There are a lot of reasons why people decide to reverse their lip filler and trust us, you’re not alone. Some of the most common motivations include:

Filler migration: When filler moved outside the lips, creating a puffy or uneven look. This often happens with more ‘old fashioned’ products/techniques or sometimes it’s just your natural anatomy arguing with your desired look.

Overfilling: Sometimes, less is more. If your lips no longer suit your face or aesthetic, dissolving can restore balance.

Unnatural results: Maybe you wanted subtle volume but ended up with an overly plumped look, we’ll always tell you if you’re getting a bit of filler blindness but sometimes you just want to strip it back!

Starting fresh: If you want to reset before getting new filler (or just embrace your natural lips again), dissolving is the first step.

Unevenness or lumps: If your filler has settled irregularly, dissolving can smooth things out ready to start again. 

The beauty of lip fillers lies in their versatility—your treatment can be completely tailored to suit your unique goals, whether that’s enhancing your natural lip shape, restoring lost volume, creating a more symmetrical look or for gender affirmation.

Dissolving filler is a straightforward procedure, but it’s important to know what to expect:

1. Consultation: We assess your lips, discuss your concerns, and determine if dissolving is the best option.

2. IDT (intradermal test): If during the consultation we establish rehab is best, we will do a small test to ensure you don’t show hypersensitivity to the hyaluronidase.

3. The Treatment: Hyaluronidase is injected into the lips (or the affected area), where it starts breaking down filler immediately. The process is quick - typically 15 to 30 minutes.

4. Swelling & Bruising: Expect some swelling, redness, and potential bruising for for the 3-5 days post treatment. This is totally normal!

5. Results: Most of the filler dissolves within 48 hours, but full results may take up to two weeks as swelling subsides. 

Like any aesthetic treatment, dissolving filler comes with some potential side effects:

Swelling & Bruising: The most common reaction, typically resolving in a few days.

Mild Discomfort: The injection process can sting, but it’s manageable and pretty quick to have done.

Allergic Reactions (Rare): Hyaluronidase is generally safe but can cause anaphylaxis in rare cases, we mitigate this risk as much as possible by performing the IDT however we are not an allergy testing centre so we can never be 100% accurate. The benefit of coming to medical professionals is that, should you present with an allergy response, we are trained and equipped to deal with this.

Uneven Results: In some cases, multiple sessions may be needed to fully dissolve all filler. This is especially the case if the previous product was administered by a non medical practitioner, unfortunately they can’t guarantee the products they are purchasing are CE marked or safe for dissolve. 

Once the swelling goes down, you’ll see your natural lip shape return. Some people find their lips feel smaller than they remember, this is because the dissolving enzyme isn’t intelligent enough to know what is your natural hyaluronic acid or what was synthetic so some natural volume can be depleted, plus they’ve been used to seeing them filled, so this can be a pretty dysphoric experience. But rest assured, your natural tissues will replenish and if you decide not to refill then you’ll be back to your natural shape/size soon!

If you decide to refill, we recommend waiting at least four weeks to ensure all your tissue has enough time to recover. This helps avoid overcorrection and ensures a better long-term result. In some cases we may even suggest 6 weeks if there has been significant trauma to the lip or overfilling. 

If you’re unhappy with your lips or just want to start over, dissolving might be the best move. The goal is never to discourage filler, it definitely plays an important position in our industry however we want to make sure you feel confident and in control of your aesthetic journey and that you’re safe in the knowledge that any dermal filler treatment performed at Alien Aesthetics can be safely reversed with minimal to no long lasting damage.

If you’re ready to book your Alien Lip Rehab, let’s chat! If you’re certain you need to enter into Rehab then just book in Alien Lip Rehab Appointment 1! Don’t do this until you’re ready as this includes the IDT to start the process.