spaghetticonfetti wrote: Update 30/03/2026
I’ve noticed over the past few months the skin becoming slightly red, and some swelling. I believe it is a delayed reaction to the filler, which may have been triggered by having a cold+fever. Dr Greta agreed it was likely a delayed immune response which is uncommon but does happen.
Today I had the filler completely dissolved. There are a few reasons-
Firstly it had been slowly migrating and looking more lumpy, particularly around the base where it seemed to clump up into a firm ridge. This would require a spot dissolve/top up to fix, but as is the nature of the filler would only be temporary before it changes over time. I decided I didn’t want to have to deal with the maintenance involved long-term.
Secondly the reaction my body had made me quite anxious, and if this is a problem that can occur whenever my immune system feels like it and I have to rely on antibiotics to keep it from worsening, that doesn’t seem like a good idea long term either.
Lastly I have had a bit of a change of mindset over the year. I’m now in a relationship with a supportive partner and I just don’t think I have the same motivations that I did last year. It was an interesting chapter but ultimately I’m glad to return to natural and focus on other things 😊
Thanks for the update, and to be frank,
Male Enhancement isn't for everyone, and at least you were able to make that informed decision moving forward.
This is also, in my opinion, a good look for
Hyaluronic Acid (
HA) because it reinforces its advantages in a marketplace of options (there is no one superior option, they all have their own pros/cons). I'm talking about the ability to reverse some or most of the filler, and what remains will eventually dissipate in time. This way you could try it out, and when things were going well, you expressed a positive reception to the filler -- and if there was no longer interest, you knew this route was available to you.
Now I do want to touch on the immune response so that readers don’t inadvertently misinterpret your case or leave with misconceptions (which I know was not your intent; you simply shared your experience, both the good and the bad, which we appreciate). While
HA generally does not provoke as strong of an immune response as fillers like
PMMA or
Ellanse, it is still recognized by the body as a foreign substance (despite being similar in structure to naturally occurring
HA).
Because of that, some level of immune response can occur, and it’s possible there was some overlap with your cold at the time, which may have influenced how your body reacted -- whether coincidental, correlated, or otherwise.
That said,
HA does not require the use of antibiotics unless you are: (a.) recovering post-op after the procedure and/or (b.) dealing with an infection acquired through process of undergoing the procedure (in which case, you try to resolve that one & done). From what you’ve described, neither of those seem to be the situation here.
It’s possible there was some overlap between your general immune response (e.g., being sick at the time) and how your body reacted to the injections. Some individuals can have heightened or prolonged sensitivity to fillers as a foreign material, even when there is no infection present.
Antibiotics wouldn’t typically address that kind of response, so if they seemed to help, it may have been coincidental with the timing of symptoms improving rather than a direct effect.
Either way, if anyone who reads this has experienced something similar (i.e. recurring or concerning), it would be worth discussing with your Provider so they can help distinguish between infection vs. a non-infectious inflammatory response and guide you appropriately.
As for the maintenance of the
HA, in your case I think there may have been a double-whammy: [1] a less-than-ideal response to the filler itself (regardless of whether it was directly tied to the
HA specifically); and [2] the need for follow-ups in your specific case may have understandably added to your concerns around ongoing maintenance.
In other words, you found out in a happy-ending sort of way that you just weren't the optimal candidate for the procedure. Around the same time your outlook & attitude on life has been evolving through positive changes in your personal life. I'm also happy to learn that Dr. Greta got you back to the natural state you preferred to be in, she struck me as a bona fide professional in all aspects of her work.
And honestly, it's great that you could explore this chapter, share your experience with us, and be one of those instances where someone tried it out, enjoyed it for what it was, but ultimately decided for a different path.
And that's great. Wishing you the best with your newfound partner!