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There is a "get out of jail free" card when it comes to dermal fillers in the form of a reversal procedure.Dermal fillers are made up of hyaluronic acid which is present in our bodies naturally. They work by replacing lost volume, whilst also producing a lifting, hydrating, and contouring effect.
Hyaluronic acid is broken down either naturally over time, or with the help of an injectable enzyme.
There are two reasons for reversing dermal fillers, so allow me to explain: -
Emergency reversal
In experienced hands, fillers are extremely safe and well tolerated by most people.
That said, nothing comes without risks, and one of the associated risks of dermal fillers is the accidental injection of product into a blood vessel.
This may sound very scary, but I will talk more about this another time.
The risk of this happening is extremely low if the procedure is in expert hands . That said, it can happen to even the best injectors, therefore, everyone who offers dermal filler treatments should be trained and competent at recognising if blood supply has been compromised, and how to manage it.
We would recommend always asking this question to your proposed injector before committing to treatment.
If there has been a confirmed or suspected injection of filler into a blood vessel, the filler will need to be removed in order to restore blood supply.
Treatment involves the injection of an enzyme called Hyaluronidase (Hyalase) into the area where the filler has been placed. Hyalase is a prescription only medication, but every clinic should carry a supply which can be used in an emergency situation provided it has been verbally authorised by a prescribing practitioner.
It may require up to 4 cycles of treatment to restore a healthy blood supply, and this would depend on the response from the treatment, the amount of filler that has been used and the area that has been compromised. Your injector should stay with you at all times during the recovery phase, and you can expect them to check in with you over the following days to ensure all is well.
Every clinic will have their own protocols, but you should not expect to pay for emergency treatment.
Elective reversal
Hyalase is also used to reverse dermal fillers if the results are not to your liking but there aren’t any complications.
Some clinics recommend dissolving dermal fillers periodically, particularly in the lips if you have had many procedures over a few years and the filler hasn’t completely broken down.
Dissolving old filler and starting afresh can be a good plan in these circumstances.
As Hylase is a prescription medication, and elective reversal is not an emergency, you would need to see a prescriber first to check you are eligible (there are rare cases of allergy). Prior to reversal, a very small test dose of Hylase will be placed just under your skin (usually in your forearm) to ensure there are no allergic reactions.
It can take 24-48 hours for the filler to completely dissolve, and initial swelling is very normal but settles quickly.
You can expect to pay for this service, so check the cost of filler reversal at your chosen clinic.
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