Will dissolving filler damage your natural skin?
What the research says about hyaluronidase

How does the dissolving enzyme work?

Hyaluronic acid filler is made of hyaluronic acid chains cross-linked into a gel. The enzyme hyaluronidase cuts the bonds in these chains so the gel breaks into small fragments, which the body then clears normally. The ACE Group guideline on aesthetic complications states that the enzyme acts immediately, with a tissue half-life of about 2 minutes, but its effect continues for about 24–48 hours.¹

Will your own hyaluronic acid disappear too?

The honest answer is yes, temporarily. The enzyme does not distinguish between filler and what your body makes. The same guideline even notes that the enzyme may break down the body's own HA first.¹

However, hyaluronic acid in the skin is constantly being made and broken down, with a half-life of about 24 hours.¹ What is broken down is therefore replaced on its own fairly quickly, unlike filler, which is cross-linked to last. A mouse study found that the enzyme clearly reduced the amount of exogenous hyaluronic acid within 3 days,² and a 2026 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology reported that the enzyme reversed the effect of filler “without destroying normal skin structure”.³

Limitations: most of the evidence on long-term effects on human tissue comes from laboratory studies, animal studies and clinical experience. There are no large long-term studies in humans yet.

Why do some people look more tired after dissolving?

This is something rarely explained before dissolving. In most cases the cause is not tissue damage, but rather:

• Seeing the real face that was hidden. If you have had filler for years, the face underneath has aged naturally. When the filler is removed, you see that change all at once.
• Skin that has been stretched for a long time. A large amount of filler in place for a long time can stretch the skin and tissue. After removal, the skin may look loose for a while. For this reason, the guideline advises including volume loss and skin laxity in the consent discussion before treatment.¹
• Dissolving more than needed, when too much enzyme is used or it is spread wider than the problem area.

That is why good dissolving should be done a little at a time, targeting the problem area, and assessed before repeating, rather than dissolving the whole face in one session. If filler has stayed in your face longer than expected, read more in our article on why filler lasts longer than you think.

Why are some cases harder to dissolve?

Different fillers respond differently to the enzyme, depending on how tightly they are cross-linked.

• A 2025 experimental study found that more tightly cross-linked fillers dissolved noticeably more slowly.⁴
• Another study the same year compared ovine (sheep-derived) hyaluronidase with recombinant human hyaluronidase. Both dissolved filler in a similar time, but some filler brands needed as much as 300 units of enzyme to dissolve completely within 1 hour, while others needed only 60–100 units.⁵

So knowing which product you were injected with helps your doctor plan more accurately. The guideline recommends adjusting to the visible result (treat to effect) rather than sticking to a fixed number.¹

Can you be allergic to the enzyme?

Yes, but it is rare. Local reactions occur in about 0.05–0.69%, while hives or severe swelling of the lips and face occur in fewer than 0.1%.¹ For non-urgent dissolving, the doctor may do a skin test first, and you should tell your doctor about any drug allergies or allergies to bee or wasp stings. In an emergency such as a vascular occlusion, the doctor will use the enzyme immediately without waiting for a test. Read more in our article on filler safety.

How long should you wait before new filler?

Results can be assessed from 48 hours, and treatment can be repeated at intervals of at least 48 hours, but the result may continue to become clearer for up to 14 days.¹ At Vinfinity, we therefore usually wait about 2 weeks for swelling to settle and the tissue to recover, then reassess before deciding whether more filler is needed. Some people find they do not need any more at all.

What we do at Vinfinity

1. Take a full injection history: areas, amounts, product types and dates, including treatments at other clinics.
2. Explain the expected outcome beforehand, including the chance that the face may look hollow or the skin loose for a while, and that more than one session may be needed.
3. Dissolve in targeted areas, a little at a time, adjusting the enzyme dose to the type of filler and the visible result.
4. Reassess after 2 weeks before planning the next step, which may be waiting, improving skin quality, or re-injecting an appropriate amount.

See our service information on the filler dissolving and correction page.

References

1. King M, Davies E, Convery C, Walker L, Murray G. The Use of Hyaluronidase in Aesthetic Practice. Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group guideline. acegroup.online
2. Menzinger S, Kaya A, Saurat JH, Kaya G. Injected Hyaluronidase Reduces the Volume of Exogenous Hyaluronate Fillers in Mice and Results in Clinical Improvement in a Patient with Pretibial Myxedema. Dermatopathology. 2016;3(3):61–67. doi:10.1159/000446699
3. Yin et al. Hyaluronidase Reverses the Effect of Hyaluronic Acid Without Destroying Normal Skin Structure. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026. doi:10.1111/jocd.70870
4. Oliveira, Santos, Marques, Silva, Mata, Brito da Cruz. Effectiveness of Hyaluronidase on Hyaluronic Acid Degradation: An Experimental Study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2025. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaf108
5. Safran T, Khalaf R, Metelitsa A, Woodward J, Nikolis A. Comparison of the Degradability of Hyaluronic Acid by Ovine and Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2025;45(10):1086–1093. doi:10.1093/asj/sjaf127

This article is for general information and is not personal medical advice. If you have severe pain, or skin that turns pale or dusky in patches after filler injections, see a doctor immediately.