POSTED UNDER Aquamid REVIEWS
Wanted Solution to Hollow Cheeks, Disaster!!! - Sydney, AU
ORIGINAL POST
I had Aquamid injected into both cheeks in...
$6,000
I had Aquamid injected into both cheeks in March,2010 to help with the sallow, hollow face look. For a few years the result was good, although the 'permanent' product does drop with aging. In May 2014 the whole left side of me face became very swollen, painful & full of fluid. I had many biopsies & test on what became a large lump on my left cheek. Nothing came back positive, no infection, no fungus, no tumour, just a horrific reaction to the filler i had injected 4 years prior. That settled after 11 months, & adding hyaluronic filler to improve contour. On the 28th March 2015 the right side of my face has done exactly the same thing!!! No one can explain the reaction & its Very disturbing that it happens Post after 4-5 years. AVOID Aquamid totally would be my advice. I now have to deal with my face for another 11 months to get it to look normal, ay more cost. Disaster!!!!
Blutongue's provider
Replies (12)
July 18, 2015
I had a pretty unfortunate experience with my attempts to fill in my hollow cheeks as well, and...at times I wish I could turn back the clock or go back in time and convince my former self not to go through with it. I had a fat transfer to my cheeks back in June of 2014 and...it was a disaster from the get go. The swelling was horrendous, and I made the unwise decision to book a vacation just a few days after I had the procedure. It was a nightmare, I remember all these people were staring at me and I could have sworn somebody took a picture of me. Not only did I look horrible, but I felt horrible too. And after a year I still feel like it was botched, although alot of the fat has reabsorbed, there is a fat bulge on my left cheek near my mouth and it looks terrible and is very noticeable. I wish I could go back to how I looked pre-surgery. I feel like I can never fix this and I will never have that gaunt appearance that I once had.
July 19, 2015
I totally get it. I'm still living with a large lump on my right cheek after Operation 8 weeks ago. People ask me if i have been bashed in the face.If i had a picture of before & after i'd definitely be living a 'normal' life with hollow cheeks. A MUCH better alternative to what has happened. A hard lesson for us GreenDay Fan.
July 22, 2015
Do you feel like plastic surgery is a waste of money? I do...I just wish I realized that 30,000 dollars ago. I feel like I made the mistake of a lifetime. I had 5 procedures and...I still look the same, if not slightly worse. It is devastating and I still can't live with the guilt of spending all that money and not getting anything in return. But...the surgeons tried to make me believe that if I spent enough money I could look like a movie star, they just filled my head with empty promises and here I was believing every word of it because I was chasing this cheap dream of hopefully someday looking like Brad Pitt or something.
July 24, 2015
In hindsight i definitely think a LOT of Plastic Surgery procedures are a waste of money & unnecessary. I'd like to think responsible Surgery/procedure is undertaken with a realistic outcome for the patient & also as much honest information is given before ANY procedure. Unfortunately it has become a huge industry that does know how to effectively target the insecurities & vulnerabilities of many people who do want to improve or change their appearance. As it becomes more profound an Industry & many more people are having 'work' done, so is the downside of so many Practitioners/Doctors active & subsequent 'work' having hideous consequences & side effects , being poorly undertaken or just unnecessary. Ive seen 'enhancements' like fillers , lip & breast augmentation etc that just look downright nasty & unattractive & wonder how any DR could not see that the finished product isnt ...complementary to say the least.A lot of money is being made.
I was happy with my face but did notice as i aged that the hollow cheeks i had in adulthood were getting more profound & aging. I thought i had done adequate research, had a realistic idea of a natural outcome & trusted a very reputable DR. You know how that turned out so i have to live with complications worse than any aging process. I have also spent much $ not only on the Procedures but trying to 'mend the mess'. Sometimes i want to get really angry but it doesn't change anything. Think i get more depressed & feel isolated now.This forum is good for people to spread the word & know they aren't alone as casualties of the PSURG industry.
I was happy with my face but did notice as i aged that the hollow cheeks i had in adulthood were getting more profound & aging. I thought i had done adequate research, had a realistic idea of a natural outcome & trusted a very reputable DR. You know how that turned out so i have to live with complications worse than any aging process. I have also spent much $ not only on the Procedures but trying to 'mend the mess'. Sometimes i want to get really angry but it doesn't change anything. Think i get more depressed & feel isolated now.This forum is good for people to spread the word & know they aren't alone as casualties of the PSURG industry.
July 23, 2015
May 14, 2016
Had the same procedure done in my face 10 years ago.
Last Wednesday started feeling some discomfort in my left chick at the exactly area of the feeling job done with Aquamid.
By Thursday morning my face was very swollen, and got worst every day.
Now I'm on anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic medications.
Waiting until Monday when I will head to SP Brazil to have it removed surgically !
Stay away from this product or you will pay a very heavy price years down the road. In my case, just over 10 years
Kevin Aksacki
323-996-0620 cell
Last Wednesday started feeling some discomfort in my left chick at the exactly area of the feeling job done with Aquamid.
By Thursday morning my face was very swollen, and got worst every day.
Now I'm on anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic medications.
Waiting until Monday when I will head to SP Brazil to have it removed surgically !
Stay away from this product or you will pay a very heavy price years down the road. In my case, just over 10 years
Kevin Aksacki
323-996-0620 cell
September 20, 2019
You still look so handsome. You didn't need anything injected. I've had a similar experience although mine was a botched fat transfer. It left me with bottom heavy cheeks. That was back in 2014 and I'm still dealing with some fat bulges. I understand why you got it though. The idea of "permanent" was appealing and sounded economical. That's why I chose the fat transfer but...permanent is only good if you get great results.
UPDATED FROM Blutongue
5 years post
Update.Thinking of Fillers??? I urge you to read this!!!!!!
As i last wrote, i was referred to a Cosmetic Dermatologist, Prof Anand Deva. As soon as i entered his rooms he correctly diagnosed my problem & showed me previous cases which are now appearing much more frequently. I have a Subcutaneous Biolfilm Staff infection. I have been & will be on antibiotics for months. Last week i had a surgical procedure under general anesthetic to debride the right cheek & remove damaged tissue & infection. It was expensive, painful & quite alarming.
The Doctor who injected Aquamid into my face 4 years ago is quite highly regarded here in Sydney with a good reputation & adviser to Media publications. The clinic was clean, procedures adhered to, i asked all the relevant questions before procedure, equipment sterile & safe handling of product & my face, & still i am in this situation.I was told that there had never been any adverse reactions to Aquamid & it was a safe product.
As with ALL Dermal fillers there is a risk factor for infection which is purported to be quite low. If a patient is unlucky enough to suffer an infection with non-permanent fillers the treatment options although still serious are much more optimistic as antibiotics & the bodies own natural defenses can access the bacteria.The dangers with Permanent Fillers such as Aquamid are the Biofilm bacteria can and do remain dormant in the structure of the cross-linked polyacrylamide , and not manifest till years after injection as is my case. Quote from Online- NCBI Dovepress-Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches ; *"The structural changes that some nonbiodegradable fillers undergo during years in situ in human tissue may be one reason why adverse reactions to these permanent fillers occur clinically with a delay of several years". Alarmingly it seems that the product may never be stable but remain prone to Biofilm infection. I had two outbreaks, one last year at about 4 years post injection, the second in March this year, both with serious outcomes. The episode last year saw many tests, aspirations, biopsies etc but none of the tests were specific enough to detect a Biofilm infection, hence i was told no infection present. Quite a serious misdiagnosis from Various Medicos. As i have mentioned , Prof Deva knew immediately my situation. I am now part of a thesis/paper Prof Deva is undertaking regarding this Medical Condition.He presented to a Conference in Montreal last month.
If any of you are considering fillers please take away what i have learned the hard way :
1 Avoid permanent fillers.
2 Google, research, read prior experiences. New info is appearing now, one strong theory is that antibiotic treatment before a procedure can be hugely preventive of infection.
3 Always go to a professional Dr [although this is not a safeguard guarantee as its what i did ]
4 Question the multiple entry of the same needle, a good avenue for infection.
5 Educate yourself on Biofilm Infection. i knew nothing about this but i do now.......
I'm optimistic i can eventually recover from this 'event'. I may need my own body fat injected into my face in the future to rectify defects. Do Google "Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches". Its a must read.
Wish you all Health & Happinness,
; ) B.T.
The Doctor who injected Aquamid into my face 4 years ago is quite highly regarded here in Sydney with a good reputation & adviser to Media publications. The clinic was clean, procedures adhered to, i asked all the relevant questions before procedure, equipment sterile & safe handling of product & my face, & still i am in this situation.I was told that there had never been any adverse reactions to Aquamid & it was a safe product.
As with ALL Dermal fillers there is a risk factor for infection which is purported to be quite low. If a patient is unlucky enough to suffer an infection with non-permanent fillers the treatment options although still serious are much more optimistic as antibiotics & the bodies own natural defenses can access the bacteria.The dangers with Permanent Fillers such as Aquamid are the Biofilm bacteria can and do remain dormant in the structure of the cross-linked polyacrylamide , and not manifest till years after injection as is my case. Quote from Online- NCBI Dovepress-Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches ; *"The structural changes that some nonbiodegradable fillers undergo during years in situ in human tissue may be one reason why adverse reactions to these permanent fillers occur clinically with a delay of several years". Alarmingly it seems that the product may never be stable but remain prone to Biofilm infection. I had two outbreaks, one last year at about 4 years post injection, the second in March this year, both with serious outcomes. The episode last year saw many tests, aspirations, biopsies etc but none of the tests were specific enough to detect a Biofilm infection, hence i was told no infection present. Quite a serious misdiagnosis from Various Medicos. As i have mentioned , Prof Deva knew immediately my situation. I am now part of a thesis/paper Prof Deva is undertaking regarding this Medical Condition.He presented to a Conference in Montreal last month.
If any of you are considering fillers please take away what i have learned the hard way :
1 Avoid permanent fillers.
2 Google, research, read prior experiences. New info is appearing now, one strong theory is that antibiotic treatment before a procedure can be hugely preventive of infection.
3 Always go to a professional Dr [although this is not a safeguard guarantee as its what i did ]
4 Question the multiple entry of the same needle, a good avenue for infection.
5 Educate yourself on Biofilm Infection. i knew nothing about this but i do now.......
I'm optimistic i can eventually recover from this 'event'. I may need my own body fat injected into my face in the future to rectify defects. Do Google "Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches". Its a must read.
Wish you all Health & Happinness,
; ) B.T.
Replies (20)
June 11, 2015
Oh what a relief it must be to have found a solution. Thank goodness for your new doctor! How freaky to think there had been an infection for all that time. I'm so glad you are relieving the correct treatment at last and can see a way out of the situation.
July 1, 2015
Thanks Much for message Caterpillar, just today had to have the post surgery site aspirated of fluid build up. Light at the end at least & your spot on, its great to have a definitive diagnosis !
Cheers from chilly Sydney. B.T.
Cheers from chilly Sydney. B.T.
September 15, 2015
Thank you so much for sharing what you have been through.it really has made my decision easier..as I was about to use aquamid, I have poor healing and am prone to infections, so I am weary now of going there.As I age I am finding I need more Juverderm ultra plus, every time I go.I do hope they develope a slightly longer lasting product in the future though.Until then I will stick with my Juverderm and look at other alternatives, thank you for that wake up call though xx.
December 9, 2015
Wow! I had the exact same problem, but rather than go to a plastic surgery centre, I was that sick, that I took myself to Emergency at Royal Perth Hospital. I had a general, had a debridement and a drain put in. I was seen by infectious disease and the pus grew that many bugs, I was on IV vancomycin and then oral antibiotics (fluconozole, rifampicin and clindamycin) for 10 months. How does your cheek look now? We're you left with hollow cheek and how did you fix this? I ended up stupidly having aquamid put back in as the fat injections in that area would not take even after 5 fat transfers!
December 26, 2015
Hi BluTongue. So Sorry to hear what you've been going through! I had a syringe and a half of Aquamid injected along my right jaw-line and chin exactly three years ago. Recently, I developed a lump that burst and drained on its own and another one that did not, and it left a sort of thin but hard lump in my face. There is a new small painless lump forming on my right cheek and like you, I am beginning to get concerned about a biofilm infection. I have read a couple of medical journal articles about removing permanent filler-related granulomas/nodules. Have you heard about the Eufoton laser that they seem to be using in Italy to remove permanent filler-related granulomas/nodules? I've also read about lasers and ultrasonography being used to extrude the gel in studies conducted in Iran. I am keen on removing all of the product (I think it is 1.5 ml) as it is very close to my chin where I have a bunch of root canals from an accident some years ago. I am concerned about them becoming infected. What do you advise? How is your recovery coming along? Sending you good vibes, strength and solidarity.
February 19, 2016
Hi there. Just reading your comment and wondering if you have any more info on the laser treatment. I had Aquamid put in my lips in 2013 (biggest mistake - my smile totally ruined). There is a hard line running from the top of my lip up to my nose. Not sure if its an infection but its been there since the procedure. Wondering if the laser would work on it. I am also considering going to see Prof Anand Deva in Sydney (I am in Adelaide) as my lips flare up continuously and hurt. No treatment or interest from the doctor who did my lips at all. The laser though has me intrigued.
February 12, 2016
I got in my face and from Turkey's hard case bioalcamid I'm going to help how to get rid of bioalcamid treatment?.
Oh my goodness- I am so sorry to hear that this is happening to you! Thank you for writing a review and sharing your experience, and for posting pictures. Are you having the hyaluronic filler injected on the right side too? Please let us know how it goes- I hope you are able to get rid of the lump(s).
Please let us know what the plastic surgeon tells you. Ff you go to the main aquamid community page and scroll through the reviews you will see some people who have also experienced problems. You can comment on other people's reviews and connect with them if you need some support from people who've been there too:
http://www.realself.com/reviews/aquamid