Because dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring skin compound, they are naturally dissolved by your body over a period of 6 – 18 months.
Like most things in life, dermal fillers do not last forever. You can keep your post-filler appearance by sticking to a regular touch-up schedule, but your filler will eventually disappear if left alone.
Dermal fillers are one of the more popular anti-aging treatments in the United States. They're quick, convenient, and provide noticeable results. Dermal fillers don't last forever, though. Over time, the body will eventually metabolize and break down the primary substance that fills in wrinkles and fine lines.
Deep injections may last as long as 12 months, and newer products on the market may last up to two years.
Can your face go back to normal after fillers? Many patients fear that when the filler wears off, they will look worse than before. Though fillers may stretch your skin, it is elastic enough to revert to its original form before your treatment. However, anything that's too much is also not good for you.
With dermal fillers, most people think your skin will become wrinkly or saggy if you stop getting injections. This is not necessarily true. The effects of the fillers will wear off after months or years, but the treated area is likely to return to its original state.
Answer: Fillers are not permanent
When they wear off, your facial features are the same and the filler does not make your face look worse. That being said, if you have lost significant weight during this time or have had other medical issues, than you face may appear more "aged" but not due to the filler wearing off.
Sun exposure speeds up the aging process on the skin and is one of the leading causes of wrinkles. Those UV rays can also cause certain fillers to break down faster and being absorbed by the body more quickly. To get the best results, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day.
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.
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.
It is possible to have temporary changes in the appearance of your lips or face after dermal fillers, but irreversible damage can happen too. Necrosis, which means filler was injected into a blood vessel causing tissue death, can have long term effects.
Juvederm, Restylane and other fillers that are formulated with hyaluronic acid can be reversed with an enzyme known as hyaluronidase. Injecting this enzyme into the treated area dissolves the particles of hyaluronic acid.
Although extremely rare, dermal fillers are able to migrate within the skin if consistent and adequate pressure is applied to them. For this reason, we advise patients not to get a facial, massage (on the treated skin), or microdermabrasion for the first two weeks following their filler injections.
Intense heat on the skin can make your filler break down more quickly or produce less effective results. Ideally, you should avoid exposure to intense heat for at least 12 to 24 hours after your appointment.
Can dermal filler move in your sleep? Dermal filler does not move in your sleep so you can rest with ease.
The most serious risk associated with dermal fillers is accidental injection into a blood vessel. Filler that enters a blood vessel can cause skin necrosis (death of tissue), stroke, or blindness.
Fillers are a great option for patients seeking a softer, more youthful look. However, if used improperly or over used, fillers can have negative long term consequences. In fact, patients who do not properly use filler could actually speed up their skin's aging process, resulting in older looking skin.
Excessive use of fillers distorts natural face features, causing an aged appearance. When the face becomes distorted this makes you look unnatural. And an unnatural look will make you look disproportioned. A hallmark of beauty is proportions.
“If you have any viral, fungal or bacterial infections, you should avoid fillers to those areas,” said Dr. Shah. “Post-injection, there is a potential risk of these types of infections developing as well, with bacterial likely more common than fungal or viral.”
False: Fillers Make Your Skin Sag
The fact is, dermal fillers add such a subtle and healthy amount of volume to the skin, that any skin stretching will be minimal. In fact, if you already have sagging skin or wrinkles, these fillers will take up the space that was once occupied by natural fat.
"Theoretically, all filler has the ability to migrate," says Dr. Diamond. "That is why it is so imperative that non-surgical injectable services are performed by experts with the anatomical knowledge to prevent this from happening.
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.
Lumps are actually a common side effect after a dermal filler or lip filler treatment. Often they are a short-term problem, but if not, they are correctable by an aesthetic medical professional.
Answer: Filler Can be Dissolved after 1 Year
Yes, your filler can be dissolved if it lasts longer than 1 year, but it needs to be a hyaluronic acid filler. Hyaluronic Acid based filler can be dissolved at anytime with Hyaluronidase.