My experience closely mirrors one of the previous one-star reviews, where a service was pushed that…read morethe client did not ask for. I had read that review before going to Marina and, dismissed it because the clinic has overwhelmingly high ratings in google. In hindsight, that was a mistake.
From the very beginning, my gut was telling me I should not go through with this appointment. I even arrived on the wrong date, and although the clinic accommodated me, it felt like another sign that I should have walked away.
From the start, I clearly told Marina that I did not want my lips dissolved. I only wanted a small amount of filler dissolved above the upper lip. I specifically explained that I liked my lip shape and volume and did not want them deflated. I said that if more correction was needed later, I could always come back. I also asked about the ultrasound since they advertise it so much on their Instagram account to which a reply was, this is not necessary for me . She applied numbing cream, and at that point, we appeared to be fully aligned.
Once I felt injection going inside my lips. I immediately stopped her and asked why she was injecting my lips. At that moment, her demeanor changed completely. She stepped away, appeared confused and said she could not work with me, insisting that "it doesn't work like that" and that she dissolves all the lips. I reminded her that this was not what I consented to and that I had been very clear about not wanting my lips dissolved. She became defensive and told me I "didn't understand anything."
By that point, the damage was already done. She had injected a significant amount directly into my lips, and when I looked in the mirror, I could immediately see that my lips were deflated.
When I went to the front desk to pay and leave, I explained that Marina had performed a procedure I did not consent to. Instead of acknowledging the situation or attempting to de-escalate, the two front desk staff became hostile and pointed to the iPad with signed documents. None of the three women made any attempt to calm the situation, acknowledge a misunderstanding, or handle it professionally. I was not trying to argue or escalate I simply wanted to leave. The entire interaction was uncomfortable and unpleasant.
It was also completely inappropriate and unprofessional that Marina repeatedly spoke negatively about other clients during both the consultation and the procedure. She discussed a young client who had just been there described how "horrible" and deflated her face looked, and shared multiple disparaging stories about other patients, plastic surgeons, and aging faces. None of this was asked for, and it created a very uncomfortable atmosphere.
I was fully prepared to spend thousands of dollars at this clinic and return for additional procedures. Instead, I am now left having to pay elsewhere to restore the lips I already had and liked.
My lips are now bruised, deflated, and empty. Especially my top lip feels like a deflated bag as if I suddenly have the lips of a 60-year-old woman. Moreover, it feels as though not only were my lips dissolved, but that an excessive amount of dissolving agent was injected. They are not simply less full the tissue feels completely unsupported. My upper lip is now loose, empty skin with zero structure and has visibly sagged downward. This reflects not only a disregard for what I asked, but an over-injection of dissolving agent directly into the lips.
I feel completely devastated angry, misled, and scammed, as though the goal was to dissolve everything so I would need to return and pay to restore what I already had.
A patient has the right to refuse a procedure, just as a provider has the right to refuse to perform one. What is not acceptable is performing a procedure without clear, informed consent.
Not only did I waste $150 on a procedure I explicitly did not want, but I am now forced to spend close to 10X that amount to restore the lips I already liked. This entire situation could have been avoided if my wishes had been respected.
I am attaching photos of my lips before and the next day after the procedure to show that my lips were not a problem and that fully dissolving them was unnecessary.
To other women: ask in advance how a doctor plans to correct a situation if something goes wrong -- and whether you will be expected to pay to fix it. Most importantly, listen to your gut. If something feels off, even slightly, don't ignore it. I wish I hadn't.
