Question: I had filler injected into my nasolabial folds years ago and the doctor overplumped me. I was told the filler would go away in one year but it’s been 3 years and I still look terrible. One plastic surgeon said he can dissolve the it. I would rather have depressed nasolabial smile lines than look overfilled and unnatural. Can filler be dissolved successfully?

Answer: While it’s true that Vitrase has been used, off-label, to dissolve injectable fillers, it mainly works on hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, RHA collection and Belatero. Further, different HA fillers will respond differently to Vitrase. For example, while it works for both Restylane and Juvederm, it is less effective in dissolving Juvederm due the cross-linking technology of Juvederm which makes it more resistant.

In answer to your question, your plastic surgeon first needs to find out what filler you had. Only then can he or she tell you if the filler can be dissolved and to what extent? For an injector to make a generalized statement and claim that your filler can be dissolved is inaccurate and misguided.

If, in fact, your filler is dissolvable, you don’t have to live with deep nasolabial smile lines and look aged. Seeking an expert, master injector who understands facial aesthetic anatomy and is aligned with a philosophy of creating natural results should be a top facial rejuvenation priority.

In my practice, I offer temporary hyaluronic acid based fillers as well as Bellafill – the 5 year filler. While both work equally well, my patients find that Bellafill looks more natural, lasts 5 times longer and tends to improve over time. The key reason, I believe, Bellafill has these benefits is due to its ongoing collagen stimulation properties over 5 years. The actual filling you get is due to your body’s own natural collagen and not from a synthetic HA filler such as Juvederm or Restylane.

Bellafill was first FDA approved in 2005. I have been performing Bellafill treatments since 2013 and, have done well over 5,000 treatments.

A detailed consultation with a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon who specializes in Bellafill and other minimal invasive treatments is the first step. Sound judgement, an artistic eye and superior technical skill as a Master Injector are equally essential.

Anita Mandal, MD

Dr. Anita Mandal is a double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon practicing since 1998. She exclusively specializes in facial rejuvenation and non-invasive body contouring. In addition to being on the medical staff at Jupiter Medical Center, her offices house both surgical and laser suites. Dr. Mandal is committed to giving her patients the most natural looking results. 

Mandal Plastic Surgery Center 

2401 PGA Blvd., Suite 146 

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 

Phone: (561) 238-0040

Website: www.MandalPlasticSurgery.com 

E-mail: [email protected]