Will migrated filler go away on its own? In theory, yes, but the reality is a bit more complicated. When we dissolve fillers we inject an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is naturally occurring in your body and this is the reason that lip fillers will eventually dissolve on their own.
Dr. Frank says the best way to deal with migration is to dissolve the filler with hyaluronidase (an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid gels). In just a few hours, hyaluronidase softens the filler and returns the lips to a more natural shape, projection, and size.
So while the body naturally breaks them down over time, there is a way to speed up the process: Injections of hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is what the body produces naturally to break down fillers, so by injecting more, it allows the lips to regain natural shape quicker, usually going down within 3-4 days.
How Long Does Lip Filler Migration Last? The good news is fillers are only semi-permeant. Depending on how recently the filler was injected, the migration will last approximately 6-18 months. During that time your body will naturally metabolize and break the filler down over time if left alone.
At Ethos MedSpa, our extensive experience with fillers has taught us that the best way to address these issues is to dissolve the filler and reinject the lips. Filler migration does not get better on its own.
Many of these videos recommend massaging your treatment area immediately following your injection—but this can be harmful. In some cases, we recommend our patients massage their fillers following treatment to smooth them out below the skin; however, too much massage too soon may cause the filler to migrate slightly.
Filler Massage
The product will remain somewhat malleable for about a month after it has been injected. If you think that your filler has migrated to unwanted areas or isn?t as smooth as you? d like, massage is always an option.
Shamban notes, “the best course of action [in the event of lip filler migration] is to have a highly experienced injector introduce hyaluronidase to the area, and it will dissolve any HA-based filler quickly.” (Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that can dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers.)
Answer: Juvederm/Restylane Migration
HA fillers will dissolve in 9-12 months, it can be reversed with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. I suggest seeing a well trained filler injector. Best, Dr.
"With lip filler, the upper lip border becomes less defined and a mound develops in the skin above the lip, causing the 'duck lip look,' says Dr. Nichols. "In cases of undereye filler, migration is seen as bumps in the lower eyelid and/or upper cheeks areas underneath the eyes."
You might have the option of dissolving your lip fillers early, depending on the type of filler used. You may be able to have all of the filler dissolved or just some of it, if you want to reduce the volume or even out lumpiness.
If the filler is hyaluronic acid (Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, Vollure, etc.), then hyaluronidase can dissolve it. If the filler is not HA, as in the case of Sculptra or Radiesse, for example, then hyaluronidase will not dissolved the filler. There are no means to dissolve those fillers.
If your lip fillers have migrated, it will almost always be noticeable visually. This can be presented in many ways; from a puffy upper lip, a lack of a defined border between the lip edge and above and/or below the lip border.
Can all fillers be dissolved? Fillers with silicone (which are sometimes used in the lips and face, cannot be dissolved). Other semi-permanent fillers such as Scultpra and Radiesse also can't be dissolved. But temporary fillers, such as Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers can easily be dissolved.
Dermal filler removal is an advanced procedure where a specially-formulated enzyme is used to selectively and precisely dissolve undesirable fillers. Following a small injection into the area to be corrected, the enzyme acts within minutes to dissolve the unwanted filler restoring the original facial contours.
Results depend on which filler was originally used and how much it has built up over time – sometimes more than one session of hyaluronidase may be needed. It's possible to partially dissolve filler without dissolving all of it, if a simple adjustment is what you need to soften your look.
It depends on the type of filler being used, your immune system, your doctor, and mouth movement. Juvederm is known to be the longest lasting lip filler and can last anywhere from 12-18 months. If you received a Juvederm lip filler, which is very possible, it is normal that it hasn't dissolved.
A published journal article states that higher doses [of hy'dase] can lead to damage of native extracellular matrix glycosaminoclycans, leaving a gaunt appearance with poor skin texture (Figure 4). Patients are increasingly presenting with hyaluronidase-related damage, which is often untreatable.
“It can give the look of puffiness under the eyes after under eye filler or create a 'filler mustache' above the upper lip after lip filler,” says Dr. Sherber. Dr. Horn says migration can look like “pronounced fullness” in an area adjacent to where you desired volume in the first place.
"Lip filler migration is generally a result of the fact that hyaluronic acid fillers absorb water, and they can begin to create some extra volume and extra absorption of volume in areas that were outside of the primary injection site," says Dr. Karam.
The answer is Yes. Your swelling will subside in a few days and the hardness that you are experiencing with soften and smooth out. You can take bromelain for the swelling and continue to ice throughout the rest of the day today.
Enter: hyaluronidase. Whether it's the lips, under the eyes, in the cheeks, or any of the other areas where HA filler is placed, injecting hyaluronidase can speed up the degradation process and reduce plumpness and/or lumpiness in a matter of days.
Conclusion: In this study, sodium bicarbonate buffered 2% lidocaine was found to be a safe and effective local anaesthetic, with reduced time of onset, and improved quality of both anaesthesia and akinesia. Sodium bicarbonate (7.5%) may be used as an alternative to hyaluronidase in ocular anaesthesia.
Topilase®: a safer alternative to hyaluronidase
Despite its considerable effectiveness, some patients experience an allergic reaction triggered by ingredients of animal origin.
Massage can encourage the filler to be broken up by the body more quickly. But in practice this still takes a long time (like weeks of daily vigorous massage) to improve the outcome. This may also spread the product over a larger area causing more problems.