You may have seen various news stories recently about several reality TV stars getting their dermal fillers dissolved. So, why is this? Have they actually had them dissolved? And what does it really mean to get fillers dissolved?
Getting Back to Natural: The Celebs Getting Their Fillers Dissolved
Who’s getting their fillers dissolved?
A few months ago, we wrote about Gemma Collins opting to ‘dissolve’ her Botox and fillers (you can read all about that here), where we explained that you can’t actually dissolve antiwrinkle treatment - it’s a substance that your body metabolises over time, so she probably still has that in her system. We also debated whether or not she actually had had her fillers dissolved or if it was all part of her marketing strategy for new collagen tablets. Of course she would want people to think she looks the way she does because of the product she's selling (I'm looking at you too, J-Lo!).
However, since then, there have been several other celebs and influencers stating that they’ve been dissolving lip filler and dermal fillers. These include Chloe Sims - known for being in TOWIE - and Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague.
Chloe Sims recently explained she’s dissolved the filler in her face and lips and is feeling better for it, stating: “So, I decided to remove my fillers...the first photo is before, the second is without filler and the third is my more natural look. I’m really happy that I've toned it all down, and as you know, I think it’s important to be honest with things like this. It’s my personal choice and what makes me feel confident."
She went on to explain that she's had Profhilo to help with skin hydration and texture.
And Molly-Mae states she had her fillers dissolved last year, opting for a more natural look and has urged young followers to wait until they’re older to make decisions about aesthetic treatments.
Why are so many celebs dissolving lip filler and dermal fillers?
To find out why so many celebs and influencers are choosing to ditch the filler in favour of going ‘au natural’, I spoke to aesthetic practitioner Charine Patel of Bisou Clinics to get her thoughts - specifically on whether they actually had dissolved their filler.
Charine says, “Beauty trends are forever changing, with people turning to celebrities and influencers for inspiration on how to look, and following their filler trend is no exception to this rule. Large lips, a sharp jawline and high cheekbones have been popular options over the past few years. However, influencers such as Molly-Mae and Chloe Sims are now claiming to be dissolving lip filler and dermal fillers to revert back to their natural looks.
Do I believe these influencers have had their filler dissolved? Yes, but not all of it. Their now ‘natural’ appearance is still thanks to some filler. However, it is strategically placed and in minimal quantities to create a more timeless look.”
She continues, “Dissolving filler is something we see a lot in clinics, more often than not with people opting for a more natural appearance. However, I don’t think dermal fillers are a treatment that will slow down anytime soon. I just think people will start doing what they should have always done and get fillers to enhance and refresh.”
I couldn’t agree more, Charine! Fillers are all about subtle enhancements - not about completely changing how you look. And it's interesting that these celebs probably haven't actually dissolved all of their filler. But whether or not we think they should be claiming to be filler free and natural when they're not is a debate for another day.
Are fillers bad?
So, if the celebs are getting their fillers dissolved, does that mean fillers are bad? No. Fillers are not bad. What makes them look bad is when they are overdone - think trout pouts and duck lips. And this is more often the result when people go to get treatments from non medics. A medically qualified practitioner is much more likely to respect your facial features and understand your anatomy on a deeper level - which means less chance of big issues like vascular occlusions, but also more chance of you keeping a more natural look that just gives you that extra something people can’t quite put their finger on.
Medics will also know when to say enough is enough, and a medically qualified practitioner who’s worth their salt will do a thorough consultation to find out what it is you want, whether it’s actually achievable/realistic/will suit your face shape, and will check for signs of body dysmorphia to make sure you’re getting the treatment for the right reason.
There are lots of incredible examples of fillers out there that would have you completely fooled. Not 'overdone', not 'fake'. Just gorgeous and completely natural-looking. That’s the true mark of fillers done well - when you can’t even tell they’ve been done! You’ll look and feel great but no one will be able to guess why.
Getting back to natural - Dissolving lip filler and dermal fillers
The overdone look has been around for a while now, and this is what often leads to fillers getting such a bad rap. While I think it’s a case of 'each to their own'... we all have our own tastes, it is nice to think we might be driving towards more of a subtle stance on tweakments like these. So, if you’ve had dermal fillers done but you feel they don’t look natural, or you've ended up with unsightly lumps, bumps, nodules or filler migration, the last thing you want to do is wait up to two years for them to naturally break down. Thankfully, the good news is that, unlike anti-wrinkle injections, you can have them dissolved. As Charine mentioned above, this is a service that she offers in her clinic, as do many other medically qualified practitioners.
So, what should you know about getting your fillers dissolved? We have a fab guide on this very topic but, essentially, if you’re not happy with your fillers and want to either start from scratch or get rid of them for good, it’s important to see a medically qualified practitioner who will be able to dissolve them for you. This is essential because the substance that is used to dissolve filler (hyaluronidase) is a prescription-only medicine and so should only be prescribed by a qualified prescriber. If you want to then go ahead and have new fillers after dissolving the old filler, you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks, but are then free to start over.
The option to get filler dissolved has been a godsend for lots of women over the past few years and I’m sure you’ve seen the horror stories for yourselves in the media, where they have been to get fillers from people who just don’t know what they’re doing, and they've come away with lumpy lips, tissue damage and even worse. While there is currently no regulation around this in the UK (yep, you heard that right. I could start up my own aesthetics business tomorrow, without ever having studied medicine or knowing anything about anatomy!), we really can’t stress enough how important it is to see a medically qualified cosmetic practitioner if you do decide you want to get dermal fillers - or any other tweakments for that matter. It’s your face - don‘t let someone else f**k it up!
If you’ve got fillers you’re unhappy with, have nodules or filler migration, you can now search on Glowday for medically qualified practitioners offering filler dissolving services.