Migration of filler is uncommon, but it does occur. Fillers usually get dissolved over time, regardless if it has migrated.
If you believe that your filler has migrated, then don't panic, as it can be treated. The beauty of modern-day filler is that it is semi-permanent, so over time your body will naturally break down and metabolise the substance.
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.
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.
Answer: Juvederm/Restylane Migration
HA fillers will dissolve in 9-12 months, it can be reversed with an enzyme called hyaluronidase.
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.
Mild migration can create a subtle "ledge" beyond the border of your lip, while more noticeable migration can create more of a "shelf" or "plateau where you have almost a 'filler mustache' and you have a side projection that looks more ducky," says Dr. Durairaj.
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.
Answer: DIfferent fillers require different doses of Hyaluronidase. Juvederm and more particalarly juvderm plus require higher doses of hyaluronidase to dissolve compared to other fillers. If the lumps are truly filler it is most likely a dosage issue.
However, due to the growing popularity of lip filler injections, this has unfortunately led to a higher chance that some treatments may not always go as intended. Bad injection procedures from undertrained practitioners can lead to lip filler migration.
“We see [misplaced or migrated filler] most often in high movement areas like the lips or the eyes,” says Brown. The lips may develop a “beak” or mustache appearance above the top lip or experience abnormal thickening from the filler settling in the wrong area that restricts natural movement.
However, it must be stressed, however, that filler does not migrate from one area of the body to another. What being discussed on social media is simply so-called migration of a few millimeters within the same anatomical regions where it was injected.
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.
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.
"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."
Some filler products may be more resilient and take a long time to dissolve naturally. Once you find the migration in lip filler, you need to massage the particular area every morning and night and use a hot compress to increase blood flow to the exact place that makes the product break down naturally.
In addition, Voluma is a solid filler which gives it the advantage of not migrating to the surrounding tissues. For patients who want more dramatic changes, Voluma allows for more product to be placed with less risk of displacement.
According to Dr. Sherber, filler migration tends to be most noticeable in thin-skinned areas, like under your eyes. “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.
Lip fillers are not permanent. Patients who want their fillers dissolved naturally need to wait between 6 and 12 months. A reverse treatment using a hyaluronidase injection dissolves lip fillers within a few days.
Now that we know that lip filler can be dissolved and what to expect at the appointment, the next natural question is how much does filler dissolver cost? The price range varies depending on your provider and how many sessions you need but you can expect to pay somewhere around $500 for your filler removal.
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.
Your body naturally dissolves the dermal filler for you over time using a substance called hyaluronidase. This is a naturally occurring material in your body that gradually breaks down the hyaluronic acid in your filler, causing your results to gradually diminish over a period of 6 – 18 months.
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's generally safe to have lip fillers dissolved by a reputable plastic surgeon or dermatologist.