Aquafil Removal from Buttocks and Body

Breast and buttock augmentation are two of Dr. Katzen's most popular plastic surgery procedures. Many safe surgical techniques can be utilized to achieve fuller, younger-looking breasts and buttocks. However, the use of Aquafil is questionable and fraught with many reported complications.

Aquafilling is not FDA-approved. As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Katzen maintains the highest ethical standards and will not use Aquafil when treating patients. Instead, Dr. Katzen utilizes patients’ own fat for transfer or FDA-approved silicone implants for breast and body augmentation procedures. Depending on the procedure, patients requesting facial fillers are treated with Juvéderm, Voluma, or Restylane.

If you have experienced complications from Aquafil injections, Dr. Katzen offers Aquafil removal from the buttocks, breasts, face, and other body areas.

What is Aquafil?

Aquafil (also called Aquafilling) was developed in 2005 and was first utilized as a soft-tissue filler for facial contouring. The manufacturer states that Aquafil is made of 98% water and 2% copolyimide that has been converted into a gel form.

Today, Aquafilling is marketed as a more natural, non-invasive alternative to body filling for patients without enough fat for transfer or who do not want implants. Many plastic and cosmetic surgeons offer Aquafil for:

• Breast augmentation
• Buttock and hip augmentation
• Correcting disfigurements or body asymmetries
• Leg augmentation
• Facial fillers

Many patients are drawn to Aquafilling because of the procedure’s price and Aquafilling only requires local anesthesia. During the procedure, Aquafil is injected by syringe, resulting in no scarring. In addition, Aquafil injections last for five to eight years, and patients may add more at any time.

Aquafil Complications

Aquafilling is widely used for breast augmentation, buttock augmentation, and other plastic surgery procedures. However, an increasing number of patients have reported complications from Aquafil.

In one study published in 2021, 29 female patients who had undergone breast augmentation with Aquafil were surveyed. The results found that:

• 17 patients complained of breast deformity.
• 8 patients had infections at the puncture site and inflammation of the mammary gland.
• 5 patients exhibited lumps that varied in size.
• 4 patients experienced filler migration to locations outside the breast, including to the vulva and back.

Additionally, many patients undergoing Aquafilling injections have reported pain, inflammation, and abnormal skin sensations.

Another study conducted in 2020 found that patients who had undergone Aquafilling removal procedures experienced no recurrence of infection and were highly satisfied with their removal results.

Dr. Katzen does not endorse or suggest Aquafiling to any body part.

How is Aquafilling Removed

Dr. Katzen is highly skilled and experienced at removing Aquafil injections. Each patient’s experience with Aquafilling is different, and Dr. Katzen will create a customized treatment plan for you depending on your individual needs, medical history, and goals.

Ultrasound-Guided VASER-Assisted Silicone Suction, or UVASS, is a technique Dr. Katzen utilizes for removing silicone injections in some patients. Direct excision is another option you and Dr. Katzen may consider.

UVASS

UVASS is an extraction method that uses ultrasound imaging to locate the material to be removed. Ultrasound imaging allows Dr. Katzen to pinpoint the precise body areas that need treatment.

A solution of saline, lidocaine, and a vasoconstrictor is injected, which numbs the area, reduces bleeding, and makes Aquafil removal easier. Then, Dr. Katzen uses the VASER surgical instrument to remove the Aquafilling material and associated scar tissue.

Direct Excision

If you are a candidate for direct excision, the procedure can be completed under local anesthesia for small masses. For larger mass removal, general anesthesia will be required. Direct excision may be recommended for you if you have a solid, defined mass. After making the incision, Dr. Katzen will treat the area by removing scar tissue and the Aquafil material.

What Happens After Aquafil Removal?

During your initial consultation with Dr. Katzen, he will discuss your long-term goals following Aquafilling removal. For example, some patients only want the Aquafil material to be removed. However, others have concerns about the appearance of their bodies following removal and request additional treatments to get their desired look.

For example, if Dr. Katzen removes Aquafil from your breasts, you may be concerned that your breasts will appear asymmetrical after the procedure. Dr. Katzen will discuss your breast augmentation options, including autologous fat transfer or breast implants.

Sometimes, additional plastic surgery procedures can be performed immediately following Aquafilling removal to minimize downtime. However, Dr. Katzen will discuss his personal recommendations with you.

What to Expect During Recovery

Recovery following Aquafilling removal varies depending on the extent of your surgery and the body areas requiring treatment. Patients requesting facial Aquafil removal will experience minimal downtime and minimal pain. However, recovery may be more involved for patients needing treatment for multiple areas of the body.

At your initial consultation, Dr. Katzen will discuss what you can expect during recovery. He will talk with you about how much time to take off work, when you can expect to resume your regular exercise routine, and answer any other questions you may have.

Dr. Katzen will also have you schedule follow-up appointments to ensure your recovery is progressing well and address any concerns.

Schedule Your Initial Aquafil Removal Consultation Today

Many patients turn to Aquafilling because it promises so many benefits. You may have chosen Aquafil because it is less invasive, less expensive, and offers quicker results than plastic surgery procedures. However, Dr. Katzen understands how frustrating it can be to learn that Aquafil is not FDA-approved and can result in dangerous complications, like migration, deformities, pain, and inflammation.

Fortunately, it is possible to remove Aquafilling from the body. Dr. Katzen has helped many patients achieve the desired results without using harmful, non-FDA-approved fillers.

Currently, Dr. Katzen is scheduling initial consultations for patients interested in undergoing Aquafilling removal procedures. Dr. Katzen will advise you on what you can expect during the removal process and discuss your options for body augmentation procedures to help you achieve your goals.

Dr. Katzen offers in-person appointments at his Beverly Hills, CA, and Dubai UAE offices. In addition, virtual appointments via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and WhatsApp are also available.

To schedule your initial consultation for Aquafilling removal, please call (310) 859-7770.