What if I Don’t Want My Dermal Fillers Anymore?
Dermal filler injections are an easy and popular way to reduce the signs of aging. They can be used to temporarily smooth wrinkles and fine lines, restore youthful volume, and enhance the contours of your face without invasive surgeries or lengthy recovery times. Despite the quick results of these treatments, there can be many reasons why patients want to reverse their dermal filler injections. Learn what you can do if you decide that these treatments are no longer what you desire.
In the hands of a trained and experienced cosmetic surgeon, dermal filler injections should create symmetrical, subtle, and natural-looking results. Occasionally, mistakes can occur or results can be less than perfect. Some patients may experience allergic reactions or have a poor reaction to the filler. Infections, while extremely rare, are also possible. These reasons may cause a patient to seek a way to reverse the treatment.
If you are less than thrilled with your treatment, you may be comforted to know that there are ways to improve the results of your injections. A skilled cosmetic surgeon can make corrections to improve the outcomes of your injections. The best approach will depend on the severity of the problem and the nature of the problem. The type of filler must also be accounted for when your doctor is planning your treatment.
Massage of the Treated Area
If your filler injections are moderately lumpy or slightly asymmetrical, the condition can often be improved by massage. Your provider can provide massages to the area, as well as instruct you on how to perform the massages yourself. This can be a simple and effective treatment to minor imperfections in your dermal filler results.
Removing Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
If your filler was a hyaluronic acid filler, such as Juvéderm, VOLUMA, VOLBELLA, Restylane products, or Belotero, it can be partially or completely removed with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. The enzyme can be injected into the affected areas to dissolve the hyaluronic acid particles and correct certain issues. These issues include:
Overfilling or dissatisfying filler results
Excessive or long-lasting swelling
Infection in the treated area
Lumpy or irregular textures that don’t respond to massage treatment
Vascular interference, when the filler is interfering with the blood flow of a nearby blood vessel The enzyme may not be a perfect solution. It can remove more filler than desired, requiring another round of dermal filler injections to achieve the desired results. These products also may be an allergy risk for some patients, since they are often derived from animal products. These patients may not be good candidates for the treatment. In many cases, however, hyaluronidase can spare patients the embarrassment of living with poorly performed filler injections while the effects wear off.
Treatment for Non-Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Not every filler is the same. Other fillers, such as Radiesse, Bellafill, and Sculptra cannot be treated with hyaluronidase. These dermal fillers can be treated with a steroid injection to reverse some of the effects of these fillers. The best and most certain course of treatment is to wait for the body to absorb these fillers. This can require waiting for the treatments to fade over a year or so.
If you are hesitant to wait for your dermal filler injections to fade, your provider may be able to reduce the appearance of irregular results with strategic use of more filler to even out the original filler and blend it with the surrounding areas. In rare, medically necessary circumstances, surgery may be used to remove filler injections.
Prevent Poor Dermal Filler Injections
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to dermal filler injections. There is no fix that can match the effect of getting filler injections performed correctly the first time around. An experienced Westfield plastic surgeon will be able to determine the correct dermal filler and placement for your needs.
At Burnett Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeon has been helping patients find their confidence and boost their self-esteem for more than two decades. Dr. Burnett is dedicated to perfection, and you can trust that you will receive high-quality care from a caring and understanding surgeon. Don’t wait to discover your best self.
Schedule a consultation today! Contact our offices at (908) 524-0063.
