Enzyme that Dissolves Fillers - Beware of Side Effects

Earlier this year, some of the leading cosmetic surgeons across the globe got together to discuss some of the side effects that have been reported related to the use of an enzyme to dissolve fillers placed in the face. The decision to discuss this issue comes after over a dozen patients claimed they have suffered both serious pain and side effects after receiving injections of hyaluronidase AKA an enzyme that is often used to correct aesthetic or medical issues that occur after a person receives filler injections. Let’s start the examination of hyaluronidase to dissolve fillers with a video from Cosmetic Town TV focusing on the safety of hyaluronidase:

Patients Share Enzyme Issues

In an interview with a newspaper, one forty-year-old woman said she was a healthy and fit person before she had injections. Now, she says her skin is sagging and she also has suffered from burning pain. According to this patient, she is “so sick that I’m no longer able to work.”

Another patient shared the story about ending up in the hospital due to an allergic reaction. The woman also claims she had not given informed consent. “I was also expecting a simple routine procedure and was unaware of the risks.”

Surgeons Speaks Out about This Medical Issue

The issues surrounding hyaluronidase were scheduled to be discussed at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons conference in Turkey earlier this year. According to Dr. Tim Papadopoulos, a plastic surgeon located in Sydney, he was taking the claims seriously and planned to address the matter at the conference.

According to the doctor, “If it’s something that’s out there, we should be aware of it.” He added that this could be a challenging issue for medical professionals because of the “very, very rare cases that we’re seeing. I’m very open to the suggestion that there are these rare side effects. We just don’t have enough information and so anybody who’s doing some studies on this to find out and collect this data would be doing everyone a favor. It’s very, very important.”

In general, hyaluronidase is used by doctors to “break down” connective tissue so the tissues located between cells find it easier for an injected substance to pass through once it is placed in the body. In addition, it enables the body to absorb the injected substance at a quicker rate. Unfortunately, as shown earlier in this article, there have been some patients who have reported side effects such as saggy skin and burning pain.

Dr. William Townley, a plastic surgeon who is based in London, says he believes this is a genuine issue. However, he is not able to explain why it happens and he hopes researchers will investigate the claims made by patients.

According to Dr. Townley, “It is mostly thus far an anecdotal problem and it’s hard to determine what the science or the mechanism might be behind people experiencing this phenomenon.” The doctor did share the fact that there are some rare issues that have occurred “in areas that are distant or not adjacent to where the hyaluronidase has been injected. It’s not a completely isolated event and therefore it merits consideration.”

Hyaluronidase to Dissolve Facial Fillers Explained

Hyaluronidase is a popular choice for patients who are not happy with the look they have gained after having fillers placed in the face. Hyaluronic acid fillers are often picked by patients because the results are reversible once the filler is injected into the face. Hyaluronidase eliminates the filler that has been placed in the body by breaking down the hyaluronic acid and helping to restore the original look to the area of the face that was treated with the fillers.

Some of the most commons areas of the face where hyaluronidase is injected to address dissatisfaction with fillers include the chin and forehead as well as under the eyes, the cheeks, and the lips. Some patients might feel they have an “overfilled” look after having fillers placed in the face while others might not have gained the look they desired so these patients want to eliminate the amount of filler that was placed in their face.

While some patients think fillers are a “magical fix” that will instantly provide the desired look, each person is different which means fillers will not always be an effective option to rejuvenate and refresh the appearance of a patient. As noted above, fillers made of hyaluronic acid are quite popular and the results from these fillers can be reversed using hyaluronidase. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally found in the human body and fillers made of this substance can be dissolved using hyaluronidase. The hyaluronidase is injected into the targeted areas of unwanted filler, and it will immediately begin to dissolve the filler. The hyaluronidase will stay in the tissues of the patient for multiple days and work to dissolve the unwanted filler. It is important for patients to know that hyaluronidase will only dissolve fillers made of hyaluronic acid and not the hyaluronic acid that naturally occurs in the skin of a person.

- MA