Filler dissolving Filler correction with hyaluronidase
An enzyme, hyaluronidase, that dissolves unwanted or migrated hyaluronic-acid filler, usually within a day or two, and the emergency treatment if filler blocks a blood vessel.
Key facts
- Where
- CREAMÉ, 350 Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
- Session
- A skin test, a few small injections, then about an hour's observation
- Downtime
- Usually a few days of swelling or bruising
- Course
- Usually one session, sometimes repeated after 48 hours or more
What filler dissolving is for
Filler you no longer want: lip filler that looks heavy or has spread above the lip line, a lump, a bluish tint under the eyes, cheeks or a jaw that feel too full, or gel that has moved. Rarely, an emergency: filler blocking a blood vessel.
Concerns it may help with
How filler dissolving works
Hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. Your body makes its own, and filler gel is cross-linked to slow that natural breakdown; the injected enzyme, placed into the filler, breaks the gel down so your body can clear it, usually within a day or two. It works on hyaluronic-acid filler only, not on biostimulators or permanent fillers. It belongs to our corrector family, used on demand.
A session, step by step
- We start with what bothers you and what was injected: where, when and, if you know, which filler. The doctor examines and photographs the area and asks about allergies, bee or wasp stings, recent anti-wrinkle injections and the medicines you take.
- Unless it is urgent, a tiny test dose usually goes into the skin of your forearm and is checked after about 30 minutes: a raised, itchy weal means the enzyme isn't used.
- The enzyme is injected in small amounts into the filler itself with a fine needle, and the doctor may massage the area to help it work.
- Guidelines advise staying in the clinic for about an hour afterwards, in case of a reaction. Any second session comes no sooner than 48 hours later, and new filler waits for the final result, which can take up to two weeks.
What to expect
How it feels
A few small injections with a fine needle into the filler, which can sting, then some tenderness. Unless it is urgent, a tiny skin test on the forearm comes first, and guidelines advise staying in the clinic for about an hour afterwards.
Downtime
Usually little. Redness, swelling, tenderness, itching or bruising where the enzyme went in usually settle within a few days. The area can look flatter than you expect, and the final result can take up to two weeks.
How many sessions
Usually one, sometimes more. The change often shows within hours, or up to 48 hours for denser, more cross-linked gels, which sometimes need a second session no sooner than 48 hours after the first. In an emergency, the enzyme is given as soon as possible and repeated as needed.
Who it may not suit
We go through your health and medicines first, because filler dissolving may not suit you, or may need to wait, if any of these apply:
- You have had an allergic reaction to hyaluronidase before.
- You are allergic to bee or wasp stings, or to bovine collagen: the risk of an allergic reaction is higher, so the doctor weighs it carefully.
- There is an infection or an inflamed, tender lump in the area: the enzyme could spread it, so the infection is treated first, usually with antibiotics.
- You had anti-wrinkle injections in the same area in the last 48 hours: the enzyme could spread them, so dissolving waits unless it is an emergency.
- The filler isn't hyaluronic acid: the enzyme won't dissolve it. If you don't know what was injected, the doctor assesses the area first.
- You take medicines that affect the enzyme, such as water tablets, sedatives, epilepsy medicines, anti-inflammatories or antihistamines: tell the doctor everything you take, and never stop a prescribed one on your own.
Risks and side effects
Common and short-lived: redness, swelling, pain, itching, bruising and tenderness where the enzyme went in, usually mild to moderate and settling within a few days; bruising is occasionally more marked.
Less predictable: the enzyme can also break down some of your own hyaluronic acid, so the change can be more than you expected, with some loss of volume or slight looseness of the skin.
Uncommon, but important to know: allergic reactions. In clinical studies, local reactions occurred in 0.05 to 0.69 percent of people, and hives or deeper swelling in fewer than one in a thousand. Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, has been reported, mainly with high doses or injection into a vein. Some reactions appear more than a day later, which a skin test cannot predict.
Aftercare
- Redness, swelling, itching and bruising are common for a few days. Judge the result at about two weeks, not on the day.
- Message us the same day if hives, a rash or new swelling appear in the days after: some allergic reactions are delayed.
- Call 998, or go to an emergency department, for difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheezing, a hoarse voice, or swelling of the lips, tongue or eyelids: these can be signs of a severe allergic reaction.
How pricing works
We don't publish prices. The cost depends on the area, how much filler there is and whether a second session is needed, which the doctor assesses at the consultation. You know the full plan and its cost before you start, and we suggest only what your concern calls for.
Our take
Filler dissolving is the undo, and the reason we favour fillers that can be undone.
The enzyme is on our shelf whenever filler is placed, for the rare emergency as much as for a result that isn't right. It has limits: it can take some of your own hyaluronic acid with it, so we start small, and it does nothing for other kinds of filler. If waiting would serve you better, we'll say so. Dissolving is done here by a doctor who places filler.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to dissolve filler at a clinic in Dubai?
We don't publish prices. The cost depends on the area, such as the lips or under the eyes, how much filler there is to dissolve and whether a second session is needed, which the doctor assesses at the consultation. You know the full plan and its cost before you start.
How do I choose a clinic or specialist for filler dissolving in Dubai?
Choose a doctor licensed by the Dubai Health Authority who examines the area first, asks what was injected and when, and does a skin test unless it's urgent. Expect a plan that starts small, a plain account of the risks, including allergy and lost volume, and honesty about when waiting would serve you better.
Can you dissolve filler anywhere on the face: the lips, under the eyes, cheeks, chin or jaw?
Yes, if it is hyaluronic-acid filler, including filler placed elsewhere. In the lips it is often for filler that has spread above the lip line or feels lumpy; under the eyes, for a bluish tint or puffiness when gel sits too shallow; in the cheeks, chin and jaw, for a result that feels too full.
What are the side effects and risks of filler dissolving in the lips, cheeks, chin, jaw or under the eyes?
Much the same in each area: redness, swelling, pain, itching, bruising and tenderness where the enzyme went in, usually gone within a few days. The area can also end up flatter than expected, as the enzyme can break down some of your own hyaluronic acid; under the eyes, the original hollow may show again. Allergic reactions are uncommon.
Which side effect of hyaluronidase matters most when you dissolve filler?
An allergic reaction, though it is uncommon: in clinical studies, local reactions occurred in 0.05 to 0.69 percent of people, and hives or deeper swelling in fewer than one in a thousand. Anaphylaxis has been reported, mainly with high doses. A bee or wasp sting allergy raises the risk, and a skin test cannot catch reactions that appear more than a day later.
How long does it take to dissolve lip or cheek filler, and how many sessions will I need?
The change often shows within hours; denser, more cross-linked gels can take up to 48 hours. One session is usually enough, and a second, no sooner than 48 hours after the first, is sometimes needed, more often with firmer gels. The final result can take up to two weeks.
Why is my filler not dissolving?
Often because the gel resists the enzyme: firmer, more cross-linked and more concentrated fillers take longer to break down, and some need a second session. The enzyme also has to reach the gel, and the final result can take two weeks. If nothing changes at all, the filler may not be hyaluronic acid.
How long after filler can I get it dissolved, and is dissolving filler after years possible?
Straight away if there is a problem such as a blocked blood vessel. If you dislike the result, wait until the filler's swelling settles, often within one to two weeks, as the shape can change until then. Older filler can be dissolved too: in an MRI study of 33 people, filler was still visible in all of them at least two years on, and in one about 15 years on.
Does filler dissolving hurt, and how long does the pain last?
Usually brief discomfort: a few small injections with a fine needle, which can sting as the enzyme goes in, plus a tiny one in the forearm for the skin test. Pain, tenderness and itching afterwards are common and usually settle within a few days. Pain that grows instead of easing is not normal: contact us straight away.
Does dermal filler dissolving work on every filler, or can you dissolve only hyaluronic acid?
Only hyaluronic acid, and on that it can work well: guidelines describe overfilled or misplaced filler, lumps and a bluish tint under the skin as treatable with it. Biostimulators and permanent fillers do not dissolve this way, and the US regulator notes that other fillers may be difficult or impossible to remove.
What is in a filler dissolving injection, and can you dissolve filler without hyaluronidase?
Hyaluronidase, an enzyme mixed with sterile saline or water just before use. Without it, the alternative is to wait: your body breaks filler down gradually, usually over six to eighteen months depending on the gel and the area, though traces can remain far longer. A small lump in the first weeks after filler may respond to massage alone.
What results and recovery time can I expect after filler dissolving in the lips or face?
Usually a softer, flatter area within a day or two, closer to how it looked before filler. Swelling usually settles within a few days, and the final result shows at about two weeks. Lips may look a little thinner than you expect, as the enzyme can also break down some of their own hyaluronic acid. Leave two weeks before photographs, a wedding or Eid.
Is there downtime or swelling after lip filler dissolving, and what aftercare do I need?
Downtime is usually little: after the hour of observation, you can go back to your day. Lip swelling is normal and usually settles within a few days; it is not the final shape. Aftercare is mostly watching for a delayed allergy: message us if hives, a rash or new swelling appear, and call 998 for difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a swollen tongue.
What happens if filler blocks a blood vessel?
It is rare but serious, and it is the emergency the enzyme is kept for. Contact us straight away, or get urgent medical care, if pain grows instead of easing or the skin turns pale, grey, blue or blotchy; for any change in vision, call 998. Guidelines advise giving hyaluronidase as soon as possible, ideally within hours, and repeating it as needed.
Sources
- King M, Convery C, Davies E. This month's guideline: the use of hyaluronidase in aesthetic practice (v2.4). J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(6):E61–E68.
- Jung H. Hyaluronidase: an overview of its properties, applications, and side effects. Arch Plast Surg. 2020;47(4):297–300.
- Signorini M, Liew S, Sundaram H, et al. Global Aesthetics Consensus: avoidance and management of complications from hyaluronic acid fillers—evidence- and opinion-based review and consensus recommendations. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(6):961e–971e.
- Master M, Azizeddin A, Master V. Hyaluronic acid filler longevity in the mid-face: a review of 33 magnetic resonance imaging studies. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024;12(7):e5934.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers). 2023.
Updated 27 October 2026