Statistically, most people who get lip fillers are very happy with their results (over 95% according to RealSelf). However, this isn’t the case for every person. Even Kylie Jenner, who made lip enhancement mega-famous and created quite the uproar when she increased the volume of her lips to va-va-voom status, eventually cooled on the idea of a plush pout. When she revealed her lips Au Naturel, Jenner created a whole new level of pandemonium that led to a marked increase in online searches for “can lip fillers be removed?”

They can, but there’s a catch.

Lip enhancement can be achieved with a number of different filler products. Dermal fillers are typically made from a base of one of three ingredients:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA)
• Poly-L-lactic acid

Typically, dermal fillers degrade over time. It usually takes the body somewhere between 9 and 18 months to break down a filler, regardless of its base. The one exception is hyaluronic acid. Examples of hyaluronic acid fillers include Juvéderm, Restylane, and Belotero. Products like Radiesse and Sculptra are composed of non-removable substances and should not be selected if there is any doubt about the results one desires.

How Lip Fillers are Removed

To describe the follow-up treatment as lip filler removal is somewhat misleading. When a patient visits our San Jose office to remove lip fillers, what we actually do is inject a second substance into the skin. This can be done for lips as well as other areas where hyaluronic acid filler has been injected. What we inject is an enzyme called Hyaluronidase, which breaks hyaluronic acid down. Essentially, this enzyme accelerates the natural metabolism of the dermal filler. What would take months happens in a matter of hours.

Thinking about Lip Enhancement with Dermal Fillers?

Lip enhancement should be obtained by a trained, licensed, experienced professional (skip the Groupon on this one). With a thorough consultation and discussion of your desired results from lip fillers, your provider can insert a conservative amount of product to reach a natural-looking outcome. If fillers are unsatisfactory for any reason – so long as the base ingredient is hyaluronic acid – a quick treatment with Hyaluronidase (yes, more injections) can resolve your concerns.

Learn more about lip enhancement and lip filler reversal at (408) 559-4700.