Dermal fillers are a popular way to alter the appearance of your face. They not only allow you to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but allow you to add volume to areas such as the cheeks or lips.

While some people love their new appearance, others can be dissatisfied with the results.

So what exactly are dermal fillers, and can they be reversed if you dislike the results of your procedure?

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are gel injections which add fullness and volume to the face, increasing contours and removing wrinkles and fine lines. They can be injected into different areas of the face, such as the cheeks, lips, under the eyes and into the jawline.

Various ingredients can be used in the filler gel, however, most professional cosmetic surgery clinics will use a semi-permanent hyaluronic acid (HA).

HA occurs naturally in the body and is critical for maintaining skin hydration. However, as we age our skin cell production lessen and we have less HA, resulting in wrinkles and fine lines.

No matter what type of dermal filler you end up having, if you have visited a qualified, experienced cosmetic surgeon, you’re more than likely going to end up with natural looking results which enhance your features.

However, sometimes mistakes happen, or you decide you don’t like the appearance of the dermal fillers after all. So what can you do about it?

How can you reverse dermal fillers?

Fortunately, if you are unhappy with the appearance of the dermal fillers, you’re not stuck with the results forever.

Before considering having them reversed, there are a few things you should consider.

The filler will naturally fade

Dermal filler is not a surgical procedure, and the results will not last forever. If you do not want to have the dermal filler reversed, keep in mind that over time the filler will fade and your face will return to how it was prior to the injections.

You can have corrective massages

Your surgeon may be able to perform a massage on the filler in order to correct any lumps or alter the position of the filler. While this will not remove any of the filler, it can successfully alter your appearance. Make sure you get your surgeon to massage the filler or have them give you instructions on how to properly complete the massage.

Removing the dermal fillers

If you do not want to wait for the fillers to naturally fade, you may wish to explore the option of having the fillers removed. Any of the HA fillers can be either completely or partially removed with a substance known as hyaluronidase. This will dissolve the HA particles. You can either have all of the filler removed, or have the amount of filler reduced if you feel too much was injected originally.

If you are not having all of the filler removed, it is important to note that the hyaluronidase may remove too much filler. If this happens, some more dermal filler may need to be injected until you are happy with the appearance.

If you have had fillers which are not HA-based, such as Sculptra or Radiesse, hyaluronidase will not work. Instead, you may need to try steroid injections. If you do not wish to use steroid injections, or they do not work, you will have to wait for the filler to naturally dissolve.

Make sure you get a qualified surgeon

The best thing you can do to make sure you are happy with the initial results of your dermal filler is to ensure you see a qualified, experienced cosmetic surgeon. Make sure you attend a consultation with the surgeon who will be administering the injections, ask about their experience and request to see before and after photographs. Make sure you know whether the filler will be HA based or not, so you will have peace of mind knowing if it will be able to easily be reversed.

Are you interested in dermal fillers? Centre for Surgery currently offers this. Contact us today to find out more or to book a consultation.

Lisa Davies

16:29 06 Mar 23

I have had excellent results from Dr Tillo. They results have exceeded my expectations, additionally Dr Tillo is very professional and put me at ease, even when I was awake for one treatment :-)

Alex Loveridge

18:13 24 Jan 23

The treatment, consultation and friendliness of Centre for Surgery is outstanding. I had to travel a very long way but the support staff helped in every way to accommodate me. I would definitely recommend the Surgery to anyone and my experience is one of satisfaction. Also I am totally happy with the result of my surgery and recovery. Others have recommended, Centre for Surgery...and now I am one of them.

Justine Farrell

18:11 29 Nov 22

I had Umbilicoplasty done by DR M Sarwar. I have never had cosmetic surgery before so I was very worried and reluctant but finally took the plunge. I didn’t choose my surgeon it was just done at random but I’m glad I had him anyways because I am SO SO SO happy with my results. He is extremely honest and transparent to make sure your expectations are not too high or unrealistic. This scared me off initially but the fact he did this made me feel like my results were 10x better than what I was expecting them to look like. The aftercare was very good. I cannot fault anything. Thank you so much to everyone I met at the surgery 😊

Julie Dyson

11:05 23 Jun 22

Everyone at the Centre for Surgery has exceeded my expectations by miles! From the moment I made contact and enquired about the procedures offered, all the way through to my post-operative aftercare, I have been blown away by the levels of customer service and empathy shown to me on my journey.At 62 years of age, some might question whether I was a bit old for a “mummy makeover” wanting both a bi-lateral breast reduction and an abdominoplasty. However, I was treated so kindly and with such respect that these thoughts were soon left behind. Lidia the Patient Coordinator allocated to me was great – she sent me loads of information to read and arranged a consultation with Mr Ertan Erel, the surgeon.When I met Mr Erel, he immediately made me feel at ease. We discussed performing the procedures in a staged format, to allow my body to recover in between surgeries. He also encouraged me to lose a few kilos before my surgery saying it would be of benefit health-wise and give better results. He walked me through both of the procedures, what to expect and likely outcomes. We agreed that I would have the breast reduction first, followed by the tummy-tuck 4 to 6 months after that. I was offered a follow-up consultation, but didn’t need one, I was so happy with the first.Lidia then helped me choose a date for the first op based on my personal commitment to lose the weight. The encouragement helped tremendously and in January 2022, I had my first surgery. On the day, the whole team were amazing, from the receptionist who greeted me, the entire theatre team – Mr Erel, the anaesthetist and all the theatre nurses couldn’t have looked after me any better. What was truly wonderful for me – I was able to go home the same day once Mr Erel and the nurses were happy for me to leave, no stay in hospital where you can’t sleep etc. – absolute bliss.The support team telephoned me the next day to ensure all was well and organised an appointment to see a perioperative nurse to check my wounds and re-dress. How lucky am I – Sophie Ship is just the best! Knowing that support team was always available together with regular check-ups in Sophie's very capable hands I was very soon on the mend.AT 6 weeks post-op, I had a review with both Mr Erel and Sophie. We were all delighted with the results and my recovery, it was agreed that the second operation could take place in May/June.Lidia, then sent me loads more information about the procedure, answering all my questions swiftly and booked the date. To ensure I was fit for surgery, Mr Erel saw me again two weeks before my surgery. All was agreed and the abdominoplasty performed on 25th May. Once again, everything went like clockwork and every member of the team were outstanding.I’m now 4 weeks post-op 2 and already delighted with the results. Mr Erel is a genius! I feel so privileged to have had both my surgeries performed by him. The swelling is already going down and I can’t wait to see how I look in a couple of months.I have given Centre for Surgery and Mr Erel permission to show my photographs to anyone considering the procedure(s) and am more than happy to provide more details/chat to anyone about any concerns they have. Please just ask Centre for Surgery/Mr Erel to arrange.

Rita W. Eversole

10:18 28 May 22

Highly recommend this clinic for anyone wanting a friendly, welcoming, professional and non judgmental approach to all your surgical and non surgical needs. I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else.

Can you reverse dermal fillers?