How can I get rid of cosmetic injection lumps from six years ago?

Six years ago, the only FDA approved products in the US were collagen based.  These products were Zyderm, Zyplast, Cosmoderm, Cosmoplast and a now discontinued product called Dermalogen.  While these could have caused lumps, it is extremely unlikely that they would cause such lumps like you are describing.

Sadly, you were probably injected with Silicone, which is NOT approved and has never been approved for facial injections.  This is the reason to only have FDA-approved material injected into your face and, furthermore, to avoid anything that promotes itself as permanent or semi-permanent. 

Ones to avoid now that are, indeed, FDA approved are Artefill and Sculptra.  These can cause some very concerning problems.  Others that are undecided/jury out are Radiesse and Evolence.  While you can certainly have them done, they don't have the track record yet of Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm. 

You need to get a second opinion from a dermatologist in your area with a good reputation.

You might consider having one small area sent to a dermatopathologist after having a small biopsy. Perhaps under the microscope he/she could determine what is causing this. It is unlikely to be a hyaluronic acid filler acting like this...

In my opinion, it is highly unlikely that your bumps are related to the injections you got 6 years ago IF you were injected with any Hyaluronic Acid filler. Allergic reactions to HA fillers are possilbe but extremely unlikely. I am suspicious that you were injected with Aretcoll or Silicone or some other non HA filler. HA fillers simply don't last that long. Collagen stimulation from HA injections will last for years, but collagen stimulation is not very likely going to cause cysts.

If you are having lumps 6 years after a single injection, then I believe you should be getting a second opinion.

Michael Sinclair, MD

www.epilution.com

Hi Say,

If it truly was hyaluronic acid that was injected, then it should be superficial in the skin.  A small puncture with a #18 gauge needle and pressure should be able to squeeze the material out (I have seen this in a few patients after a year).  Do not attempt this yourself, have a trained physician evaluate the situation.  In Chicago, I might visit Steven Dayan, MD.  Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

You seem to have a very good grasp of the complexity of your situation. I would doubt that there is any hyaluronic acid left after 6 years and that the problems you are having are more from cysts under the skin. Excision of these, while leaving a small scar, is usually less conspicuous than the bumps themselves at conversational distance.

It is also possible that what you had injected was actually not HA. Back then people were using some more permanent fillers like Artecol (Artefill) and liquid silicone. These have been associated with granuloma formations years after treatment that are very difficult to eradicate.

I would recommend getting your medical records and confirming what you had injected because a good doctor will specifically record that in the chart. Nowadays, we even place a sticker from the syringe directly in the patients chart.