"I have had stem cells injected under my eyes but they made my bags and inflammation worse." (How Can I Fix This?)

One of our readers sent us this question (about work done at a different clinic): "I have had stem cells injected under my eyes but they made my bags and inflammation worse and made me look older than I am. What would you do to fix this?"

First of all, it is important to understand if you are still in a healing phase post your treatment.  The goal of treatments like this is to stimulate a restoration response. This can mean temporary swelling, discoloration, and textural changes while the tissues repair and rebuild. The tincture of time may be all you need to realize the overall success of your procedure.

To accurately assess your healing expectations, it is also important to understand what type of stem cells were injected? Did your provider use plant, human or your own stem cells for the procedure? Was anything mixed into the injections like an HA filler? Depending on the answer, you could possibly have a heightened inflammatory response due to the carrier and or the stem cells.

While stem cell therapy is generally intended to rejuvenate skin and reduce signs of aging, certain reactions or complications might occur.

1. Swelling and Inflammation: After the procedure, swelling is common, and this could temporarily make eye bags look more pronounced. This typically subsides within a few days to weeks, depending on individual healing rates. If a large volume of product was injected, the already weakened tissues could stretch, leading to even more pronounced bags. This can sometimes take months to correct and may require additional intervention with energy based devices.

2. Fluid Retention: The procedure might cause temporary fluid retention in the treated area, leading to puffiness or the appearance of worsened eye bags.

3. Overcorrection or Under-correction: If the stem cells or associated fillers were not placed correctly, it might lead to uneven results, where some areas look more puffy or prominent than desired.

4. Delayed Results: Stem cell therapies often take time to show results, and the initial phase might not be reflective of the final outcome. As the cells begin to regenerate and repair tissues, the appearance of your skin should improve over time.

5. Reaction to the Procedure: In some cases, the skin might react to the procedure or the materials used, leading to increased puffiness, inflammation, or irritation, which could make the eye bags appear worse temporarily.

6. Underlying Conditions: Sometimes, underlying conditions such as allergies, poor sleep, or dehydration could contribute to worsening eye bags, coincidentally around the time of the treatment.

It's essential to consult with your healthcare provider or the professional who performed the procedure if you're concerned about the results. They can assess whether what you're experiencing is a normal part of the healing process or if further intervention is necessary. We almost always combine PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin) with appropriate energy based devices for lower lid restoration. You may simply just need a little more stimulation to tighten up to your goal.