Skin filler problems: when filler treatments go terribly wrong.
My heart goes out to you on a skin filler problem like this. I can tell that you are suffering. If I had a magic wand and could make this all go away, I truly would. This type of event is traumatic in the same way that a car accident is. It can take months or occasionally even a year or more to get back to normal. And…….it is real test of your strength mentally, emotionally and in your spirit to be able to move forward in spite of this. I think you can do it though because you are already reaching out to me and others for help ……and that is often the first step. Let’s talk about both the options and the psychological part.
Our minds are very powerful and it’s important that you use that power well right now so here are some thoughts:
- Talk to your primary care doctor about this skin filler problem and get a referral to a good counselor. That person can help you with the emotional challenges for the coming months;
- There’s a wonderful book by Brene Brown called Rising Strong that talks about overcoming serious challenges;
- Try to find something to inspire you every day. Read about people who have overcome tremendous hardships and gone on to make a contribution to our world;
- Remember that you notice your face much more than other people do……..especially men (sorry no offense men), but many people are just not very observant;
- Think about amazing women that you know or know of, who’ve struggled with a physical problem like weight (like Oprah), or something else, and come out the other side;
On the medical side:
- This is NOT permanent and while it’s true that you cannot use hyaluronidase to remove Sculptra or Radiesse, this volume will begin to slowly reduce, and 6 months from now it will generally look much better;
- Generally Radiesse will last about 9 months and Sculpta 1-2 years. Most of what you’re seeing in your face is Radiesse, so it should be faster to resolve.
- Please, please, please do not have anything else injected into your face for at least a year, unless it’s by an expert and it’s hyaluronic acid only which can be reversed;
- Using any radiofrequency device like Thermage, Ultherapy etc. is NOT a good idea until your face is back to normal. It can stimulate more collagen production;
- Avoid the websites for now that are really just medical gossip – they will make you feel worse!
Please let me know if you have more questions, and I’ll try to answer them. I hope this helps for a skin filler problem that has gone wrong, Dr. Irwin
See Dr. Irwin’s article on Filler Problems and How to Fix Them