FAQs

Please see our most commonly asked questions below

Who is this treatment for?

There are many reasons we may want to dissolve filler. Sadly there are many people who have been overfilled and have a fake or unnatural appearance. With many celebrities such as Molly Mae getting their overdone fillers dissolved, people are realising that it just doesn’t look good and want to get rid of it. Thankfully, all hyaluronic acid based fillers are reversible so we often see patients who have been elsewhere in the past for this. Fillers are not an exact science and there may be situations where it has moved to an area unexpectedly. It is important to follow your aftercare but even with the best care this can happen. Sometimes it is to do with the injecting technique or the type of filler or it is simply to do with the patient’s anatomy and skin type. Although very rare, filler can enter a blood vessel and block the supply to the skin resulting in a vascular occlusion and skin necrosis if not treated. This can be treated with the filler dissolving. If it happens, it usually happens in the clinic and we have all the emergency protocols in place to ensure patients are treated promptly and safely.

How long does it last?

Filler dissolving is permanent but it can take multiple sessions to dissolve all filler. Certain fillers are harder to dissolve such as Revolax and require more sessions.

What is the recovery/downtime?

It depends which area is being dissolved. Lip filler dissolving can give very significant swelling which can look much worse than actually getting lip fillers. However it is quicker to subside and resolves in 24 hours in most people. Other areas tend not to swell as much but they do deflate and appear flatter/dehydrated for a week or two as the enzyme used to dissolve filler also temporarily dissolves your own hyaluronic acid which is naturally found in your skin. This normalises after 2-3 weeks. We cannot re inject filler for 2 weeks as the dissolving enzyme Hyaluronidase sticks around for that long and can get rid of any new filler.

What are the side effects and risks?

Like all medical treatments, there are side effects and risks. Swelling and bruising are to be expected, as is some discomfort. You may need multiple treatments of dissolving and this is more likely if it was injected elsewhere as the clinician will not know the exact amount, depth and anatomical planes the filler is it. Therefore we always recommend you try to see the original injector for the dissolving if possible. The main risk with filler dissolving using Hyalase/Hyaluronidase is the risk of allergy. There is a small risk of serious allergy that can transform to anaphylaxis. Therefore we always do a patch test to ensure this is not the case. Allergy is more common in people who are allergic to bee/wasp stings. We always screen for this prior to injecting fillers and we would normally recommend against them in case of an emergency. If you have a history of anaphylaxis we would also recommend against fillers.

How painful is the treatment?

Filler dissolving can be painful. Most patients describe it like a stinging sensation and tolerate it very well but some find it more uncomfortable. We normally use numbing cream and also add the local anaesthetic Lidocaine to the solution to minimise discomfort.

Duration

The patch test is injected into your forearm and we wait 20 mins before treating to check for any reaction. The actual dissolving time varies according to area being treated. The appointment lasts 45 mins.

No. of sessions

Sometimes the desired results will be achieved by the first session but some people may need 2-3 sessions to fully dissolve filler. As you can have initial swelling it can be difficult to see if you have dissolved all filler. Some fillers such as Revolax are harder to dissolve and normally need multiple sessions. In older patients or in patients with thinner skin, we recommend using a more dilute dose of the Hyalase/Hyaluronidase dissolving enzyme per session. As the enzyme dissolves your own hyaluronic acid, in these patients it can take longer to rebuild and they can end up with a lot of wrinkles and ‘crepey’ skin after dissolving. This can be difficult to deal with and although in our experience it improves, it can take a long time so we may recommend using lower doses over multiple sessions. If you have had filler in many places and are unable to go to your original injector, we may recommend you go to a clinic to have ultrasound guided dissolving so they can be very precise and limit the number of appointments you may need.

What if I only want to dissolve a small amount, not everything?

As the dissolving enzyme spreads to an area and we cannot control the limit of the spread, we are unable to recommend or perform partial dissolves. However, for example, if you under eye filler (tear trough filler) is slightly overfilled, we normally recommend a lighter dose over two sessions and you may find it has flattened out enough after one session and you no longer need further dissolving or further filler.

How will I look straight after?

You will have swelling immediately after which will start going down within 24 hours. You will have redness and some bruising from the needles. The following few days you may find your skin appears more flat and ‘wrinkly’. Please give it 2-3 weeks to normalise.

How is it done?

We initially undertake a thorough assessment of your whole face. We advise you to get your notes from your original injector so we know which filler and amount was used. We mix lidocaine which is a local anaesthetic with the dissolving enzyme. After you have passed your patch test we proceed to inject into the area that needs to be dissolved. We then firmly massage the area to physically break down the filler, this is an essential part of the process.

How many units do I need?

The Hyaluronidase/Hyalase comes in vials of 1500 units. Although there is no fixed rule to how much needs to be used as it varies so much with which filler was used and which depth, we normally use 400 mls per 1 ml of filler. We use much lower doses around the eyes as the skin is more delicate here and the fillers used under the eyes are thinner and normally need lower doses as well.

How do I prepare before the appt?

Before your Appointment

1. Please stop using topical Retinols, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acids, Salicylic Acid and Tretinoin 5 days before your treatment. This will minimise pain and bruising. However, if you have been using these for a long time and your skin is likely to flare up without them, you do not need to stop them. If you are on Roaccutane, please get in touch before your appointment so we can discuss it and give individual advice.

2. Please stop using any Vitamin E supplements and Ibuprofen/Neurofen 5 days before your treatment. Please do not stop using any Aspirin (or any other medication) prescribed by your GP.

3. Laser treatments for the face, microneedling and chemical peels have to be avoided 1 week before and after the treatment.

4. Please do not drink alcohol 24 hours before and after the procedure. You will bruise more.

5. Make sure you eat something before your appointment and are well hydrated. This prevents feeling lightheaded during the procedure.

6. It is advisable to take 1 g of Paracetamol (2 tablets) 30 mins - 1 hour before your appointment as it will significantly reduce any discomfort during the procedure.

7. Please come to the appointment with makeup removed and minimal jewellery.

How does the pricing work?

There are different pricing structures. Please see price list for more information.