Ella Esthetics — Local services in Alexandria

I am speaking about my experience regarding lip fillers with Sorelle. I paid for 2 syringes (3 syringes were used due to a BOGO special back in October) that was split between my tear troughs and lips. My issues are with my lips.

I asked for more volume on the sides of my lips and was told that I would need more volume in the center. I agreed and while there was swelling, it seemed to subside. I went in to add more filler to the sides, as I felt that the sides were still not where I wanted them to be at all. I paid for another syringe, even though I think had more filler been simply added to my sides of my lips, it would have sufficed.

This is where things went wrong. I noticed that after the second attempt, there was a lump on the right side that was pretty noticeable especially when not smiling. I was in constant communication with Sorelle. She told me to come back and we added more filler to the other side and on the side of the lump to even out the lips. Additionally, a lip flip was added to help moving the sides of my lips outwards. I came out of this session pretty swollen. And it took about 5 full weeks for most of the swelling to subside. However my issue was that!!! Now the lump was on the other side and I could feel lumps on both sides...I was pretty frustrated because I missed my old lips.

Returned to Sorelle (as I had been in constant communication and was understanding that lumps can happen). However, when finishing the third syringe, I noticed a lot of focus was being placed in the center of my lips. Even though all I had really wanted from the beginning was more volume on the sides. I walked away from this session so utterly swollen for about 1 whole month and about 5 months later, my lips look worse than ever. I contacted Sorelle, and was told that I would need to get my lip filler dissolved and refilled (which I would have to pay for). I thought this was extremely unfair because I had a feeling the filler had been MISPLACED and overfilled in certain areas. When talking to a plastic surgeon in the Northern Virginia area, I was told that it looks as if the filler had been overfilled in the center of my lips and in a way that was rushed because of the lumps that had formed on both sides of my lips. I also have persistent "puncture wound" looking marks on my lips due to the numerous injection spots on my lips.

When talking to Angela, she at first offered a refund, but then went back on her word and offered to dissolve the filler for free, which...why would I go back to the establishment to dissolve my filler when I feel as though they had messed up. When asking for a refund, it was refused completely, saying that this is how things happen.

I was also told that asking other professionals for their opinion won't render an unbiased response and was told not to ask others. This was extremely strange, and I'd like to argue that asking other professionals for additional opinions is the key to healthcare. Not every person knows what they are doing/is doing the right thing.

I am pretty disappointed with my whole experience, as I feel like i truly hate the way my lips look. I miss my old lips and I would be SO VERY careful with this establishment when looking at fillers, and I would recommend just looking at other places/other nurse practitioners/plastic surgeons. The solution isn't always adding more filler, and I did not feel like what I went in for (ADDING MORE FILLER TO THE SIDES of my lips) was ever ADDRESSED whatsoever. Getting filler I paid for dissolved because of a mistake THEY made is absolutely unfair. I attached photos of what my poor lips look like now to urge you guys to look elsewhere.

You can tell from other reviews that they do have issues with customer care and listening to their customers. I would NOT recommend them to anyone who is nervous about going into a...

UPDATED: This business is lucky that Google doesn’t allow you to leave zero stars, because it’s what I’d like to rate them after this totally insane response from the owner basically saying I didn’t wait long enough for the Botox to kick in. I may have only waited 10 days between the second and third visit (which the third visit should not have even been necessary, but whatever) but I still had no results from the third visit!

Here is a timeline of my visits:

June 24 July 19 (25 DAYS, OVER TWO WEEKS) minimal results from first appointment - tons of movement in my face that I specifically requested to address July 29 (10 DAYS) zero results from second appointment (and zero results from this visit too)

This review was written August 18, which is plenty of time for the neuromodulator to kick in after that experience (20 days). Regardless, as I type this update on October 3, I can tell you I did not experience ANY results from that third visit. I refused to put myself through another expensive visit with no results, so I didn't go back for a fourth visit. So I am still sticking by my original review.

Instead of believing patients who have had a poor experience, this place chooses to act like we are all idiots because we want something we paid for with a skilled injector who knows what they’re doing. There is literally NO reason for me to have NO results between three appointments, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I had FULL movement in my forehead. The owner said Breanna likes to give patients a “natural look” which I guess means you’re still going to have heavy movement which will lead to more wrinkles and spending more money at this place for all touch ups. I have never experienced this anywhere else and being upcharged for what’s either diluted product or an unskilled injector, which is absolutely crazy. Plus all the other places also charge by the unit too, so the sob story about it costing them so much money isn’t mathing to me. Get better business practices.

I will be telling EVERYONE not to visit this place. Absolutely unprofessional and unskilled.

Read the responses to the other negative reviews. A good business owner would try to make things right vs. berating customers who spend money on their face, a very significant and personal investment. Spend your money elsewhere.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

I was looking for a new place to get Botox/Dysport and came here because of the good reviews, but after coming here three times, spending $1100 and seeing totally minimal results, I will not be coming back. I had two follow up appointments after my initial appointment with Breanna, where I specifically told her that my face is a lot stronger than it appears. I’ve been getting Botox/Dysport for years and know this really well. She went conservative, which is fine, but I shouldn’t have had to come back a second time and have no results, then come back a third time with no results. I paid for all of these touch ups too, which is sort of ridiculous because most other places offer them complimentary, because it means they didn’t meet the customer’s expectations the first go around.

What was even crazier is that when I initially contacted them about my minimal results, they were telling me I needed to get microneedling and other treatments to “see the full effect,” which is absolutely bonkers considering I have been getting these treatments regularly for years. It was an upsell on their part which I’m not sure is purposeful to get people to spend more money there, but overall felt VERY scammy.

I know this isn’t an issue with me because I’ve been to other places who can actually get the results I am looking for. Kind of bummed I had to spend so much money to figure it out but I’m not coming back.

I had microneedling and that was fine, but I wouldn’t recommend this place for...

Please read in full you will be happy you did! This speaks high volumes of their customer care, talent and professionalism.

EYEBROWS/MICROBLADING/COMBO The owner believes she is the eyebrow goddess and that her way is the right way. She comes off very condescending and disrespectful when asked any valid questions. One of my eyebrows is thiner than the other - like I constantly have a slouched facial expression. As I am still laying in the chair, she hands me the mirror, I show her what I see. She didn’t see and laughed it off.

Spending so much money on something and then not being respected as a customer is beyond irritating. Not to mention I still have to pencil them in every single day. Sometimes more than once.. I never leave home without my eyebrow pencil. I will not be going back.

IPL I have melasma - mainly on my forehead. I was recommended to get IPL. The owner performed the job. I now have hypo pigmentation as well as the hyper I started out with. For those who don't know, hypo is a really white to translucent pigment loss and is PERMANENT pigment loss. Not only do I still have hyper but it came back with more let's add Hypo to it.

**VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE IPL RESULTS AS IT MADE IT WORSE AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE (atleast at this facility) The amount of makeup I have to wear and hats every time I am in the sun is a terrible reminder of who I trusted with my face.

LIPS - When i went to reschedule for opening day (after COVID closure) to have an old syringe injection... (which I paid in full for during my last session) was simply just thrown away.  I received no notice and no true explanation. What was in the syringe (paid for by me) can be stored for up to 12 months. Unfortunately, the injector tends to create new rules and backs it with ‘I am a licensed professional and you are a patient getting a medical procedure with a medical device and prescription’.

**This has happened to a lot of my girlfriends I have referred to come here as well. This provider told me that 6 months was the cap. She told my friends 30 days was the cap and that more filler needed to be purchased.

Meaning something I (we) had paid for, we would not be getting the benefits of.

On top of this mishap, the attitude that came when I had questions as a customer WHY it had to be thrown out, and if I was going to get reimbursed was astonishing.

When I asked if we could discuss any of the above topics over the phone. ‘No there is no need. The conversation is done.’

I have screenshots of every wrong doing at this facility.

I strongly advise looking for better options in the DMV area. There is a lot of...