Over the past decade, there’s been a boom in the amount of people getting lip fillers. From Kylie Jenner’s infamous pout to the ladies of Love Island openly discussing their tweakments, lip fillers (along with other injectables, like cheek and nose fillers) have become more and more popular.
But it seems as though things might be starting to change, with many people now choosing to dissolve their lip fillers.
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From Love Island’s Faye Winter – who had her lip fillers dissolved briefly after she found the filler had been moved from one side of her lip to the other – to Molly Mae Hague, who recently decided to get all her fillers permanently dissolved, the trend for plumped-up lips is shifting.
Why are more people dissolving their lip fillers?
‘Demand for filler dissolving is increasing for two reasons,’ explains Dr Kaywaan Khan, founder of Hannah London. ‘Sometimes people get filler from inexperienced practitioners and have complications which need correcting.’
The second reason is simply that lip trends are always changing. ‘As this happens, what people want from fillers changes, resulting in clients wanting theirs dissolved to try something new.’
If you’ve been wondering whether to remove your lip filler – here’s everything you need to know…
Can you get lip fillers dissolved?
‘Yes, but of course it depends on the type of lip filler,’ explains Dr Jonquille Chantrey, an aesthetic doctor and medical lecturer. ‘If the filler is made from a reversible product such as hyaluronic acid, then you can use the enzyme hyaluronidase dissolve it.’
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Some fillers can’t be dissolved, although these are less common. If your fillers are made with silicone, Scultpra or Radiesse – these can’t be dissolved.
How do you get lip fillers dissolved?
‘You can get your lip fillers professionally dissolved by using Hyalase – a substance which contains an enzyme called hyaluronidase, that breaks down hyaluronic acid,’ explains Dr Kaywaan. ‘This will dissolve your filler – wherever it is in your face or body, before it’s then reabsorbed by the body.’
Can you just dissolve some lip filler?
In some instances, you might only want to dissolve a build-up of filler or a lump – rather than the entirety of filler – which is also possible.
‘Where you want to dissolve only a small amount of product (such as a lump) we use smaller amounts of Hyalase. In these cases, if not enough has been dissolved, the process may need to be repeated.’
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How long does dissolving lip filler take and what is the process involved?
‘It’s possible to dissolve lip fillers within one procedure, which can take around 15 minutes. But, I always warn patients that they might need two sessions to actually get the results that they require,’ explains Dr Chantrey.
‘If somebody wants their filler dissolved, the first step is a consultation in which the practitioner aims to understand why the client wants the filler dissolved, why this is the case and what their different options are,’ explains Dr Kaywaan.
‘The procedure then starts with the application of numbing cream and a skin prick test to see if there is any risk of allergy. If there is no allergic response, the Hyalase is injected into the desired area,’ he continues.
Does dissolving lip filler dissolve your natural lips?
‘It is possible that the Hyalase could break down some of your natural hyaluronic acid, causing some skin puckering and unevenness, but this is avoided by using the correct concentrations and dilutions,’ says Dr Kaywaan. ‘If this does happen, the body will also make the hyaluronic acid again naturally to replace any that is lost.’
Is dissolving lip filler painful?
Like with any injectables, dissolving lip fillers can cause discomfort, but generally speaking, it shouldn’t be painful. ‘It can sting a little bit but it’s not excessively painful. I always use a topical anaesthetic cream to reduce the discomfort for the patients,’ explains Dr Chantrey.
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Does dissolving lip filler leave your lips looking saggy?
Generally no, reassures Dr Kaywaan. ‘After the product is dissolved the lips should return to their previous appearance.’ However, the longer you’ve had filler, the more likelihood there is that your skin won’t ping back as quickly.
‘The extent depends on how long the filler has been in place for,’ says Dr Kaywaan. ‘The longer the skin has been stretched, the more likely that it will need to either be tightened or, in the case of the lips, refilled gently.’
*This article was originally published on Women’s Health UK
