Overfilling
Along with the advancement of cosmetic techniques in everyday life, many people are resorting to the use of injectable fillers like hyaluronic acid to improve facial contours and reduce the signs of aging. The overindulgence in the use of fillers has brought about concerns with what many people refer to as “pillow face syndrome.” It is a situation where too much filler has been injected, and the contours of the face have lost their natural shape, making the face very plump and even unnatural. While such overfilling might make someone look younger in the short run, the long-term effects and aesthetic results are often unsatisfactory.
Between the years 2015 and 2022, the number of hyaluronic acid filler injections performed worldwide increased by more than 40%. Such explosive growth directly parallels people’s pursuit of youth and beauty. With the increase in the number of people using fillers, aesthetic standards concerning fillers have gradually been revised. Initially, it was to pursue perfect facial lines, but nowadays, people realize that having too much filler does not make them look natural; in fact, it can have the opposite effect. Thus, many of them choose to dissolve part or all of their fillers to achieve a more natural facial appearance.
Dissolving usually involves the injection of an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which breaks down hyaluronic acid very rapidly. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, hyaluronidase injections usually begin to take effect within 24 to 48 hours. This can be one of the major reasons people with fillers are willing to try dissolving them, since it may be relatively safe and reversible.
Filler Migration
The other major reason people opt to dissolve their fillers is due to the migration of fillers. Although hyaluronic acid-based fillers are, in theory, supposed to remain stable at the site of injection, in reality, due to facial muscle movements, gravity, and individual differences, fillers may shift to unintended locations, leading to facial asymmetry or unnatural shapes.
Hyaluronic acid fillers that have been injected into the lips may eventually migrate upward or downward, leading to the development of “duck lips” or “fat lips.” They may also form deposits outside the intended area, resulting in a constantly swollen lip. Moreover, fillers injected under the eyes may occasionally descend and enhance under-eye bags or even bring about shadows, giving the impression of weariness on the face.
About 15% of filler users develop different kinds of filler migrations within six months of injection, and the most affected areas are the lips and the lower eyelids. Migrated fillers not only affect the appearance but can also result in some side effects like local discomfort, swelling, and infections. Therefore, dissolving the fillers is usually preferred by people who suffer from filler migrations.
Maintenance Requirements
Hyaluronic acid fillers are not permanent and get absorbed by the body in six to eighteen months. For that reason, many filler users need to have touch-ups regularly to retain their facial features. The frequency of this maintenance thus brings along time and financial burdens, raising questions about the long-term feasibility of depending on fillers.
Filler maintenance does not come cheap. Depending on the brand used, the area injected, and geographical location, one hyaluronic acid injection could start from $500 to $2,000. The cost of long-term maintenance becomes quite substantial for anyone who has to get them on a somewhat regular basis. With an increased number of injections, fillers may also accumulate within different layers of the face, leading to uneven skin texture. Because of this, these complications have led some individuals to temporarily or permanently dissolve their fillers in order to decrease reliance on fillers and reduce maintenance requirements.
Dissolving fillers is, in a sense, a “reset” approach that allows users to rethink their needs and make changes in accordance with their dynamic aesthetic preferences. For long-time users of fillers, dissolving them provides the opportunity to step back from this “trap” of fillers, get back to their natural look, and reassess whether they really need to continue these maintenance activities.
Changing Beauty Trends
Beauty trends will always emerge. From full apple cheeks and plump lips to the trend of going au naturel, beauty standards have never stood still. Influenced by social media and celebrity culture, many used to want to appear younger and fuller with the help of fillers. As time went by, people became more and more aware that over-reliance on fillers was not a long-term solution.
Over the past couple of years, several celebrities and influencers have gone public with the dissolving of their fillers, from Hollywood stars to social media influencers. For them, this demonstrated a more natural, real beauty that encouraged society to rethink the concept of “natural beauty.” Besides, many beauty bloggers and experts began to propagate the idea of “moderate cosmetic procedures” or “returning to natural.” They encourage people not to overdo interventions and to let beauty look less “artificial.”
It is observed that in the global beauty market report, 35% of filler users wanted to either dissolve or adjust their fillers in 2021, up by 12% from five years before. This reflects a paradigm shift in consumer attitudes toward aesthetics. The overfilling era is giving way to a more subtle, gentle view of beauty.
Preference for a Natural Appearance
The most frequent reason for dissolving fillers has to do with a preference for naturalness. As one ages, there is a natural evolution of the face, and the excesses of fillers might render these natural transitions abrupt, even disconnected. Indeed, many who use fillers, after a series of injections, notice a difference in the contours of their face from what they previously knew. Not being able to recognize oneself is what primarily motivates them to return to normalcy.
Dissolving fillers is not about keeping pace with the newest beauty trends but, rather, about more important issues: it deals with self-acceptance. More and more people understand that true beauty doesn’t reside in chasing a youthful appearance but in loving oneself as one is. It is this change in psychology that drives them to dissolve their fillers and return to their earlier state.
