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Can Facial Filler Results Be Reversed?

Western Dermatology
September 18, 2024

Facial fillers are a quick way to make your skin appear lesswrinkled or to enhance facial contours by adding volume to the cheeks and lips.The satisfaction rate for fillers is very high, and most patients who receiveinjections from an experienced, board-certified injector are pleased with theway they look. But what happens if you go to a less-experienced injector andend up with a less-than-stellar result, you have a negative reaction to thefillers, or you simply change your mind about having them? Patients are oftencurious about whether they can potentially get rid of results that they don’tlike. The short answer is yes, it is indeed possible to undo certain types of dermalfillers at our New Mexico-based office—if for some reason you aren’tfully happy with results. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm® aretemporary, dissolvable fillers, so they’re an excellent option for people whoare trying out fillers for the first time.

Although significant complications from dermal fillers arerare, there are some potential risks. These include acne-like skin breakouts,asymmetry, lumps, redness, rashes, infections, under or over correction,incorrectly placed filler, Tyndall’s effect (filler placed too close to theskin surface that causes a blue discoloration), or palpability of the fillerbelow the skin’s surface. Patients can choose to have the filler decreased or dissolvedcompletely if one of these complications occur or they no longer want theirresults.

Instead of having to wait for several months for thetemporary fillers to metabolize, they simply have to go in for anotherinjection. The reversal agent is known as hyaluronidase, an enzyme that wenaturally have in our bodies. Once it has been injected below the skin, it causesa reaction that dissolves the hyaluronic acid contained in the filler. Thistakes just a few hours.

The skin should return to its normal shape after the fillerhas been dissolved.

We encourage patients to wait and see how they adjust tofillers before deciding they want them removed. There will always be someinitial swelling, so the results don’t truly “settle” for a few days after asession. That said, it is possible to use the enzyme right after getting fillersif you need or want it.

Get more tips on dermal fillers from our team at The Spa @ WesternDermatology Consultants. Want tomeet with us to discuss fillers or another cosmetic procedure? Call us at 505-855-9267,or submita contact form to reach outto us for additional details.

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