A Definitive Guide to Dissolving Lip Filler

We all want what we don't have, and in the case of thin lips, there may be a desire to plump them. Lip filler is, hands down, the best way to augment the shape and size of the lips and even add symmetry to them. But, like so many other aesthetic treatments, there's the potential risk of ending up with results that you don't like. Luckily, hyaluronic acid-based lip fillers are reversible and dissolvable if you're unhappy with your results. So, if you're ready to undo what's been done and dissolve your lip filler, consider this your ultimate guide on everything you need to know.

Meet Our Expert

• David Kim, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

• Darren Smith, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.

• Ava Shamba, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in California.

What Lip Fillers Do

Hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected into the lips to add volume and create a better definition or an enhanced shape, especially in thin, flat, or aging lips for a more flattering pout. According to Dr. Kim, augmenting the lips with filler can help give the face, overall, a rejuvenated and lifted appearance. Dr. Smith adds that adding fillers to the lips adds volume where needed most while enhancing the existing structure. The results are temporary, and you can expect the augmented fullness to last between six and 12 months, depending on the specific type of hyaluronic acid filler injected.

Related: Everything to Know About Lip Lifts—the Permanent Way to Get a Fuller Pout

When Lip Fillers Go Wrong

There are several reasons why lip fillers can look unnatural, leaving someone wanting to undo the effects of their injections. As Dr. Shamban explains, an inadequate understanding of the anatomy of the lips or poor aesthetic judgment can easily lead to overfilling. Also, Dr. Shamban says that inserting filler improperly at or above the vermilion border can cause the lips to appear unnatural.

Dr. Kim says another reason why lip fillers can look artificial is that placing hyaluronic acid fillers too superficially can leave the lips looking and feeling bumpy and lumpy. Unbalanced lips, which arise from injecting too much product into the top or bottom lip (usually the top), can create an unnatural, ducky look. "The goal is to find a provider who injects just the right amount of filler so that the lips look enhanced without anyone knowing they've been injected," he adds.

Reasons to Dissolve Lip Filler

Whether the reason you wish to dissolve your lip filler is fake-looking lips or you simply do not like the results (especially if an inexperienced injector treated you), there are plenty of other reasons to dissolve them.

1. Migration

Lip fillers can migrate from placing the filler too superficially, too close to the lip boarders, or using too much in a small space. Some lips just aren't anatomically equipped to be volumized to a large degree, and the filler has nowhere to go, so it migrates up and out, causing a distorted or ducky lip. "Injecting a large amount of volume in one spot filler often causes migration," Dr. Shamban says. "Dermal fillers do not migrate when they are aliquot." However, there are rare cases where properly placed filler can even migrate. "Remember, that ultimately filler is a soft gel, and even proper placement could cause migration," Dr. Smith adds.

2. Overfilled and Lumpy

Far too many people end up with overfilled lips. “That and uneven filling are the two biggest reasons why people dissolve lip filler,” Dr. Smith says. Excessive amounts of filler can cause lumpiness throughout the lips, giving way to an unnatural look.

3. Negative Reactions

Although uncommon, some people who get lip injections react adversely to the filler. "Since COVID, there have been reports of "delayed onset nodules" due to a viral illness (like COVID or the flu). In those cases, we can dissolve lip filler to treat the nodules, although this is rare," Dr. Kim shares.

Related: My Mom Asked If I’d Gotten Lip Filler After I Used This Plumping, On-Sale Liner

4. Imbalances

The upper and lower lips are not the same size naturally. "When there's an imbalance between the upper and lower lips or the left and right sides of the lips, the lips can look unnatural," Dr. Shamban says, and this is another reason for wanting to dissolve lip filler.

5. Artificial-Looking Results

Most dermatologists and plastic surgeons will advise patients who want to follow specific lip trends to ignore them. Dr. Shamban recommends paying attention to your face's needs rather than chasing a trend. "Following trends can be an issue, so the best providers always ignore them. Trends can cause proportion or shape to be in opposition with the facial structure or create artificial or an unattractive result." Dr. Smith adds that if celebrities start showing off smaller pouts, lip filler will see an uptick in getting dissolved.

How to Dissolve Lip Filler

Filler regret can happen to anyone, Dr. Shamban says, and the main reason to dissolve lip filler is unnatural-looking lips. When it comes to dissolving lip filler, there are two different approaches that dermatologists and plastic surgeons take: either dissolve all the filler or just a small area. Dr. Kim says that the method used depends on the reason for wanting to dissolve the filler in the first place. "If there's a delayed-onset nodule, it's best to dissolve all the filler," he explains. "However, if you just want to flatten a small bump, we can customize the dissolving process to remove only that specific area. I have patients see me because they didn't like their last injector. In those cases, I dissolve the entire lip to start with a blank canvas."

Tips

No matter the reason for wanting to dissolve hyaluronic acid lip fillers, there's only one way to do it: hyaluronidase (it's an antidote for hyaluronic acid injections but not other types of injectables or fillers).

The process of dissolving lip filler is similar to getting lip injections in the first place. Dr. Smith shares that first, the area is sterilized and marked, and then the enzyme is gently injected into the lips. Hyaluronidase, the active enzyme in the dissolving agent, breaks down hyaluronic acid, which can result in a temporary burning or stinging effect. "It breaks up the chains of hyaluronic acid by cleaving the glycosidic bonds and breaking the hyaluronic acid into small, individual molecules (monosaccharides) that the body will clear," Dr. Kim says.

Immediately following hyaluronidase injections, which Dr. Shamban says may be gently massaged into the injection site to ensure even distribution, the lips will look improved. "You can feel and see the lips deflate instantly. Hyaluronidase will continue to work for the next 24 to 48 hours," he adds. Usually, one session is enough to dissolve unwanted lip filler, but sometimes, repeat injections are necessary.

Reversing the effects of unwanted lip filler can be done at any time, no matter how fresh or old the filler is, Dr. Shamban shares. Regardless of timing, she says it is an easy fix that is relatively quick to resolve.

Potential Side Effects

Similar to the initial lip injections, which result in swelling and minor bruising, the same effect occurs when dissolving lip filler. "You may experience swelling from hyaluronidase for about one day, but otherwise, it's a safe procedure," Dr. Kim says. "However, if you're allergic to bee stings, there is a small risk of developing an allergic reaction to hyaluronidase."

It's also worth knowing that usually dissolving lip filler results in a deflated look. Hyaluronidase will make the lips look smaller and less plump, and it can even affect the altered shape and volume of the lips. But it won't cause the lips to look wrinkled, shriveled, or saggy. Although many think dissolving lip filler with hyaluronidase will affect the natural amount of hyaluronic acid in the lips, Dr. Shamban says it won't. "Hyaluronidase shouldn't dissolve the natural hyaluronic acid in the body as long as it is only injected into the filler properly," she adds. "It also cannot destroy other natural tissues in the skin, such as collagen."

Related: Why Lip Oil Is the Secret to a Nourishing, Never-Sticky Glow

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