Thinking of getting your lip filler dissolved before your wedding day? You’re not alone – a lot of brides are now choosing to remove the built-up filler in their lips that has migrated over time, opting for a more natural look.
We asked London’s top cosmetic dentist and facial aesthetician, Dr. Krystyna Wilczynsk, all of the common questions about lip fillers – including how hard is it to reverse lip fillers? What dissolving lip filler actually means? And why more people than ever are choosing to get their lip filler removed and start again…
Whether you’re removing your lip filler and opting for a more natural look for your wedding day, or just want to start the process all over again, here’s everything you need to know about having your lip filler dissolved…
Speaking to us about dissolving lip filler, Dr. Krystyna said: “I’ve seen an upward trend in the last five to seven years of patients requesting a more “natural” and “undone” look. I believe in natural enhancements and always take a ‘less is more’ approach. I believe in helping my patients look like the best version of themselves, taking in to account their age, facial shape, past aesthetics’ history, and goals.
“I have had a number of patients come to me to dissolve migrated filler, especially when it comes to their lips. But clients are still asking to have their lips done, but more for anti-aging and hydration purposes rather than augmentation. For patients with smaller upper lips, we’re seeing many ask for a ‘lip flip’ which is where we use botox to relax the muscle before volumising this area.”
What is lip filler made out of?
To understand how lip filler is dissolved, you need to know what lip filler is. The non-surgical procedure basically involves tiny injections of hyaluronic acid, strategically placed for a plumping and volumising effect. There are three types of hyaluronic acid that are commonly used for lip augmentations: Juvederm, Belotero and Restylane. All three of these are naturally broken down by the body over time (anywhere between six to 12 months), which is why follow-up appointments are needed to maintain the look.
“When it comes to filler, I recommend beginning at least 6-12 months in advance, so that we can add small tweakments to your aesthetics plan and adjust depending on your goals,” says Dr. Krystyna. “As always, we at Blush+Blow recommend also receiving regular monthly facials at least a year in advance to get truly wedding-ready!”
How do you dissolve lip fillers?
Six to 12 months is a long time to wait if you decide you no longer want your lip fillers. So while the body naturally breaks them down over time, there is a way to speed up the process: injections of hyaluronidase.
Dr. Krystyna says: “Facial filler naturally dissolves on its own over time but this changes depending on the type of filler used, the amount, and the patient themselves. Most hyaluronic acid fillers dissolve within six months to a year. But patients looking to dissolve filler quickly can have a high concentration of the enzyme hyaluronidase injected into the lips which enables the filler to be broken down more rapidly, and disposed of by the body’s own systems. This process typically happens immediately and is relatively quick.”
Whilst hyaluronidase begins to work immediately, the full effects are seen at two weeks after the procedure, once the swelling fully resolves. The procedure itself is relatively quick, taking approximately 10-15 minutes to perform.
What is migrated lip filler?
Filler migration is defined as the process of dermal filler spreading or ‘migrating’ to another area beyond the site of injection. Whilst migration is mainly spoken about in terms of lip fillers, migration can also happen anywhere that filler is injected. “But more patients are looking to dissolve migrated filler, especially when it comes to their lips,” says Dr. Krystyna. “Migrated filler happens over time as a result of the patient receiving too much filler at once or because the practitioner wasn’t aware of previous filler placement.”
What are the risks of dissolving lip fillers?
Getting your lip fillers dissolved isn’t without risk – this is why it’s so important to get a qualified and reputable doctor to inject. “Dissolving filler, like receiving filler, always comes with a small risk such as an allergic reaction,” says Dr. Krystyna. “However, because the filler and dissolvent I use is made from naturally occurring materials from your body like hyaluronic acid, the process is generally very safe. And if a slight allergic reaction does occur (which is very rare), myself and my team of professionals are on-call to help.”
As for side effects of dissolving lip filler, it’s not uncommon for patients to experience swelling straight after the treatment and there may be bruising and discolouration in a minority of patients post-treatment. However, this should all subside within a few days.
Does getting your lip filler dissolved hurt?
Unfortunately, as with having lip filler injected, having your lip filler dissolved isn’t exactly pain-free. Dr. Krystyna says, “the lips are an extremely sensitive part of the body due to the high number of nerve endings there so it can be a painful and eye-watering experience. But while most practitioners begin with just a numbing cream, as a dentist, I can use both a numbing cream and a local anesthetic which blocks out any pain.”
Specialising in non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments, Dr Krystyna is able to give you advice and offer a bespoke facial aesthetic treatment plan to best suit your needs. Book in for a consultation now.
