What is facial filler removal?
Facial filler injections are a popular treatment if you are concerned about wrinkles or want to make your face look younger.
Facial filler removal is a treatment offered to patients who are experiencing side effects from previous facial fillers or who are simply unhappy with the result.
Why is it performed?
Many patients find that facial fillers they had done long ago no longer satisfy them: they have deteriorated, facial features have changed, or they are simply not comfortable with the volume they had implanted. The most common complaint is bulging, especially in the lips and around the mouth, but also from “overdoing” the filler causing exaggerated lips and cheeks.
Aside from aesthetic problems, facial fillers can sometimes cause side effects such as:
- Rashes and itching
- Color changes under the skin
- Infection
- The filler moves from the original location
In severe (but rare) cases, the facial filler can completely dislodge and block a blood vessel, causing a pulmonary embolism or blindness.
Facial fillers can cause side effects.
What does this removal involve?
Facial filler removal usually involves injections, in many cases hyaluronidase, to dissolve the fillers. The injection is mixed with a local anesthetic and acts very quickly, dissolving most fillers within 24 hours.
In this way, facial fillers can be removed in a single session on an outpatient basis without the need for anesthesia or hospitalization. The patient can resume normal activity within a few hours.
How to prepare for the operation?
You will probably meet with the anesthesiologist to see if you are allergic to anesthesia. You may also be given a hyaluronidase patch to try an hour before the procedure to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
Aftercare
If there is a large amount of filler to remove, you may need a second treatment a few days after the first. Many clinics schedule a follow-up appointment to make sure you are satisfied with the result.
Alternatives
It is important to note that not all facial fillers can be treated in this way, hyaluronidase injections only work with facial fillers that are made of hyaluronic acid. Fillers made with silicone may require the intervention of a plastic surgeon to remove. However, removal may involve complications such as possible facial scarring.