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I have had atrophy from Kenalog injections. One was horrible and in the middle of my face and kept getting deeper. Have your physician do saline injections into the atrophy. If you google it online there is a study that describes the technique. It 100 percent works!! My physican now uses this as treatment after I brought it to him and it successfully resolved the atrophy completely in about a month.
I had 3 of this injections, and all resulted in atrophie.
It is something difficult because my derm didnt said me about the risks, what occurs to almost everyone that complaim about this.
Maybe you could try the saline. here in my city(i am from Brazil) I think there is not derms doing this but is an option.In my case the atrophy did not solved for itself.
I had a cortisone shot almost 4 months ago on a small cyst. I have had these injections in the past and never had any problems. This time about 3 weeks after the shot the area developed a shadow and just caved in. There was a huge dent and I completely panicked. From a tiny cyst, which would have left a tiny scar had I left it to naturally come out, I now had a huge cavity and fat atrophy.
my dermatologist said that he had only put a tiny amount of cortisone so could not understand why this happened. He said it should start to improve but if it doesn't he could use some filler. I really do not want filler, I just want it to go away and wish I never had it done!
The area has now filled out a bit but is still sunken. Through my research I can see that it can take about 6 months or more to resolve itself however I am petrified that it won't get any better. I cannot wear blush etc in that area as it just sinks in - I know that's the least of my problems but it is really depressing.
If anyone has advice on this would greatly appreciate. Thanks.
Hi Ice,
I've had probably sooo many cortisone shots through the years. I've had atrophy a few times. The dent has always filled in, and yes it can take a long time. Time is the thing that worked for me. I know it totally sucks, hard to live with.
If you google atrophy from cortisone shots, you will see that rarely they don't fill in, most do. I know people on here have gotten saline shots to speed up the healing recovery, some with success, some not. I have never done that. I really think you will be fine, especially bc you said you have seen improvement. Just try to be patient!
Thank you for your response/advice Shadylee. I wish I had not got it done of course now. I had a tiny cyst but I had had it for 2 months or so and it wasn't coming out. I went to see my dermatologist about something else and as the cyst was there just spoke to him about it. He offered the shot and I accepted as I had had it before about 10 years ago and my cysts went away like magic I had no / minimal scarring. My cyst came out a few days later, though had to give a gentle squeeze as it was on the surface. It was tiny, everything was fine and then two weeks later noticed a shadow and I went to see my dermatologist. I was not massively bothered and my dermatologist said it was the cyst and not the injection. A few weeks later my cheek looked as if it had caved in!!! My mum noticed it and asked me what happened and that my cheek looked sunken!
Anyway, when I was finally able to see my dermatologist again it had filled in a bit but it seems to have stopped filling in at all now. I am petrified I will have this deep large pit in my cheek forever.
Thanks for your advice. Did you use anything to make it go faster? What about massaging the area? As the cyst came out it has left an acne scar but also the fat atrophy. Any advice on whether you think the cyst coming out would have made it worse?
Thank you in advance and thanks for the reassurance.
I never did anything to speed up the process, there was a couple times I wanted to, but always got too scared, thinking if I messed with it, it would get worse.
If the cyst was small I doubt it was the cyst that caused the atrophy. I really believe its the shot, derms can never seem to admit to doing something wrong, it's so frustrating!
There is an older thread on here called..You want to see Atrophy? I'll show you Atrophy...it was started by a girl named ughhhhh...She had massive atrophy, there's pictures. She had a very hard time, but her atrophy did eventually fill in. It's a very good thread bc lots of people joined in having the same problem, and there was some good advice. Unfortunately I'm soooo computer illiterate I don't know how to give you the link. Hope you can find it, I think it will be reassuring to you!
Hi Shadylee, thank you so much for your response and reassurance. It makes a huge difference when you fell like it's not going to get any better, and it helps having some moral support.
Found and read most of that huge thread that you recommended. Again reassuring to see how it did get better for that lady and others. Although I think 1 or 2 individuals mentioned the dent still there after 2 years or so! Hope that is not me. I am at the 4 month mark and it has definitely improved but it is still there and I am just hoping and praying it just completely heals. I am NEVER having one of those shots again. I do think in hindsight my derm shouldn't have even done it as the cyst was coming on the surface but then again it as my decision. That and I think even though he said it was a small amount it was probably too much for an tiny but annoying spot/cyst. But hey you live and learn - I just don't want to go through that again. It really does put a dampener on everything and you just do not feel good about yourself with a massive dent in face.
Anyway, hoping this just keeps improving and trying to stay positive. Thanks
@ice1234Kenalog or cortisone shots should be used as a last ditch effort. That is, when all else fail. Here's a candid testimony by someone who had also made the same bloopers: http://www.byrdie.com/cortisone-shots
@HnbGirl, you need fillers. It's still manageable so don't lose your hope just yet. In the meantime, you might want to check out this thread, if you haven't already.
You Want To See Cortisone Atrophy? I'll Show You Atrophy:
https://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/328714-you-want-to-see-cortisone-atrophy-ill-show-you-atrophy/?page=1
Hi @shadylee, how long would you say it took for your atrophy to fill in? I have just hit the 4 month stage, and although it definitely has improved - over the last couple of weeks it just looks as if there has been no improvement at all. There is still a dent in my face which is the atrophy and I can feel it. I can see where the scar has been left by the cyst whichgoes in much more. Am worried that it won't fill in anymore. Agh have a big wedding in 3 weeks time and wanted to look my best.
@Sirius Leethanks for the article. It's very worrying. You go to dermatologistto improve things, not make things look worse. I think my dermdefinitely injected too much for the tiny cyst I had, but bymedical standards the dose is probablyconsidered small.
Hi Ice,
I've had some resolve in 2 months, but I had one on my back which lasted a year, no lie. Thank god it was on my back bc it was REALLY big..I'm talking size of a lime. If it had been on my face I wld've had a complete nervous breakdown. I thought for sure there wld be no way it wld ever fill in, but it slowly did. I stopped looking at it everyday after about 6 months. Then every cpl of months I'd check and I noticed it was getting a little bit better. At the year mark I went to look at it and I cldnt even find it. My husband and I both couldn't believe it. I had one on my face that took abt 6 months to fill in, and then after that I had a greyish hue to it that lasted a little bit longer.
I finally found somebody that does my shots perfectly. I find cortisone shots to be a lifesaver, the person doing them needs to know how much to dilute and how much to use. I luckily haven't had a problem for 3 years now. I know it sucks but I think the smartest thing you can do at this time is wait at least another 2 months. The 2 Dr's I had talked abt my atrophy both advised that the best thing for atrophy is time. They don't recommend filler til at least the 6 month mark.
If you go onto the site Real Self..you will see a lot of encouraging stories there too. Most Drs there too recommend to wait before rushing into anything. I really hope it keeps filling in for you, but after 6 months if its still a problem then perhaps start looking into fillers. Believe me I know how truly hard that is!
@shadyleeThanks for the advice. I don't really want filler. I just don't want anything else to go wrong or be injected in my face!
I really had NO idea this would happen, and it isn't at all bad like the lady on the other thread but it's noticeable to me, and it's a bigger scar than had I left it alone, plus the atrophy which I have never experienced.
i am very worried though as it's a strange dent that feels a bit tethered by the cyst scar. I have a few other scars and they all sit on the surface, this is deep, plus atrophy on top.
sigh.
@shadyleeit's promising that yours all healed up and you have a great dermatologist now.
@shadyleeSorry for yet another message but where I think the needle went in and where my tiny cyst then lodged out, had to squeeze it gently - it's the deepest here, almost well like. Did you have this too? Last couple of days scar looks even worse. It's got a dark tinge to it too. I am petrified now that as the cyst did not just go away with the injection but had to come out the scar formed is from the cyst and not the cortisone. Although I have NO other scars like this and have ever had anything like this.
Awww ice...don't be sorry!! You can ask as many questions as you want. Believe me I completely understand what you're going through. It's so hard dealing with something on your face.
As I said I've had so many cortisone shots thru the years..probably a couple hundred, no lie. So I've had so many different outcomes. I think I know what you're describing. I've had a few where I could see the hole where the needle went in, and it would be so indented right at that spot, it wld have a scar like appearance. I also got the greyish hue lots of times. It has always gone away.
Unfortunately right now I think you just have to be patient. I hate saying that bc I'm literally the most impatient person when it comes to my face, and I know its so hard to hear that. I also know I can say, try not to obsess, don't look in the mirror..etc...but I never follow that great advice. I'm the person staring for hours at end.
I really hope this starts to get better for you..and if you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
@shadyleeThank you for your understanding. I may be back to ask more questions - apologies in advance! It helps when you talk to someone who has gone through it.
What scares me are the posts by individuals or doctors who have said it's permanent or likely to be permanent. Anyway I am going to try taking your advice and try not to look at it or think about it too much!).
Thanks
@shadyleeHi Shadylee - sorry using you as a sounding board. It's been over a week since I posted on here and have been better at just trying to forget this scar/ dent is there but today my mum asked me if had hurt my cheek. I was so embarrassed I just said no. She said it looked dark in that area. My mum had brought it up about 2 months ago too, but it was really bad then.
Anyway, I just got upset and thinking that everyone can see this scar, and whether it is going to improve anymore. I am very sceptical. I have booked an appointment with dermatologist in a couple of weeks time, for him to see the scar.
My scar looks like a shallow, dark but wide dent/slope. When I feel my skin in that area there is a definite slope and indent. There also seems to be scars inside the area - 1 scar from the needle and another scar that I had not realised I had in that area (can't remember having it!). In your experience have you had these and have they always filled in?
Have you had dents that never filled in for you? Or only reached a certain point and did not go any further? Thank you!
Hi Ice..Don't be sorry..I know exactly how you feel. It's just so hard dealing with this crap. Even more frustrating when a derm caused it.
Whenever I did get atrophy I would always get the greyish hue to it. I think I once read that that's the cortisone staining the skin, but I'm not completely sure.
Out of the all the shots I go thru the years, I only have 1 spot on the cheek that I can feel a slight indent. I believe it was the derms fault. He had drained the cyst first and then he gave me a shot. I never had a derm do that before. It's always been one or the other. If I had known what I know now I wld never let him shot it. It's like you got all the crap out, why shoot it? Of course he told the dent happened bc of the cyst and not the shot. I think that's a load of crap bc it never happened before or since, and I've had huge cysts. The first cpl of months I was hysterical..especially with the gray hue..god I hate the gray hue! But in the end it filled almost all the way and the grayness went away. So even though I know its there I don't think anybody else sees it.
I still think yours will fill in, I really do. I think it's good you're seeing a derm bc hopefully he will put your mind at rest..and perhaps give you a plan of action that will make you feel better. If you go on Real Self, you can see some pics where ppl have crazy indents and they filled in over time.
Don't ever hesitate to ask me questions, I don't mind being your sounding board :)...I truly know exactly what you're going through!
@shadyladyThanks again. I just freaked out when my mum commented on it again after 4.5 months in (she commented first time 2.5 months in). I just can't believe the fact that this much time has gone by and I can still feel and see the indent fully.
Yes I have been on realself and read that feed you told me about and that was reassuring. However some doctors on there have said it could be permanent, or advise on other proceduresSome are reassuring and others really are not. I think you understand what I mean.
I feel eel like I have a constant stress headache with this huge indent in cheek!
i am seeing derm in 2 weeks time (it is the same derm that did the shot). I just don't want fillers but I bet that is what is offered. The grey hue, along with the indent is the word thing about this I agree.
Send your energy my way for this for this to heal please 
Thank you so much for listening to my woes and your reassurance it is very helpful.
@shadyleeYou must be totally sick of me. I just feel extremely stressed as I have not seen any improvement over the last 3 weeks or so. If anything the discolouration is more pronounced but the atrophy/dents just look the same.
i am worried my cyst also tethered my skin (even though so tiny, and had I not had the cortisone shot it probably would have come out anyway and left only a tiny pinpoint dent, not this monster) and that I am left with this scar for life.
Surely I would still be seeing slight improvements if it was going to improve anymore? Did any of your cysts ever come out from cortisone shots and if so do you know if you had any tethering? Or did they just go away?
Do you recommend the saline shots? I think you said you never had these and your atrophy just healed naturally? It sounds as if yours never lasted this long though?
I really do wish I never had this done.
Ice, I'm not sick of you at all. I completely understand what you're going through. Its so emotionally draining and upsetting...
I'm not sure by what you mean by "come out" from the cortisone shots. 95% of my cysts wld just flatten. When I got atrophy they wld just sink in..i wld describe it as if someone pushed an eraser head into your skin, and the dent just stayed..if that makes any sense lol.
Most of mine wld fill in after 4 months. The only one that took forever was the one on my back..that one was freaky..you cld feel my bone like there was nothing covering it. That took like a year..I thought no way wld it ever fill in but it did. If it had been on my face I wld've been in a psych ward bc it was huge.
I never did saline shots..so many mixed reviews on them. I saw a post where someone said they wld bruise and the bruise lasted awhile..so that always scared me bc I'm terrible abt having marks on my face..i just don't handle them well at all.
I'm not sure if saline wld be your answer now bc the cortisone shld be out of your system now. I believe the saline shots are used for trying to dilute the cortisone..to flush it out. I think that's what I read, not 100% positive tho.
I think you're in your 5th month now? You have a derm appointment soon right? Ask them what they think..and perhaps try filler..
Ice you are not a bother at all. You can ask me all the questions you want..or just vent..i truly don't mind...Please keep me updated!