What Is Hyaluronidase?
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. Your body actually produces it naturally, and a medical form, often known by the brand name Hyalase, is used in aesthetics to dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers. Given as small hyaluronidase injections into the treatment area, it speeds up the natural breakdown of the filler, allowing the body to absorb it more quickly than it would on its own.
Because it is a prescription medicine, hyaluronidase should only ever be prescribed and administered by a qualified medical professional.
How Does Dissolving Filler Work?
The process is usually quick. After a skin consultation and assessment, your practitioner injects a small amount of hyaluronidase, using a fine needle, into the area where the filler sits. The injecting itself takes only a few moments. It begins to break the filler down within hours, and you will often see a noticeable difference within 24 to 48 hours as the area settles.
Sometimes a single session is enough. In other cases, particularly where there is a larger amount of filler or older, firmer product, more than one treatment may be needed to fully dissolve it.
Why Would You Need Filler Dissolved?
Filler dissolving treatments are requested for several reasons, including:
- An overfilled result, or one that looks fuller or more "done" than you wanted.
- Lumps, bumps or unevenness that have not settled on their own.
- Filler migration, where product has moved beyond the area it was placed, often linked to poor placement or too much product.
- Old filler you would like removed before having a fresh treatment.
- A change of heart, simply not feeling the result is right for you.
There is also one urgent, medical reason. In the rare event of a vascular occlusion, where filler blocks or compresses a blood vessel, hyaluronidase is used as an emergency treatment to dissolve the filler quickly. This is exactly why having filler placed by a trained medical practitioner, with a thorough understanding of facial anatomy, matters so much: they are equipped to recognise and manage complications should they ever arise.
Can All Dermal Fillers Be Dissolved?
No, and this is an important point. Only hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Other types, such as biostimulatory fillers that stimulate your own collagen, cannot be dissolved in the same way and instead wear off gradually over time.
This is one of the reasons it is so important to know exactly which product has been used in your face. At a reputable clinic, your practitioner will always be able to tell you what you have had and whether it can be reversed.
Is Dissolving Filler Safe?
When carried out by a qualified medical practitioner, dissolving filler is generally safe. As with all aesthetic treatments, there are some side effects to be aware of. Mild swelling, redness, tenderness or bruising at the injection sites are common and usually settle within a few days.
Because hyaluronidase can, rarely, cause an allergic reaction, your practitioner may carry out a patch test beforehand, and will always review your full medical history first. This careful treatment approach, combined with the right technique, is central to safety, and another reason to choose an experienced medical professional rather than the cheapest option.
What to Expect When You Have Filler Dissolved
Your appointment begins with a consultation, where your practitioner assesses the area, discusses your concerns and explains the filler dissolving procedure. A patch test may be carried out if needed. The treatment itself is quick, and most patients describe only minor discomfort.
Afterwards, the treatment area may look a little deflated or swollen at first, which is completely normal as the filler breaks down and the swelling settles. If a large amount has been dissolved, you might worry about skin laxity, but the skin in most areas retracts well as it recovers. Simple post-treatment care, following the aftercare advice your practitioner gives you, helps everything settle. If you are planning to have new filler placed, your practitioner will usually recommend waiting around two weeks to let the tissue fully recover before treating again.
Filler Correction and Dissolving in Carlisle at Oracle Clinics
At Oracle Clinics, our Filler Correction and Dissolving treatment uses Hyalase to gently dissolve dermal filler and restore natural balance, whether you would like to refine previous filler work or create a fresh foundation for new treatment. As one of the more straightforward, minimally invasive treatments we offer, it is carried out by Nurse Ness Abbey, an Independent Nurse Prescriber, or a senior member of her nurse-led team, following a full consultation and assessment, with the cost confirmed before anything goes ahead. Whether you are unhappy with previous work done elsewhere or simply want to understand your options, we will talk you through everything honestly and without pressure.
To find out more, or to book a consultation, take a look at our dermal fillers in Carlisle page or get in touch with our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dissolving filler hurt?
Most patients describe only minor discomfort, similar to having filler placed. A numbing option can be discussed at your consultation, and the treatment itself is quick.
How long does it take for filler to dissolve?
You will often notice a difference within 24 to 48 hours, with the area continuing to settle over the following days. Larger amounts or firmer, older filler may need more than one session.
Will my lips or face go back to normal after dissolving?
Yes. Once the filler has been dissolved and any swelling has settled, the lips return to their natural lip volume and the area looks as it did before your lip filler.
Can you have filler again after dissolving?
Yes. Most practitioners recommend waiting around two weeks after dissolving before having new filler, to allow the area to fully recover.
Can every type of filler be dissolved?
Only hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Other types wear off naturally over time and cannot be reversed in the same way, which is why it is important to know which product you have had.
