I waited several months before writing this review because I wanted to give Lucere Dermatology and Dr. Taher every opportunity to address my concerns and provide the information I requested.
I originally went to Lucere for a dermatology issue unrelated to cosmetic treatment. While there, I noticed they offered cosmetic laser treatments and asked about a consultation for CO2 laser resurfacing. I was taken to the cosmetic area and spoke with someone I believed at the time was a nurse. I later learned she was a sales consultant.
Rather than discussing CO2 laser, I was encouraged to consider cheek filler. I explained that another cosmetic clinic had previously advised me that I was not a good candidate for cheek or tear-trough filler because I have festoons and that filler could potentially make them worse. I was reassured that this was not a concern and that I would be very happy with the result.
Based on those reassurances, I agreed to proceed.
I now regret that decision.
Dr. Zaki Taher performed the injections. The procedure itself was extremely quick (approximately five minutes). I was not told which filler product or products he was injecting, where each product was being placed, or what risks might be particularly relevant given my existing festoons. I also received no aftercare instructions. After returning home, I had to search online myself to find out what I should and should not do following cheek filler.
Unfortunately, I was very unhappy with the result. My under-eye area looked heavier and more tired, my pre-existing festoons became more noticeable, and I developed a temporary bluish discoloration under my left eye that appeared to me to resemble the Tyndall effect. The discoloration eventually resolved, but I remain unhappy with the overall result.
What concerned me just as much as the cosmetic result was what happened when I tried to find out exactly what had been done.
At my two week follow-up, when I asked what filler had been used, I was initially told there was nothing charted. I then asked Dr. Taher directly and was told "Juvederm." My receipt listed "1 ml under eyes" and "1 ml cheeks." Dr. Taher told me that no filler had been injected into my tear troughs.
Because of these discrepancies, I formally requested my complete records, including the exact filler used, lot/batch information, amounts, injection locations, procedure notes and consent documentation.
Several weeks later, I received records listing TWO fillers: Juvederm Ultra XC and Revanesse Ultra+. This was particularly confusing because I had previously been told only "Juvederm."
After months of requesting clarification, Lucere eventually told me that both Juvederm Ultra XC and Revanesse Ultra+ had been injected into my cheeks only and that the under-eye treatment shown on my invoice was a billing error. I was told that the consultant had completed the billing before treatment with the expectation that it would be corrected afterward, but the error was not caught when I left.
I cannot say whether filler was or was not placed under my eyes. Lucere's position is that it was not. My concern is that the conflicting information I received has left me without the confidence I should be able to have in my own medical records. If I was initially told there was nothing charted, I still do not understand how the clinic later established the precise products and placement. I also never received a satisfactory explanation for why Dr. Taher initially told me only Juvederm had been used when the records later listed two different fillers.
I also have serious concerns about the consent documentation I received. The consent form provided to me contains a signature under my name that is not mine. At the same time, the chart notes state that verbal consent was obtained because the iPad was not functioning. I specifically asked the clinic to explain how and when the written consent form was completed and why a signed form exists if verbal consent was documented.
The records also state that aftercare was reviewed prior to discharge. That does not reflect my experience. I received no aftercare instructions and had to look them up myself afterward.
I subsequently returned to the cosmetic clinic that had originally cautioned me about filler because of my festoons and had the result independently assessed. The provider did not consider it a good cosmetic result but advised me against dissolving because he felt the risk of making the area look worse was too great. I have chosen to follow that conservative advice and leave it alone.
If you are considering cosmetic injectables at Lucere, ask exactly what product will be injected, how much will be used, precisely where it will be placed, and what risks apply to your individual anatomy. Make sure the treatment is accurately documented, and ask for written aftercare instructions before leaving.
I wish I had trusted my initial hesitation and asked more questions before proceeding. read more