Injectable fillers are a great alternative to plastic surgery if there’s any cosmetic enhancement that you want to attain, such as plumping or reshaping the lips. This safe, minimally invasive procedure can provide instant volume and fullness to your lips. You can enjoy the effects of lip fillers for several months to a year, but if you’re beginning to get tired of the injectables, you can remove them before they start to dissolve.
So is it safe to remove lip filler injections? Just like how safe it is to receive a lip filler, it’s also low risk when getting a filler dissolving treatment. If you opt to get your lip injections removed, providers will use hyaluronidase solution, which is a naturally occurring enzyme that can safely break down hyaluronic acid fillers.
What To Know About Dissolving Lip Filler Injections
With celebrities becoming more open about their aesthetic treatments, more and more people are also following in their footsteps and getting injectables done to keep the signs of aging at bay and maintain their youthful beauty. One such cosmetic procedure that has been getting a lot of attention is lip fillers.
Cosmetic filler injections are an excellent solution to plumping thin lips, reducing smoker’s lines, and improving lip shape and contours. Most people are satisfied with the effects and longevity of their lip filler treatments. But in case you start to feel unhappy with your fillers, or if you’re dealing with botched results or complications, there’s also a way to dissolve your lip injections.
Here are some of the things you need to know about dissolving lip filler injections:
Do Lip Fillers Dissolve Completely?
Yes, lip fillers will gradually dissolve on their own over time. However, the time it takes for them to completely break down and lose their effects will depend on the material of the injectable. For lip fillers, cosmetic providers commonly use hyaluronic acid injections and these types of injectables can be fully metabolized by the body after 6 to 12 months.
Once they’re fully dissolved, your lips will simply return to their baseline or normal appearance before you received the injections. Contrary to the common rumors, you won’t look worse than you did before or get new lip wrinkles or lines once the effects of the fillers are gone.
Types of Lip Fillers That Can Be Dissolved
There are different kinds of facial fillers in the market, but the ones that are commonly used for lip augmentation are made of hyaluronic acid. One reason why HA fillers are preferred for lip enhancement is because of their soft and light consistency. They can integrate smoothly with the lips and produce natural-looking results with minimal lumps or complications.
Some of the best HA-based lip fillers that can be dissolved are:
- Juvederm Volbella XC
- Juvederm Ultra XC
- Juvederm Ultra Plus XC
- Restylane
- Restylane Silk
- Restylane Kysse
What Dissolves Lip Filler Treatments?
Only lip fillers made of hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with hyaluronidase injections. Similar to hyaluronic acid, hyaluronidase is a naturally occurring enzyme that’s present in the organs and bodily fluids.
In medicine, it’s used to improve the absorption of medications and drugs. It can also be used to minimize tissue damage in case of excessive bruising. In terms of cosmetic application, hyaluronidase is the only treatment that can dissolve lip fillers. It can also be applied to rare cases of lower eyelid swelling, especially after midface or undereye filler injections.
How Long Does It Take for Lip Fillers To Dissolve with Hyaluronidase?
The dermal filler dissolving treatment is delivered directly or near the lip area. Once injected, the enzyme will immediately dissolve the molecules and facilitate the breakdown of the hyaluronic acid fillers in the treated area. Most patients can see the results of dissolving their lip filler within 2 to 3 days after receiving the hyaluronidase injections.
If you don’t want to completely dissolve your lip filler and retain some of its volume, your provider may first dilute the hyaluronidase solution. This will reduce the concentration of the injection so that it doesn’t fully remove your lip filler. They may also use smaller amounts of hyaluronidase to remove a portion of your lip filler.
Is Dissolving Lip Filler Painful?
Dissolving your lip fillers won’t hurt at all. The reversal treatment is safe and carries little to no risk. You may experience minimal aftereffects like swelling or bruising but these are usually temporary and can resolve within 2 to 3 days after the injections.
In rare cases, some people develop an allergic reaction to the hyaluronidase solution. When this happens, you should immediately seek medical help to treat your symptoms. But rest assured that most experienced providers will perform a patch test to check if you have an existing allergy or sensitivity to the lip filler dissolving solution.
Does Dissolving Lip Filler Ruin Your Lips?
No, it wouldn’t ruin or damage your lip appearance. But like all cosmetic procedures, dissolving lip fillers with hyaluronidase should only be done by an experienced practitioner. The solution needs to be placed as close to the lip filler as possible to dissolve the material.
However, inexperienced providers may make the mistake of injecting the solution into the surrounding tissues and resulting in unnatural lip puckering, unevenness, or an irregularly-shaped appearance.
When Should You Dissolve Lip Filler Injections?
Unless you’re not satisfied or have grown tired of your injectables, there shouldn’t be a need to dissolve lip fillers if they’re properly placed in the treated area. There are only a few cases that require the treatment of hyaluronidase. Here are some possible reasons for dissolving lip fillers:
- Cases of overfilled lips – Having overly filled or duck lips is a common example of botched filler results. Hyaluronidase injections can help correct these irregularities and restore your normal lip appearance.
- Lip filler migration – Another reason for dissolving lip injections is filler migration. This happens when the injectable moves or shifts to another area, resulting in an unnatural, bumpy, or uneven lip appearance.
- Asymmetrical results – Inexperienced injectors may also lack the technique to place the fillers properly to create a balanced appearance. Dissolving fillers could help restore symmetry and improve your lower face appearance.
- Granuloma formation – Granulomas are an uncommon reaction to HA-based lip filler treatments. Some cases of granulomas may be painful and cause persistent swelling which is why injections of hyaluronidase may be required to alleviate the discomfort and dissolve the filler.
- Vascular occlusion – Another rare complication of lip fillers is vascular occlusion. This occurs when an inexperienced provider accidentally hits a blood vessel during the filler placement. Providers may use hyaluronidase to break down the misplaced filler and prevent serious complications.
How Soon Can You Have Lip Filler Dissolved?
It’s best to wait for about 2 weeks to see the initial results of your lip fillers before deciding on a dissolving treatment. During this period, the filler will settle in your lips smoothly and you can see if you like its effects.
If you’re unsatisfied or if you notice unusual complications, you can return to your provider to discuss getting hyaluronidase injections. In cases of vascular occlusions and other severe reactions, it’s best to see your provider and dissolve your lip filler immediately.
How Much Does It Cost To Dissolve Lip Fillers?
Similar to getting lip fillers, dissolving them may be pricey. The cost of hyaluronidase may vary per geographic location and the number of injections needed to remove the filler. On average, you may expect to pay around $400 to $500 per lip filler dissolving session. Some treatments may reach $1,500 to $3,000, especially if you require higher doses to remove the filler or address a possible complication.
Get Lip Augmentation Treatments at Ethos Spa
Hyaluronidase treatments are the only effective method for safely dissolving lip filler injections that have gone wrong or triggered serious complications. However, you wouldn’t need to worry about removing them if you received the injectables from a highly qualified provider from the start.
Ethos Spa is a premier med spa that has experience in administering safe and effective lip filler procedures. We have a team of professionals and highly-trained staff that can provide the best possible results for you. Contact us now to book a consultation and discuss your lip filler goals with us.
