Filler dissolving means breaking down a hyaluronic acid filler with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is also found naturally in the body and breaks down hyaluronic acid. When small amounts are injected where the filler sits, it usually dissolves the product within a few days and helps the body clear it naturally.

This is one of the reasons hyaluronic acid fillers are considered among the safest options: if the result isn’t what you expected, or a problem develops, the filler can be reversed. That makes filler dissolving important both for correcting a result and for acting quickly when needed.

Filler dissolving only works on hyaluronic acid fillers. Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers such as Radiesse, poly-L-lactic acid treatments such as Sculptra, and non-absorbable fillers cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase. If you don’t know which filler you had, the area is assessed at your consultation and the right approach is planned from there.

Filler is usually dissolved to correct a result or to start again. The most common reasons are:

• Asymmetry or an uneven shape: in the lips, under the eyes or in other areas of the face.
• An overfilled look: volume that makes the face look unnatural.
• Lumps and swelling: small bumps you can feel or see.
• Filler migration: especially around the lips, where product spreads beyond the lip border.
• A bluish tint (Tyndall effect): filler placed too close to the surface in thin skin, such as under the eyes.
• Before a new treatment: clearing old filler so the area can be planned from scratch.

Rarely, hyaluronidase is also used urgently, for example if filler affects a blood vessel. Quick action matters here. If you notice whitening, purplish discoloration or pain that keeps getting worse after a filler treatment, contact a doctor without delay. For other issues that can follow filler or botox, see our botox and filler complications page.

The appointment starts with a detailed examination. The doctor assesses where the filler is, how much is there and how it sits in the tissue, and asks which product was used and when.

1. The area is cleansed, and anesthetic cream is applied if needed.
2. If considered necessary, a small allergy test may be done first.
3. Hyaluronidase is injected with a fine needle directly into the areas where the filler sits.
4. The area is gently massaged and the result is checked.

Treatment is quick, and most people return to their day straight away. The effect is usually noticeable within 24–48 hours. Depending on how dense the filler is and how much there is, a second session may sometimes be needed a few weeks later.

The aim isn’t always to remove all of the filler. Sometimes only the excess or misplaced part is dissolved to bring the area back into balance. How much is dissolved is decided together with you at your consultation.

Mild swelling, redness and itching can occur in the treated area and usually settle within a few days. A cold compress can help in the first days, and skip intense exercise, saunas and steam rooms.

Once the filler is dissolved, the area returns to how it looked before filler. In the first days it may look thinner than you’re used to. This isn’t tissue loss; it’s your natural look without the filler.

Rarely, an allergic reaction to hyaluronidase can develop. The risk may be higher for people allergic to bee stings, so always mention any allergies at your consultation. It is not done during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an active infection in the area, or with a known allergy to the enzyme.

Yes. Once the area has settled, new filler can be planned if you wish. It’s usual to wait a few weeks so the tissue and any swelling settle completely, which helps the new treatment be placed in the right amount and at the right depth.

The aim of re-planning is to avoid the earlier problem. Your anatomy, skin thickness and expectations are assessed again. For details, see our lip filler, under-eye light filler and facial filler pages.

You can find all filler options, and which filler is used where, on our dermal fillers page.