Unwanted Fillers
What are Unwanted Fillers?
Filler does not always settle the way you hoped. It may look fuller than you wanted, feel lumpy under the skin, sit unevenly from one side to the other, or simply not look like you. It can show around the lips, under the eyes, along the cheeks, the chin and the nasolabial folds.
Some people notice it soon after treatment. Others only see a change months or years later, as the face itself changes. If your filler is hyaluronic acid based, it can be dissolved, and treatment can help bring the area back towards a more natural balance.
What Causes Unwanted Fillers
Filler can end up unwanted for reasons that have to do with the amount used, where it sits and how your face changes over time. Unwanted Fillers can come from a range of factors, including:
- Too much volume: Filler added over several visits can build up, leaving the face looking overfilled or less natural than intended.
- Migration: Filler can drift from where it was placed, sometimes causing lumps, swelling or a puffy look nearby.
- Asymmetry: Filler may settle unevenly, or the face may treat each side differently, so one side looks fuller.
- A bluish tint: Filler placed close to the skin surface can show through as a bluish shade, most often under the eyes. This is known as the Tyndall effect.
- A result you do not like: The shape, feel or proportions may simply not suit you, even when nothing has gone wrong.
- Older filler: Filler placed years ago may no longer suit your face as your features and volume change.
Treatments for Unwanted Fillers at ARTÉ
The plan depends on which filler you have, where it sits and what bothers you. It starts with a consultation with Dr. Michelle.
Hyalase Filler Dissolution
Filler dissolution uses hyaluronidase, an enzyme your body already makes, to break down hyaluronic acid filler for the body to clear away. Tiny injections go into the areas that need it, guided by a mapped plan. It can ease lumps, puffiness, asymmetry and migration, and can leave a clean slate if you later want filler placed again. It only works on hyaluronic acid fillers, and more than one session may be needed, depending on how much filler you have. Once the area has settled, you can leave it natural or plan a more refined approach if you wish, with Dr. Michelle guiding the pace.
Possible side effects: Mild redness, swelling or tenderness can occur and usually settles. A consultation is needed first, and results vary from person to person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any filler be dissolved?
Only hyaluronic acid fillers respond to this treatment. Other types, such as calcium hydroxyapatite, PLLA or long-lasting non-absorbable fillers, are not affected and may need a different approach. Dr. Michelle will check what you have at your consultation.
Will I lose all my filler?
Not necessarily. Filler can be dissolved in part, taking away only the area that bothers you, and the result is often a return towards a more natural look. Many people prefer to reduce filler gradually rather than remove all of it.
Will one session be enough?
Often it is, but not always. How much filler you have and how your body responds both matter, so a second session is sometimes needed. Dr. Michelle will review the area before deciding on the next step.
Does it hurt?
Most people describe a brief sting and a mild burn, and ice packs are often used to help. Patch testing on the forearm may be suggested first if you have never had the enzyme before, to screen for allergy.
Is there swelling afterwards?
Some redness, swelling or tenderness can follow and usually settles. The treated area may look a little different while it settles, so the final result is better judged once swelling has gone.
When should I seek urgent care after filler?
Sudden severe pain, skin that turns pale or dusky, or any change in your vision after filler needs urgent medical attention. Contact your doctor or go to an emergency department straight away.
Why Choose ARTÉ by Dr. M for Unwanted Fillers?
Doctor-Led Care
Dr. Michelle Ng carries out every consultation and every treatment herself, never passing them on to another practitioner. Having practised aesthetic medicine for over a decade, she understands how filler sits in the face and how it changes over time.
A Plan for Your Filler
Before anything is dissolved, Dr. Michelle looks at what filler is there and why it bothers you. Some areas may need dissolving, others may simply need time or a small adjustment. Treatment is planned to be conservative, taking away only what is needed rather than everything.
Natural-Looking Results
The aim is balance. Dissolving only the part that bothers you can help the face look like yours again, and if you later choose filler, it can be planned with proportion in mind.
Safety-First Approach
Every plan begins with a thorough consultation and allergy screening where needed, and is supported by clear aftercare.
Book Your Unwanted Fillers Consultation at ARTÉ by Dr. M
If filler has left you unsure about how you look, there is no pressure to decide anything on the day. Talk through what bothers you and the options that suit you by booking a consultation with Dr. Michelle.
Book a ConsultationThis page is for general education and is not medical advice. Dr. Michelle will assess your concern at a consultation and advise on the treatment that suits you.
