and making lemonade, dammit! And SadieBee (a champion) gives me hope of a great recovery from this episode.

When the filler becomes encapsulated does it then become permanent?

Hi depressedgirl - from what I've understood, it can be removed surgically. But otherwise, I imagine it could stay in there a while - for life, even. Some articles I've read said it can become a hardened substance. I think that's SadieBee had her's removed when she got her lower bleph - they found remnants of whatever the hyaluronidase couldn't or didn't dissolve. As fore me, I've had 3 hyaluronidase shots - mild improvement each time. And everyday just seems different....one day it feels like, okay I'm healing, Then night comes and the swelling is back. And the next day, the tenderness is worse. It's all over the road. But then, my situation is confusing and complicated since I had juvederm in Nov '13 (this is the time I think I got the bacteria infected in my cheek) and then I went back in Feb '14 for lips (no reaction had occurred by then, and my lips never had any adverse reaction). Then in March, the symptoms started. So I don't know how much of the 3 shots of hyaluronidase has taken care of all the juve in my face. My lips really went down after shot 3, even though all the shots of hyaluronidase were in my cheek area, since the problem is there. Plus, I have a mid face implant put in mid 2012 and it could be infected, as well. My PS said that any thing inserted in the body is seen as foriegn, i.e. fillers, breast implants, pacemakers, etc has the potential to get a biofilm "coating" around it. This film or coating is what is hard to penetrate, so antibiotics are not as effective. The question he had on the last shot of hyaluronidase was, "I wonder if this is even getting to the pocket of juvederm IF there is a biofilm?" Well, of course, I went ashen. I mean, I appreciate his honesty, but it's scary when even your awesome PS wonders if what we're doing is going to work. Talk about feeling like you're in high seas in a rowboat. Jesus. Right now, my left cheek hollow, beside my nose has a consistent odd shape (I've seen others describe it as kidney shape - I agree). It feels pillowy, that's why I wonder if it's encapsulated. That means surgery. And most likely taking out the implant to make sure it's okay or not. So, currently, I am sadly foreseeing months of dealing with this, and I can't believe it. It has altered all my plans - but it's the priority right now. Hell, I may get the mid face implants out, have spent thousands of dollars on torture and be lucky as hell just to feel good again! Fool's gold! Such foolishness it's just unbelievable. I feel like a fool and I feel fooled. But, I am staying positive...frustrated at times albeit...but positive. I appreciate the posts and support here.

I had been getting botox & some other things from the doctor all along, & when I returned in distress about what had happened, I was in more of a, "please help me" mode, than an accusing one, for sure. I just wanted help getting my face back, & though the doctor insisted all along that these were "unrelated festoons" under my eyes, he did voluntarily give me a very diluted injection of Vitrase. I was completely amazed at the immediate shrinkage of the kidney shaped pockets, so there is no argument that that whatever residual "madness" is going on 26 months later, is somehow being improved by an HA dissolver. I am as confused as anyone by it. I called the office & left a message to thank him, & relay how very pleased & relieved I was, that "something," was happening for the better; & I was looking foward to more improvement. I had no call back. My problem with the doctor, is that he told me to wait 2 weeks, & we could do some more vitrase. When I made an appt & showed up at the office, I was sent away; he not only refused to do it; He would not even walk out of the office, to take a "1 second look at my eyes. The trauma behind something like this, is futile. It keeps people away from other people, & on top of everything else, there is a lot of shame attached to messing one's own face up cosmetically. That he would not walk outside for one second, gave me all I needed for drop him.

Thankyou for that biggyc. I got a lot out of your analogy of events, & I tend to think there is some kind of "film" type thing forming around the Juve, & whatever that reactive "film" is, THAT'S what I felt moving around under my eyes, & what created the festoon bags. I believe the Vitrase helps, because as these films develop, they may chemically the actual product and keep residual amounts from dossolving properly? Anyway, GOD only knows...The doctors are in some serious denial about this' Mine certainly was. It is very comforting to hear these reviews after being told what I'm the ONLY person out there & it's all most DEFinitely, "unrelated," to the Juviderm injections he gave me. I guess it's just a coincidence it's all happening in the very 3 places I had injections...MY GOD if "I" were my doctor, I would not only be hungry for all the literiture & experience coming out about these adverse reactions...It would be my DUTY as a doctor! Instead, Dr. Kelly now wants nothing to do with me.

Katie Dailey - amen! Thank you for sharing! I looked up this multiple 7's person...he/she is a [RS bleep] stirrer. Thanks for lambasting him!!' I think Sadie Bee may be right about a class action suit - these fillers are so dangerous and life altering. Thank you for the well wishes for all if us dealing with this! Yes, positivity, support and education is what we need! Blessings to you! Biggyc

Hi Biggyc you are most welcome,it beggars belief that we become sick from these toxic chemicals that these big pharmaceutical companies advertise as safe and God knows what other junk is in it,it takes over our lives and we are told we are imagining it,really.I did ponder the thought that 'Michael'is possibly an Allergan representative or has nothing really interesting going on in his or hers lives than lambasting sick people. Why the hell are there these sites in the first place going strong for so many years if it is indeed so safe.As you say Biggyc education is the key both for Allergan and the needle pushers and the quack Doctors leeching us for thousands if pounds just to tell us there is no such thing,very rude. I hope you are better Biggyc,I totally had to comment it makes me so mad that this is still being ignored by the Medical community and obviously members of the public who come on here to troll others,I generally thought this was an open forum discussion for genuine people suffering ill effects from fillers and people offering support and care and concern.I have tried 6 solicitors so far,it's 3 years in August for me this nightmare began,but I'm not giving up,how dare this stuff take away your life and your left to pick up the pieces,financially,mentally,emotionally. You are all brave coming on hear,I salute you all.The bigger the outpouring of bad experiences the longer the record of proof to shove up the makers of these waste products.That day will come no doubt,at least we are getting it out into the public domain,well done wonderful people kx.

Oh my god Katie daily; I have been having trouble with my eyesight. I never made the connection. Real trouble lately; Cataracts run in my family, so I figured at 58 this could be preliminary problems, but my eyesight took a turn for the worse, much worse, just as I was feeling the "substance" under my eyes. Please, when you get the time, could you explain your symtoms concerning this? I may be in some real trouble here Thanks...I'm so sorry for what we're both enduring

Hi Veryhopless thank you for your message,i hope you are doing better.I've had the symptoms with the eyes for two years now,it all started approximately 8 to 10 days after the juvederm was injected in the glabella area.It started with me opening my eyes one morning and and my vision was blurry,I could feel this stuff slowly moving down into my eyes through the passage if blood flow.The vision got worse on my wedding day 5 days later I could barely see out of my right eye.Thus kept progressing,then the 24 hour intense burning started after hyaluronidase was injected in the same area.It felt like I had crushed burning glass in both eyes but predominately in the right.I had several eye exams,scans and nothing showed just slight inflammation.I had 20/20 vision before all this.I contacted a Doctor in America recently as she has been in articles talking about how fillers can blind you,I told her how I have been left and she said there is a very specific test than can determine any damage from fillers.It is hard in England to find this test,she said what I am experiencing is tissue loss in the cells of the eye,there is no treatment but hopefully vision will not completely deteriorate.Fillers should never be injected near eyes but Doctors will not tell you this,it does migrate if it gets into the bloodstream it can filter anywhere. I now have pixel vision and night blindness at night,my eyes take a long time to adapt from light to dark,my eyes still burn,water,get dry and swollen,I'm still terrified I will lose my sight as really who knows how much damage this can cause.I will still look for a Doctor who can perform this test,I know my eyes have suffered,I remember pleading with Doctors in the many A&E departments I visited that I felt the cells in my eyes had changed,they felt different and damaged,I was to,d I was imagining it and if I kept implying this was correct then they would have to look at psychological causes.Ive now been told there is decreased vision in my right eye,it's also affected my left ear hearing and slightly on the right,but I suppose I've imagined that too,and the memory loss. The test to specifically determine cell damage is called a Floresecene Angiogram,it checks blood flow into the eye and checks for corrosion in the retinal arterial circulation.The Dictors name in America is Dr Michelke Valerie Carle in Los Angeles,Santa Clarita California.Telephone number 001 424 666 4818. This is the number I contacted her on approximately 2 months ago,I hope it is still the same for anyone wanting to contact her.She was quite helpful,it would be interesting to see if this test actually showed any damage,not sure if that would be good or bad.Im not sure how much thu would cost,if I do find anywhere that will provide this test I will go for it,it's the not knowing for sure that is worse,I will keep you posted.Sending healing wishes to you all,keep positive,thinking if you kx.

Thankyou for sharing that. God only knows if it's just old age or what's going on with my eyes, but the timing tells me it was the swelling around my eyes...Since the swelling's gone down, my sight's been less bothered, so I THINK I'm ok...My god what you've gone through...What we've all gone through: I'm very grateful to this site... It has literally kept me glued through a devastating 2 whole years...

Thankyou depressedgirl..(These names we take weould be hilarious if not so true..LOL...) The swelling feels "inside" me, like something foreign is in there...On the outside, just like any swelling. But I can definitely feel it, under the eyes I could literally "push" the stuff around..Disgusting & weird, to say the least. I became so desperate at a point, I convinced myself I could "smash" my bottom lip back IN my head....It's just nuts, the things we do...

Thank you for your story - all of our posts really help bring this issue into focus collectively and I know I'm benefitting. So I'm equally happy my info can help others, as well. The mid face implants went so well! I was ecstatic with the results and absolutely no problems with them. Since juvederm - because of juvederm - I have this distorted left cheek. It is getting better, however. This ordeal is like cultivating the sort of patience one goes to a meditation retreat for! I swing from distraught to hopeful....mostly due to doctor's unawareness or as you said in your case arrogance about this. But back to the implants - my PS was amazing, he's not the one who injected the juve but he is the one managing it now. He's read the research links I've sent and is open to my input. Thank God! He's in Augusta, GA - I have to drive 2 hours each way weekly to see him but it's worth it. I agree with you about the self shame...I've allowed myself to feel that in depth. Then I look at the other side..,it's natural to want to impriove our looks. And if it's affordable, "safe" and works - why not?' So I'm going to not grieve that anymore but just nurture myself into healing while I learn when and what is enough...,what risks are worth taking, etc. I've learned so much and have deepened my well of compassion! That are the good effects. I've been do healthy and lucky that I've maybe taken it for granted. Not anymore! Gratitude to my body for putting up with my wild ideas - lol!!! Sending you all Loving, Positive, Healing Vibes!

Have you tried facial exercises (resistance training the muscles) to try and build up volume? It works for many of us.

Yes, I agree 100%. Fillers are dangerous, because the adverse reactions to ANYthing injected are simply too unknown to any given individual. The only injection I think effective, is Sculptra, in the idea that it's an entirely different premise; Not being a "filler" itself, rather "teases" the body into producing it's own collagen. But it's just not that effective, and WAY too expensive. The US has become a 3rd world in science, I'm afraid you're absolutely right about that!