Let’s face it. We’ve all seen those flawless celebrities on our screens, with glowing faces and spotless skin, right? But there’s more to it than meets the eye. Some of them go above and beyond to achieve this flawless look and sometimes, things do go wrong. One of the ways they achieve this is by dermal face fillers.
Of course, they may not always be candid about it due to the stigma around enhancing body features and changing appearances, but most of them have more than just regrets about it.
Despite having access to the best dermatologists and cosmeticians and a lifetime of a needle always pointed at their faces, a ton of celebrities have come out and admitted to epic fails when it comes to dermal fillers.
Here is a comprehensive list of stars who tried out dermal fillers and got less than ideal results, and some of them will shock you!
But first things first…
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are arguably the most effective non-surgical cosmetic procedures. They are made of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other biodegradable, synthetic materials that restore volume to the face by filling wrinkles and fine lines temporarily or permanently.
Getting a Dermal Filler
Before getting a derma filler, it is important to consult with a skin expert to identify if it will be the right option for you. This may depend on your skin type, history of skin conditions, and any active medication.
After committing to the procedure, it can be performed at a clinic or medical spa according to where you feel most comfortable. Your dermatologist will start by cleaning your skin and applying a numbing cream to ensure that you will hardly feel a pinch during the procedure.
Using a very thin needle, your practitioner will inject small amounts of filler under the skin, especially where there is visible sagging and wrinkles. It is a basic procedure that can take anywhere between a few minutes and an hour, depending on the size of the treatment area.
After treatment, your practitioner will give you specific instructions and prescribe any necessary medication that you may need. This will help you counter any side effects that may arise after the procedure and ensure that the results are splendid.
Why Dermal Fillers Go Wrong
A dermal procedure is generally safe, but there are various risks and complications associated with the treatment. These may include;
- Asymmetrical appearance when the two sides of the face don't receive an equal amount of filler.
- Redness, bruising, and swelling often immediately after the procedure.
- Damage to skin in delicate areas causes scarring.
- Small acne-like pimples shortly after the filler is injected.
- Bumps under the skin due to uneven injection of filler.
- Rashes and itching on the treated area.
Most of these side effects are temporary and go away with time if the skin is well taken care of. However, some of them may result in permanent damage or force you to reverse the procedure. Here are some reasons why your dermal filler could go wrong;
Withholding Medical Information
During the consulting stage, a good dermatologist will enquire about previous and existing health and skin conditions and medication. This information is crucial in determining the safety and efficiency of the procedure, so you should not withhold or give incorrect responses.
Unqualified/Non-Certified Professional
An unqualified or unskilled professional is one of the leading causes of dermal fillers gone wrong. When selecting a dermatologist or skin expert, ensure that they are certified and learn of other patients' experiences with them to avoid incorrect injections of dermal fillers.
Lack of Consultation
Consultation is crucial before embarking on the dermal filler procedure. It allows you to share your aesthetic goals in detail with the professional so that they know how to help you achieve them.
Low-Quality Fillers
Getting dermal fillers can be quite expensive. This has prompted many consumers to turn to the black market, where they purchase low-quality, contaminated, and fake do-it-yourself dermal fillers. These fillers have been reported to cause severe health complications such as allergic reactions and death of skin cells. Authentic products may be costly, but they are definitely worth the price and hassle
Improper Facial Assessment
You've probably heard of numerous cases where people who got dermal fillers ended up with asymmetrical faces. This is caused by poor assessment of the facial anatomy by a dermatologist, and in severe cases, it may lower your self-esteem and keep you from your social life for a while. A good skin expert understands that every individual's face is different and should develop a tailored plan and technique to prevent uneven filling.
Filler Migration
In rare cases, fillers may flow under the skin from the injected areas to other parts where they are not needed, resulting in lumps and uneven and asymmetrical results. This often requires a fresh procedure to fix the complication.
Poor Aftercare
A good dermatologist will direct you on how to take care of treated areas after a dermal filler procedure. They may also prescribe medication, which you should get without fail to ensure that you get your desired results and the skin heals on schedule.
So without further ado, let’s get to the juice of the matter.
10 Celebrities With Dermal Fillers Gone Wrong
1. Courteney Cox
In Hollywood, every appearance on television, social media, and even on the streets is always an 'all eyes on you' moment. It's a fact that Courteney Cox knows way too well as it prompted her to try dermal fillers to add volume and smooth out fine lines on her face,
Her transformation began with a single injection, and she was loving the results. However, it soon became a domino effect. She was always looking for recommendations of the best doctors to get fillers from whenever she felt like her face looked a little off.
After a series of procedures, she realized that parts of her face were not symmetrical. This is one of the most common side effects of dermal fillers, which is caused by getting too much fillers. Luckily, she realized that she no longer looked like herself just on time before more side effects began to show.
In 2017, Courtney decided to get rid of her fillers. After dissolving her fillers, she no longer finds delight in chasing 'youthfulness,' but she loves her filler-free life and flaunts her natural looks at every opportunity.
2. Blac Chyna
Blac Chyna rose to fame as Nicki Minaj's stunt double in Kanye West's 'Monster' music video, and she has since done everything to maintain the image that catapulted her to fame.
Including getting fillers.
However, after the events of March 2023, when she recorded herself dissolving the fillers, it's safe to say that she is no longer interested in keeping up appearances. In the video, she laments that hers is simply a case of fillers gone wrong. That’s why it’s important to learn how to avoid or reverse bad face fillers before it gets worse.
But how exactly did it happen?
Chyna got the fillers in her cheeks, jawline, and lips to enhance her appearance, but in the heat of the moment, she may have overfilled her face. This resulted in contouring all over her face and made her even unable to apply makeup without looking hideous.
After dissolving the fillers, she couldn't hide her excitement, and sharing the video on Instagram was a wake-up call to any of her 16 million followers considering dermal fillers that they should seek professional advice before attempting the procedure.
3. Simon Cowell
When cosmetic procedures call, not even male celebrities are spared from the irresistible allure of transforming their looks.
Simon Cowell can attest. But how did it end for him?
There was a period in 2019 to 2021 when every famous face was being pumped with dermal fillers, and he was not left behind. So he got the first injection, the second, and a series of more procedures that left his face looking 'like something out of a horror film,' as he recalls it.
He had overfilled his nose, making it look swollen and asymmetrical. He was yet another victim of nose fillers gone wrong. However, since dissolving them, he has adopted a healthy diet and a lot of water intake as his natural alternatives for cosmetic procedures, which don't seem to suit him.
4. Khloe Kardashian
In 2015, the Kardashian family was at the peak of their fame, and with all public appearances, looks were a big concern. At the time, Khloe Kardashian was in her early 30s and going through a dramatic divorce. And what better way to relieve the pressure and boost her confidence than to jump on the latest trend: fillers?
Her procedure went well as she got fillers on her lips and cheeks, but the results were a far cry from her expectations. Instead of an even skin tone and lip augmentation, she experienced prolonged numbness. Now, numbness is a common side effect of dermal fillers, but this was different. Her whole face was numb and nothing seemed to alleviate the side effects of dermal fillers.
What could have gone wrong?
Numbness during a dermal filler procedure may be a result of vascular occlusion, or simply blood vessel blockage due to pressure on the arteries. Talking to her doctor about it could have helped her, but she couldn't bear the numbness and she resolved to dissolve the fillers.
But even after three dissolving sessions, Khloe insisted that she could feel the effects up to a year later, and can we blame her after her traumatic experience?
5. Melanie Griffith
'Oh my God, what has she done?!'
Melanie Griffith vividly recalls her fans' and critics' reactions after getting her dermal fillers.
And just to be clear, it's not because of how beautiful they made her look.
She had filled her lips, cheeks, and jaw to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, but instead, she got a swollen and seemingly disfigured face. Swelling after a dermal filler procedure is normal, but she was new to the treatment and she panicked.
Cold compresses could have helped with the temporary swelling, but after the reactions of everyone around her, Melanie went to a different doctor and dissolved all the fillers.
6. Christina Hall
Dermal fillers come with various side effects, some more severe than others.
However, any case of fillers gone wrong can prove fatal, as HGTV's Christina Hall found out the hard way.
By 2022, Christina had already invested a lot in her looks, including implants and under-eye dermal fillers. However, in April 2022, she started to experience a severe reaction to the fillers, causing swelling and irritation under the eye.
At first, she thought that it was nothing an ice pack couldn't fix, but when it didn't go down after a few days, she knew that it was a sign of her dermal fillers gone wrong.
Normally, during filler dissolving, hyaluronidase is used to break down hyaluronic acid safely, but on top of that, she had to go through several ultrasound frequency treatments to remove all the filler. The procedure is more non-invasive, safer, and more effective. and in no time, she was back to sharing her natural 'self-care Saturday' escapades.
7. Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner and her family have been on our screens for so long that every little change is noticeable. Therefore, it's no surprise that Kylie's use of lip fillers has received so much attention over the years.
She started slowly and her fans noticed exceptional full lips that positively changed her appearance. However, dramatic changes in 2018 changed everyone's view. She reported feeling uncomfortable with her overfilled and uneven lips and she had to dissolve.
Her predicament underlines the importance of getting a seasoned and skilled professional to avoid uneven injection, which is a common cause of dermal fillers gone wrong.
8. Tallulah Willis
When you're the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, nobody expects you to have a hard time fitting into the Hollywood scene. That's the story of Tallulah Willis, who has been in the limelight for most of her life, and keeping appearances is part of her daily routine.
In an attempt to enhance her appearance, Tallulah got her first dermal filler in 2018, and from there, she underwent a series of procedures as she kept wondering if it was enough. However, after more than five years of dermal fillers, she finally decided 2024 would be the year to take a different approach to beauty.
But what changed her mind?
Well, for one, it had been almost six years since she last saw her real bone structure, which endeared her to her audience at the beginning of her Hollywood career. She also felt addicted to the fillers, as a part of her face always looked wrong in the mirror and she had to go back for more.
Contrary to what most people think, getting more filler doesn't guarantee the best results. Instead, it may lead to tightness and distortion of treated areas.
After dissolving her fillers in early 2024, Tallulah embarked on a natural beauty journey, and she hasn't looked better in years.
9. Bhad Bhabie
Bhad Bhabie may have risen to fame due to a viral video meme, but she almost turned into a real meme when her face looked distorted after a dermal filler procedure.
At first, her lips, chin, and cheeks looked spectacular, but with more appointments, instead of smooth, flawless skin, she looked so much older and the fillers blocked her lymphatic system! This is a common occurrence as hyaluronic acid, the main component in most dermal fillers, blocks lymphatic channels.
In Bhad Bhabie's case, the filler may have accidentally been injected directly into the blood, causing blockage and pillow face. Pillow face filters may be good for a laugh on social media, but Bhad Bhabie experienced the effects first-hand.
This unexpected turn of events prompted her to share her story and discourage beauty enthusiasts from getting excess dermal fillers and only getting them from experienced professionals.
10. Kristin Davis
Being a celebrity requires one to have a thick skin, and Kristin Davis knows all about that after years of criticism over her looks. When her big break came in 1995, Kristin was already 30, but she could easily be mistaken for a teenager thanks to a healthy combination of a balanced diet, exercise, and a natural skincare regimen.
However, she soon found herself drawn to dermal fillers. When she tried them at first, the results were exceptional, but after a while, she experienced side effects such as irritation and inflammation.
During injection, hyaluronic acid has a high molecular weight. However, it degrades under the skin into smaller fragments which may cause late-onset inflammation and hypersensitivity. These delayed side effects changed Kristin's looks dramatically and she decided to dissolve her cheek, jaw, under-eye, and lip fillers in 2024.
Takeaway
For the longest time, celebrities have aspired to enhance their looks for various reasons. This is why they are among the main targets for cosmetic procedures, including dermal fillers. However, the results don't always align with expectations, and dermal fillers gone wrong can be a complete cosmetic disaster even for people who are not celebrities.
But you can avoid it by avoiding rush decisions and researching the complications of dermal fillers before proceeding with the treatment. At Diaminy, we have the resources, tips, and products for dermal fillers and every other cosmetic procedure you may be considering. You don't have to go into it blindly. Contact us, and let us put your mind at ease as you unlock your dream look!
