The concept of fillers has become very popular throughout the world. Fillers come in several categories which include temporary, semipermanent, and permanent. The most common fillers are temporary ones. It is necessary to dissolve these fillers for the most part prior to surgery – especially rhinoplasty.
It is slightly easier for surgeons to work around fillers. And, the remainder of the face for example for facelift or blepharoplasty. However, it is advisable to have these fillers dissolved with an antidote. Or, allow enough time for them to be dissolved or absorbed by the body.
The use of fillers must be very carefully and judiciously performed. It’s very easy to overdo the fillers and create an abnormal or exaggerated look. This may not be acceptable or advisable to the patient. In these types of cases, patients may want to dissolve the overdone filler. And, fortunately, there are ways to do that.
The filler is technically a foreign body. And, our bodies may respond by forming scar tissue around the substances in the form of granulomas. For the most part, these granulomas or the lumps and bumps we feel over time should dissolve. Furthermore, if they do not —dissolution with the antidote enzyme may be required and now we start from scratch and begin over. Again, overfill can’t commonly occur especially in the hands of inexperienced injectors.
Restylane and Juvéderm are the more common dissolvable fillers. Each comes in various forms that have different characteristics and more useful in various areas of the body and face. Furthermore, Radiese and Sculptra are a combination of temporary and permanent components and have specific characteristics and uses. Artefil and fat for fillers are thought to be slightly more permanent. But we’ve learned that even fat over time may dissolve and disappear.
THOMAS TREVISANI, MD
BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON
MEMBER AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
