When it comes to dermal fillers, one of the most important assumptions is that hyaluronic acid fillers eventually dissolve and then it's time to get more. However, this is not always the case. While part of what is injected does dissolve and is discarded by the body, not all of the filler is completely dissolved. Only hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, such as Juvéderm, Restylane and Belotero, can be dissolved.
It is also important to note that the location of the filler is a factor that determines whether the filler can be dissolved or not. Unlike anti-wrinkle treatments, which take three to four months to metabolize, dermal fillers can last up to a couple of years and, even so, there may be some residual filler left. And with non-surgical procedures, such as lip and cheek fillers, there's always a risk that something could go wrong. Another common reason for wanting the filling to dissolve is if the filling is placed shallowly and creates lumps and nodules. Before you go to get a dermal filler, it's important to know that, in theory, anyone can perform this procedure in the United Kingdom since there is no law prohibiting it. For some, dissolving fillers is painful, while for others it doesn't hurt as much as dissolving the filler in the first place.
There is also evidence that patients who received hyaluronic acid fillers a decade ago and haven't had an injection since then still have the filler present in their bodies. Interestingly, Dr. Jess mentioned earlier that one of the main reasons for dissolving fillers, especially lip fillers, is migration. It may be the case that you want to dissolve existing fillers that don't look natural or that have been causing problems and you want to replace them with new ones. It is also recommended that fillers not be applied or that they dissolve during breastfeeding, as it is not yet clear what effect this could have on babies. I've heard that sometimes the filler can last longer than 1 year for some people and that the old filler can't be dissolved.
An Australian doctor who has performed several filling procedures over the years observed that his patient's fillers did not dissolve after 6 to 12 months, as stated. No self-respecting health professional would consider treating a pregnant woman with fillers or a solution that dissolves the filler. While there is no scientific determination as to how long the body dissolves the filler, it is hypothesized that most of the dissolution occurs within the first 2 to 4 weeks after the filler is injected.
