Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid, the principle ingredient found within dermal filler.
Fillers have never been more popular but gone are the days of overfilled lips and strange facial looks. Filler trends now lean towards a more natural look, and many people now want to reduce or reverse the effects of their lip and dermal fillers. And, especially when not administered by a trained medical practitioner, filler can sometimes lead to problems such as migration or over-filling which requires correction. Hyaluronidase begins to break fillers down as soon as it is injected, with full results seen after 1-2 weeks.
Hyaluronidase is a prescription only medicine, so it can only be prescribed and administered by a medical practitioner.
Book your free consultation today to see whether you are suitable for Hyaluronidase.
Lip and dermal fillers are made up of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in the body, which binds to water, giving the plumping effect. Hyaluronidase breaks down the bonds that hold the hyaluronic acid together, which is then carried away or reabsorbed naturally by the body.
What happens during Hyaluronidase treatment?
Emma will first carry out a full evaluation of your fillers, and assess which areas need to be treated. She will explain exactly what to expect from the treatment before administering hyaluronidase to the affected areas.
Hyaluronidase is administered via injection. Emma will numb the area with a local anaesthetic to minimise pain. Lips are one of the most sensitive areas of the body and therefore dissolving lip fillers can cause some discomfort. The pain will likely be the same as experienced when the original filler was administered.
Hyaluronidase is only available on prescription and Emma will assess you for suitability before prescribing the treatment. Hyaluronidase dissolves hyaluronic dermal filler brands such as Juvéderm, Restylane, Teoxane and Princess. But it cannot be used to dissolve non-HA fillers such as Sculptra and Ellanse. It is also not suitable for people with a history of severe allergy. Emma will perform a patch test prior to treatment to ensure you are not allergic to Hyaluronidase.
In the case of a vascular occlusion caused by HA filler, Hyaluronidase can be administered immediately. However, where the filler has migrated there would usually be a period of some moths or if the patient wishes to correct filler for cosmetic reasons, we recommend you wait 2 weeks after having the original filler. This is to ensure any swelling has completely resolved and that the final aesthetic result can be seen.
Hyaluronidase can cause some localised swelling for up to three hours, and we recommend that you avoid heavy exercise for the 24 hours after treatment, however you can return to work immediately after treatment.
Yes, although we recommend that you wait for 2 weeks after Hyaluronidase before having new fillers injected. This is to ensure that the new fillers are not affected by the Hyaluronidase.
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that is found naturally in the body, and for that reason, the treatment is considered very safe. However, there is a low risk of severe allergy which is why Emma will carry out a patch test prior to treatment.