POSTED UNDER Bellafill REVIEWS
Artecoll/Artefill/Bellafill - Ticking Timebomb! - United Kingdom
ORIGINAL POST
15 years ago I had PMMA filler Artecoll, which has...
jp1666December 24, 2015
15 years ago I had PMMA filler Artecoll, which has since resurfaced as Artefill and Bellafill, injected into my lips by a top UK surgeon. I was deoighted with the results, very natural and no problems. Then 6 months ago I noticed my lips looked a bit bigger - I thought it was an alergy or the heat but over time people started to ask me if Id recently had lip fillers (something no-one ever asked when I actually had the work done). All of a sudden over the space of one weekend my lips broke out in huge lumps, one, luckily on the inside of my mouth, that is probably the size of a peanut. The lumps on the front of my lips are sharp andfeel like broken glass under the skin, I have a row of sharp lumps alalong the wet/dry line of my top lip that look and feel like Im sprouting teeth. Turns out these lumps are glass - PMMA filler is plexiglass beads and the theory is that my immune system has changed and suddenly my body wants to reject the Artecoll. I am scheduled for surgery on 5 Jan, costing £4k. I have been told I will probably need more than one surgery plus fat grafts (which I cant afford so this will be the best its ever going to look). They are going to have to remove part of my own lip tissue because the Artecoll is now bonded to it. Ive attached aphoto of what I looked like a year ago and how my mouth looks now. The Moral is - NEVER have anything permanent injected into your face, you can do your homework and like me pick a good surgeon but he is only working with the information the manufacturers provide to get these fillers to market. In Artecolls case, I believe information on some complications was buried plus they never seem to be on the market long enough to see the long term complications. When these start to surface it appears the product is voluntarily withdrawn and slightly reformulated then launched under another name ie Artefill, Bellafill. Also the manufacturers seem to go into liquidation a lot but then spring back up with similar shareholders but this means you cant sue them. Lastly, you dont know how your body will change, maybe like me your immune system will cause problems or maybe something as simple as losing a lit of weight, naturally as you grow older will leave you with ridiculously inflated lips or silly looking over-round cheeks. In short, permanent filler = permanent problems. If anyone has had surgical removal of multiple pmma granulomas on the outside of your lips id love to here from you. Would be good to see someone elses results and hear about your experience.
Replies (52)
December 31, 2015
Thank you for your review and pictures. I have been considering Bellafill as a longer filler in my cheeks vs other temporary fillers. One concern is what happens 10+ years from now and your experience is one of the few I have been able to find relating to this. I'm sorry about your situation and hope that everything turns out alright for you!
January 2, 2016
Id say steer clear of anything permanent - Bellafill, Sculptra or anything else that isn't absorbed or cant be dissolved with an enzyme if necessary. You might be lucky but I had absolutely no issues for fifteen years so you just don't know what you might wake up to one day. I had mine done by probably the top plastic surgeon in the UK at the time so its not an issue on the skill of the injector. Im very cautious and thought I'd done my homework. What I didn't realise is that the surgeon is using a product that has been certified and that's pretty much all he has to go on - a bit like the PIP implant scandal in Europe - my surgeon told me that he'd have put them in his own wife because as far as he was concerned all the safety certification was above board. The problem appears to be that the manufacturers manipulate the trials so that they can get certification or in some cases just downright lie and there isn't enough long term study. My surgeon consulted with a couple of top colleagues who have used Artecoll a lot in Scandanavia who told him they are seeing this more and more so I'd say the long term prospects aren't good. I agree it's very hard to find real information on anyone's long term experiences, which makes me very suspicious. Please, please don't put anything permanent in your face, it's just not worth it.
December 18, 2016
You mentioned sculptra is the same category here but my understanding is that sculptra is not permanent...It is made of the same material as dissolvable stitches
January 1, 2016
Hi
I have lumps everwhere that lumps artefill was injected. The woman who did the work was an experienced injector however she worked for the company and injected me with artefill without letting me know it was permament. It has destroyed my being everyday. I am so angry that she would do such a terrible thing all to make money.
Had I known it was permanent I never would have had her use that product. I am working to find solutions on many levels but it has come with a lot of grief, anxiety and exhaustion, on top of being disfigured all over my face. Please send results on the surgery after the lumps are removed. Thank you for sharing.
I have lumps everwhere that lumps artefill was injected. The woman who did the work was an experienced injector however she worked for the company and injected me with artefill without letting me know it was permament. It has destroyed my being everyday. I am so angry that she would do such a terrible thing all to make money.
Had I known it was permanent I never would have had her use that product. I am working to find solutions on many levels but it has come with a lot of grief, anxiety and exhaustion, on top of being disfigured all over my face. Please send results on the surgery after the lumps are removed. Thank you for sharing.
January 2, 2016
Sorry to hear you story. I was told it would last about five years. Never dreamed there was anything left after fifteen. I'll update after the op. Where do you live? US or UK? Im looking to see if there's someone liable for this - Im in the uK - but the European distributor seems to have changed hands over the years. I tracked it down to someone in China who claims to be manufacturing and supplying UK surgeons. Unbelievable!
January 8, 2016
UK
Hopefully they will come up with something that will help.
it is horrible.
Hopefully they will come up with something that will help.
it is horrible.
December 16, 2016
Please look into dr raffy karamanoukian. He is in Santa Monica and removes permanent products and has so for years
February 27, 2017
Hi Julie ,
How long after your injections did the lumps start to show up?
I'm concerned about this stuff now .
D
How long after your injections did the lumps start to show up?
I'm concerned about this stuff now .
D
January 2, 2016
Hi, like you I had Artecoll injected into my upper lip over a decade ago. I ended up with some lumps (most people who had it injected did) but I lived with it on the basis that it looked better than without. I was happy with my new pout. However, only something like a quarter/third was permanent from what I recall, when the swelling goes down. So I had more put in, years down the line, with a different doctor, but he injected it into the muscle above my lip! I looked like a cross between a chimp and a goldfish! (Deformed). I lived with this for several years, because I couldn't afford to correct it, and I felt afraid to. Then eventually after much bullying from a partner (a DV relationship) who constantly called me 'fat lips' and who had hit me in the lip causing further lumps, I eventually had the filler removed. But sadly much of it was in the muscle above my lip and the surgeon said he couldn't remove it or I would look deformed. So I live with it to this day (it doesn't look good). I had no idea that the filler is plexiglass! The surgery to remove the filler, I had under local anaesthetic so I was awake. One of the most unpleasant procedures I've ever had. But I did have a fantastic surgeon, who did a great job considering what he had to deal with. I hope your procedure goes well X
January 2, 2016
Thanks for your reply and Im sorry you're still living with this. My biggest fear is that they wont be able to remove the lumps for the same reason they couldn't get yours. I look diseased! I have been doing some research and it really does look like a lot of info has been buried due to changing the product name, companies going into liquidation and new ones springing up with similar boards of directors. Its a real scandal. Hopefully this isn't the long term result for everyone but its frightening to think it could just happen at any time. It's costing me a lot of money that I don't really have at the moment to have the op. Its got to be done under general anaesthetic because, as you say its unpleasant and also the surgeon says its the worst case he's ever seen. One of my lumps is the size of a peanut! I'll update after the op.
January 2, 2016
Hi JP, well when I had my filler removed (what the surgeon could remove of it) he had a toxic bag at the ready to dispose of it in! And he asked me did I want him to photograph it as evidence to sue? Because it had looked so bad. I didn't want any further stress so I said no. And as you've pointed out, when companies have acted unethically, they tend to go into liquidation and start a fresh as new companies. I know how you must be feeling, but if you have a skilled surgeon, and he is confident he can improve your appearance, then as long as you don't expect perfection you should be happy with the results. Yes, let me know how it goes... good luck x
January 3, 2016
Thanks for your support. I think its so distressing because I've had a fair amount of work on my face - facelift, necklift, eyes, botox as well as what was the very subtle lip augmentation. I was really happy with the results. I'm 55 and feel like I was looking the best I was ever going to. Now, even though hopefully there'll be an improvement on the deformity caused by the filler, I'm probably not going to have a very attractive mouth. I'm planning to write an article about my experiences and if you don't mind, I might ask you a few more questions about your for inclusion. I think it's important that people know that if they've got this substance then even if things are fine at the moment they need to be on the alert. I don't know but maybe if I'd had steroids injected as soon as I noticed the slight swelling six months ago, I'd never have developed granulomas. I have to say, I'm usually calm and unflappable but I'm absolutely terrified about the surgery. I did want it under local anaesthetic but the surgeon said it would be way too distressing and the op will be about 2 hours. After reading your experiences I'm glad I didn't insist on it.
January 2, 2016
I've noticed this as well. What's really interesting is that many of the doctors who were not keen on Artefill before suddenly are now are offering Bellafill. Bellafill contains the exact formulation as Artefill, and it is completely just a rebranding. The manufacturer has stated before that Artefill was reformulated to have smooth microspheres of PMMA of uniform size. They claim that this reduces the incidences of rejection and granuloma formation, but that remains to be seen.
January 2, 2016
Also to add..... Since the rebranding, I've seen some doctors and clinics using Bellafill in all kinds of places it was never indicated for. I've seen some use it under the eyes for tear troughs, and I can't even imagine what may happen in 10 years time to these people.
UPDATED FROM jp1666
13 days post
Day after surgery
jp1666January 6, 2016
Traumatic day yesterday. Three hours of surgery followed by five hours trying to stabilise me as my blood oxygen levels dropped so low. All incisions and stitches inside my mouth and Im just not brave enough to look at the outside properly let alone the inside. When I pluck up the courage I'll post pics. From looking in the mirror from afar, through my fingers) I can see that even with swelling my lips look horribly thin and the wet/dry line on my top lip looks very un even but that could be from stitches. Havent spoke to the surgeon yet so dont know if he got it all out or if ill need more surgery but pretty sure ill need fat grafts.
Pretty painful just after op but they really managed my pain well with local anaesthetic and morphine. It was just the whole experience that has been traumatic and not sure its over so still ver y worried.
Eating ok, just need s8ft food that can be cut up small. Soup, ice cream, yogurt or anything that needs to be eaten off a spoon is impossible. Only able to drink through a straw and not esy to talk.
No pa7n this morning but not looking forward to trying to clean my teeth!
Pretty painful just after op but they really managed my pain well with local anaesthetic and morphine. It was just the whole experience that has been traumatic and not sure its over so still ver y worried.
Eating ok, just need s8ft food that can be cut up small. Soup, ice cream, yogurt or anything that needs to be eaten off a spoon is impossible. Only able to drink through a straw and not esy to talk.
No pa7n this morning but not looking forward to trying to clean my teeth!
Replies (10)
January 17, 2016
I am so sorry you have to go through this. I don't know if this will help, but using coconut oil on your teeth works on killing the bacteria. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/04/25/coconut-oil-toothpaste.aspx I hope things work out for you.
January 18, 2016
Thanks for the tip, thats a really good idea. Ive been rubbing vasaline on my teeth as my lips/stitches keep sticking to them. Never thought about the added anti bac properties of coconut oil. X
February 5, 2016
Artecoll is not the same as Bellafill. Artecoll was never cleared by the FDA to be used in the US and it was never approved for use in volumizing the lips. I inject Bellafill on a regular basis for volumizing the face and it gives wonderful results when injected correctly in the right candidates. No one should ever inject anything into you without obtaining written consent and informing you about side effects and duration of action. I am so sorry you had this experience. It looks painful.
March 4, 2016
Artecoll IS Artefill IS Bellafill. Why do you think they keep changing their name? Because of problems like this. Anyone can look this up online, but it takes some digging. It makes me sick that they continue to just rebrand themselves to escape the attention of people's lives they've ruined. You're injecting the very same thing. Artfill was approved in 2006........so please tell me, where are the long term studies showing that it's safe for 20+ years? Oh right. There aren't any. They will just continue to mutilate a certain percentage of people, until the risks are well enough known. Remember how smoking used to be approved by Dr.'s? Dr.'s don't know everything. Some basic common sense is in order here.
March 4, 2016
The medical professionals who endorse this stuff are really cynical human beings, I think. It's well known that these fillers are unsafe. Why not stick to approved temporary fillers and ditch the permanent rubbish that just messes up peoples' faces? Few of them have a clue how to remove it... other than money, I don't understand what the justification is for pushing permanent fillers on everyone.
March 4, 2016
Well this is sort of true, but not completely. Yes, Artefill is indeed the exact same formulation has BellaFill. However, ArteColl is not the same as ArteFill. The micron size of the particles in Artefill is uniform and smooth which supposedly reduces the chances of granulomas. Artecoll is an earlier version released in Europe that did not have uniform particles and were not smooth. Still, at the end of the day the problems with Artefill would be the same as Bellafill, since it's indeed the same product just rebranded.
March 4, 2016
Correct. Artefill and Bellafill are the same product. Artefill/Bellafill are not the same as Artecoll. It is such a shame that this happens to anyone. This is why a thorough consultation and informed consent are so important. No one should ever inject or be injected without knowing what they are getting, the side effects and how long it lasts. Lumps are a known side effect of ANY filler.
March 22, 2016
Why inject permanent substances that are very well known to cause these side effects, therefore? Why not stick to temporary fillers that can be dissolved?
March 21, 2016
so sorry you are going thru this, I have a doctor that just recommended in the states to have injected around my scalp line. A few of my girlfriends have had it placed in their cheeks recently for volume. I pray this isn't the same stuff that they are using now. No woman should have to go thru this. Thank you for sharing
February 13, 2017
Im so sorry ur going through this. Sounds terrifying I will be posting what happened to me on Friday. God Bless
UPDATED FROM jp1666
13 days post
Day 1 after surgery
jp1666January 6, 2016
Just heard from the surgeon and he said he didnt have to remove any of my own tissue but managed to remove most of the Artecoll. I'm over the moon. Dont care how much pain and discomfort I have to go through so long as Ive got lips left! Still might need some fat grafts to fill in some dents left from the lumps but thats small fry after what Ive just been through. Starting to feel a bit more optomistic that I wont be deformed.
Replies (2)
January 7, 2016
I am so so sorry to hear the suffering and just horrible experience you are having. It s such a reminder why God made us the way we are. Or whatever you want to believe, not trying to get religious. I'm just so sorry. Keep us posted. I'll be thinking of you.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you find support in the community.