Dissolving Dermal Fillers in London
Safely reverse or correct hyaluronic acid filler with doctor-led hyaluronidase.
Dissolving dermal fillers uses an enzyme called hyaluronidase to break down hyaluronic acid filler, correcting overfilling, lumps, migration or poor work, or removing it entirely. At the West Hampstead clinic it takes about 15 to 20 minutes, the effect begins within 24 to 48 hours and is complete within 1 to 2 weeks. Because the same enzyme is also the emergency treatment for a filler blocking a blood vessel, it should be in medical hands. Treatment starts from £300.
One of the reasons hyaluronic acid filler is considered a safe choice is that it can be dissolved. If you are unhappy with previous work, have lumps or migration, or simply want filler removed, hyaluronidase can reverse it. Correcting other clinics’ work is one of the most common reasons people come to the clinic, and it is an area where doctor-led care matters.
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ABOUT FILLER DISSOLVING
What is filler dissolving?
Filler dissolving uses hyaluronidase, a naturally occurring enzyme, to break down hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers so the body absorbs them. It can dissolve the common HA filler brands, including Juvéderm, Restylane, Teosyal, Belotero and Stylage. It is used to correct overfilling, lumps, asymmetry and migration, or to remove filler completely, and it works on areas such as the lips, under-eyes, cheeks and chin.
It is important to know that only hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved this way. Permanent or semi-permanent fillers and collagen stimulators such as Sculptra cannot, which is one reason hyaluronic acid is the safer choice and the only filler type used at the clinic.
REASONS FOR DISSOLVING FILLER
Why filler might need dissolving
There are several reasons, cosmetic and medical:
- Overfilling. Too much product creating an unnatural look.
- Migration. Filler that has moved from where it was placed, common with lip filler.
- Lumps or contour irregularities. Uneven placement leaving bumps or a misshapen area.
- The Tyndall effect. A bluish tint where filler was placed too superficially, often under the eyes.
- Asymmetry. Uneven results between the two sides.
- Allergic reaction or infection. Where the filler needs removing for the area to settle.
- A medical emergency. If filler blocks a blood vessel, hyaluronidase is the urgent treatment to clear it.
HOW IT WORKS
How filler dissolving works
Treatment starts with Dr Chiké assessing what is there, where it is, and what you want to achieve. The area is cleaned and numbing cream applied for comfort. Hyaluronidase is then injected directly into the filler, where it breaks down the hyaluronic acid so the body can absorb it. The appointment takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Because hyaluronidase can also affect your own natural hyaluronic acid temporarily, and because it carries a small risk of allergic reaction, it is treated as a medical procedure rather than a quick add-on. Dr Chiké assesses your history first and, where appropriate, may carry out a patch test. The same enzyme is what the clinic keeps on site to manage the rare emergency of a filler blocking a vessel, which is exactly why filler treatment belongs in medical hands.
“Hyaluronidase is the single most important safety tool in filler work. It corrects poor results, but it is also what saves a blood vessel in an emergency. Anyone injecting filler should have it on hand and know how to use it. I see a lot of correction work, and it is some of the most rewarding I do.”
Dr Chiké Emeagi, MRCS, GMC 4418489
HONEST COMPARISON
How it compares to letting filler wear off
If you are unhappy with filler, you have two options: dissolve it, or wait for it to break down on its own.
| Option | Best For | Timescale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dissolving (hyaluronidase) |
Lumps, migration, overfilling, complications |
Effect in 24 to 48 hours; settled in 1 to 2 weeks |
Fast, targeted, the only option for complications |
|
Waiting for natural breakdown |
Mild cases where you can wait |
Many months to over a year |
Slow, and not an option for lumps or complications |
For complications such as migration, lumps or the Tyndall effect, dissolving is the answer; waiting will not fix them. For a result you simply do not love and can live with, waiting is an option, and Dr Chiké will give you an honest view.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Results and what to expect
The effect of hyaluronidase begins within 24 to 48 hours, with the full result visible within 1 to 2 weeks as the dissolved filler is absorbed. Most areas need a single session, while larger volumes or firmer, older filler may need two or three sessions to clear completely.
It is normal for the treated area to look smaller or more deflated than its natural state at first, because the enzyme can briefly affect your own hyaluronic acid as well; this recovers over the following days to weeks. If you plan to have fresh filler afterwards, you wait at least two weeks for the area to settle before any new treatment.
Where the skin has been stretched by overfilling, Dr Chiké may suggest a skin-quality treatment such as Profhilo or polynucleotides afterwards to help the area recover.
AFTERCARE
Recovery, downtime and aftercare
There is minimal downtime and most people return to normal activities within 24 hours. Mild swelling, redness or bruising can occur and settles within a few days.
- Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area for 24 hours.
- Avoid intense exercise for 24 hours to reduce swelling.
- Wait at least two weeks before any new filler in the area.
You will leave with written aftercare and a route back to the clinic. Any lumps from the original filler should soften as the enzyme works over the first week or two.
IS THIS FOR ME?
Am I a suitable candidate?
Filler dissolving suits most healthy adults who have hyaluronic acid filler they want corrected or removed, whether for overfilling, migration, lumps or a result they are unhappy with. A consultation is essential to confirm the filler is hyaluronic acid (only HA can be dissolved) and to review your medical history.
It is approached with extra caution, or a patch test, if you have a history of allergy to hyaluronidase or bee or wasp venom, as the enzyme can rarely cause an allergic reaction. It is not carried out during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If your filler is not hyaluronic acid, Dr Chiké will explain why it cannot be dissolved and what the options are.
PRICING
What filler dissolving costs
Filler dissolving at the West Hampstead clinic starts from £300 per session, with the exact cost depending on how much filler is being dissolved and the area. A tailored quote is given after your consultation. Emergency dissolving for a vascular complication is treated as the priority it is, not as a routine booking. You can see the full price list online.
WHY US
Why choose Hampstead Aesthetics
Dissolving and correction is an area where medical training genuinely matters. Dr Chiké Emeagi is Medical Director of Hampstead Aesthetics, a doctor on the GMC register (number 4418489) and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, with extensive experience correcting filler from other clinics. He understands the anatomy, recognises complications, and manages them properly.
Every treatment is carried out by Dr Chiké in person, using medical-grade hyaluronidase, with reversal and emergency protocols kept on site as routine. He is honest about whether dissolving, waiting, or a different approach is right for you. The clinic is on West End Lane in West Hampstead, NW6, a short walk from West Hampstead station and easy to reach from Swiss Cottage, Camden, St John’s Wood and across London.
PATIENT REVIEWS
What patients say
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WHO IS YOUR PRACTITIONER
Medical Governance & Practitioner Verification
Dr Chike Emeagi - GMC Registration No. 4418489
Dr Chike Emeagi — GMC Registration No. 4418489
Filler dissolving at Hampstead Aesthetics is prescribed and performed by Dr Chike Emeagi, a fully registered doctor and independent prescriber.
MRCS — Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
MRCGP — Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners
MSc Aesthetic Medicine — postgraduate master's degree in aesthetic clinical practice
GMC licensed — full licence to practise, verifiable on the public medical register
You are encouraged to verify Dr Chike’s registration yourself on the GMC’s public medical register before booking. Any doctor practising without a valid GMC licence is doing so illegally.
WHO IS YOUR PRACTITIONER
Why Doctor Led Matters
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are CE-marked Class III medical devices, not medicines. Under current UK law that means no prescription is required, and — remarkably — no medical qualification is required either. It remains legal for a person with no clinical training to inject filler into your face. That gap in the law is the single largest source of avoidable harm in this industry, and it is the reason this clinic operates to GMC standards regardless of the setting.
Hyaluronidase, the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid filler, is a Prescription Only Medicine. It cannot lawfully be administered without a prescription from an independent prescriber who has assessed you in person — which means a non-medical injector cannot legally obtain it, and often cannot legally correct their own complication. Dissolving is also not a cosmetic tidy-up: hyaluronidase can cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, it dissolves your own tissue hyaluronic acid as well as the filler, and the result is not always fully predictable.
Emergency Safety Protocols
Filler complications are uncommon but time-critical. A vascular occlusion treated within the hour usually resolves; the same occlusion treated the next day may not. Everything needed to act immediately is kept on site:
- Hyaluronidase on site — the reversal agent for hyaluronic acid filler, available in minutes rather than ordered in
- Anaphylaxis kit and full adrenaline protocol held on site and in date
- ACE Group certified — Dr Chike holds emergency complication management certification
- Direct same-day contact — you leave with a number that reaches the clinic, and you are seen within hours if something changes
- Batch traceability — the brand, batch number and expiry of everything used is recorded in your notes and available to you on request
- Written 999 escalation procedure for emergency transfer to hospital
- Full medical indemnity covering every treatment performed at this clinic
Consent, Privacy & Your Rights
Your consultation covers your medical history, any allergy to bee or wasp venom, and a full account of what was placed in your face, when, and by whom. A patch test is offered where indicated. You will be told that dissolving can leave the area temporarily flatter or more lax than before, that more than one session is sometimes needed, and that the outcome cannot be guaranteed in advance. Treatment does not proceed without your informed, documented consent.
If you have a concern about your treatment, raise it directly with Dr Chike first. Most things are resolved at the clinic within the same week. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may raise a concern about the doctor with the General Medical Council, which regulates every doctor practising in the UK. Adverse incidents involving a medical device, including dermal filler, can also be reported to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.
Your clinical records are held under UK GDPR for the retention period required of medical records, stored on an access-controlled clinical system, and never sold or shared for marketing. You can request a copy at any time. If you are unhappy with how your information has been handled you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Your consultation, your treatment and your review are carried out by the same doctor. There are no hand-offs. Reviewed August 2026. Dr Chike Emeagi — GMC No. 4418489.
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dissolving dermal filler cost in London?
At the West Hampstead clinic it starts from £300 per session, with the exact cost depending on how much filler is being dissolved and the area. A tailored quote is given after your consultation, so you know the cost before treatment. More complex cases needing several sessions are discussed at the outset.
How does hyaluronidase dissolve filler?
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. Injected into the filler, it splits the gel into fragments your body then absorbs naturally. It only works on hyaluronic acid fillers; permanent fillers and collagen stimulators such as Sculptra cannot be dissolved this way.
Is filler dissolving painful?
Most people experience only mild discomfort. Numbing cream is applied first for comfort, and the injections themselves are quick. Any tenderness or mild swelling settles within a few days. The treatment takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
How long does it take to work?
The effect begins within 24 to 48 hours, with the full result visible within 1 to 2 weeks as the dissolved filler is absorbed. Most areas need a single session, while larger volumes or firmer, older filler may need two or three sessions to clear completely.
Do fillers fully dissolve?
Yes, hyaluronic acid fillers can be fully dissolved, though larger volumes or long-standing filler may need more than one session. After dissolving, the area returns to its natural state, sometimes looking a little deflated at first while your own hyaluronic acid recovers over the following days to weeks.
Can you dissolve filler from another clinic?
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons people come to the clinic. As long as the filler is hyaluronic acid, it can be dissolved regardless of where it was placed. Dr Chiké will assess what is there and give you an honest plan, which may be dissolving fully, correcting part of it, or starting again afresh.
Is the procedure safe?
It is safe in trained medical hands. The main consideration is a small risk of allergic reaction to hyaluronidase, which is why your history is reviewed and a patch test used where appropriate. Mild swelling, redness or bruising can occur. Having a doctor who recognises and manages any reaction is exactly why this belongs in a medical setting.
What is filler migration and can dissolving fix it?
Migration is when filler moves from where it was placed, most often seen as a shelf or fullness above the lip border. Dissolving is the correct fix: hyaluronidase removes the migrated filler so the area can be reassessed and, if you wish, treated again properly. Waiting will not reliably correct migration.
What is the Tyndall effect?
The Tyndall effect is a bluish tint that appears when filler is placed too superficially, most often under the eyes. It does not fade on its own. Dissolving the superficial filler with hyaluronidase removes the discolouration, after which the area can be treated correctly at the right depth if needed.
How soon after dissolving can I have new filler?
Wait at least two weeks after dissolving before having new filler in the area. This lets the enzyme fully clear, any swelling settle, and your own hyaluronic acid recover, so the area can be assessed accurately before fresh filler is placed. Dr Chiké will advise the right timing for you.
How many sessions will I need?
Most cases need a single session. Larger volumes, firmer or older filler, or complex corrections may need two or three. Dr Chiké will give you a realistic idea at consultation based on how much filler is there and where, and you are reassessed between sessions if more than one is needed.
Will dissolving affect my natural tissue?
Hyaluronidase can briefly affect your own natural hyaluronic acid as well as the filler, which is why the area can look a little deflated at first. This is temporary and recovers over the following days to weeks as your body replenishes its own hyaluronic acid. The effect is not permanent.
Can all fillers be dissolved?
No, only hyaluronic acid fillers. Permanent and semi-permanent fillers, and collagen stimulators such as Sculptra, cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase. This is one reason the clinic only uses hyaluronic acid filler, so any result can always be adjusted or reversed.
What if I had a filler complication like a blocked vessel?
This is a medical emergency and hyaluronidase is the urgent treatment to clear the blockage and protect the tissue. The clinic keeps the enzyme and emergency protocols on site as routine. If you ever notice severe or escalating pain, blanching, or changes in vision after filler anywhere, contact a medical injector immediately.
What can I do after dissolving if my skin feels loose?
Where overfilling has stretched the skin, a skin-quality treatment such as Profhilo or polynucleotides can help the area recover its firmness and glow once it has settled. Dr Chiké will advise whether this would help and when to start it, usually after the area has fully settled.
Arrange your consultation
If you are unhappy with filler, have lumps or migration, or want filler removed, a consultation is the place to start. Dr Chiké will assess what is there, confirm it can be dissolved, and agree an honest plan with no pressure. If you have searched for filler dissolving, how to dissolve lip filler or filler correction near me, the West Hampstead clinic is easy to reach from across North London. You can arrange a consultation online or call the clinic on 0203 196 7222.
VISIT US
Our London Clinic
- Hampstead Aesthetics West Hampstead, London NW6
- Call us 020 3196 7222
- WhatsApp 07869 730 159
- Email: info@hampsteadaesthetics.com
Reviewed by Dr Chiké Emeagi, MBBS, MRCGP, MRCS, GMC No. 4418489. Last reviewed June 2026.
This page is for information and does not replace a medical consultation. Hyaluronidase carries a small risk of allergic reaction and should only be given by a trained medical injector. Results vary from person to person and are not guaranteed. All treatments carry potential risks, which will be discussed in full before any procedure. Hampstead Aesthetics, 269 West End Lane, West Hampstead, London NW6 1QS.