Dissolving Filler in Singapore
Hyaluronidase dissolves one thing: hyaluronic acid. Everything else needs a different plan, and every correction starts with an ultrasound map of what is actually there.
Ask Dr Sin Yong on WhatsApp →Filler is dissolved in Singapore with hyaluronidase, an enzyme injected into the area that breaks down hyaluronic acid (HA) filler within hours to days. It works only on HA. Collagen stimulators (Sculptra, Ellansé), inter-layered PDLLA products and fat grafts cannot be dissolved; they are mapped by ultrasound and, where correction is needed, reduced with a laser protocol or left to resolve with time. At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong maps the area first, dissolves HA in stages, and uses Time Freeze Laser LCLR® for material that will not dissolve.
Lumps after a collagen stimulator are covered separately: Sculptra lumps and nodules.
For migrated lip, tear-trough or chin filler, see filler migration by zone.
The clinic’s treatment page for this service: filler correction and dissolving.
- Hyaluronidase degrades HA filler in a dose-dependent way; higher-crosslinked products need more enzyme and more time (DeLorenzi 2014).
- Ultrasound reliably identifies the type, depth and spread of injected fillers and their complications, and is recommended before correction (Wortsman 2015).
- Complications after filler are more often related to placement and volume than to the product itself (DeLorenzi 2013).
How filler dissolving works
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks the bonds in hyaluronic acid. Injected into HA filler, it starts working within minutes; most of the softening is seen in 24–48 hours and the area settles over one to two weeks. The dose depends on the product (firmer, more cross-linked fillers need more), the volume present and how precisely the enzyme can be placed, which is why ultrasound guidance helps.
Dissolving is done in stages when the aim is to correct rather than remove everything. A small dose first, review after a week or two, then more if needed. Taking out too much leaves a hollow that is harder to fix than the original excess.
A skin test is sometimes done first because allergy, although rare, is possible. Hyaluronidase also degrades some of your own tissue HA temporarily, so the area can look deflated for a few days before it recovers.
What cannot be dissolved
| Material | Dissolvable? | What is done instead |
|---|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid (Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero and others) | Yes | Hyaluronidase, staged |
| Poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra) | No | Time, massage if early; ultrasound mapping; laser fragmentation for persistent nodules |
| Polycaprolactone (Ellansé) | No | Mapping; laser fragmentation in selected cases; steroid injection for inflammatory nodules |
| Inter-layered PDLLA + HA (Juvelook, Lenisna) | HA part only | HA dissolved; residual layer mapped and treated with laser if needed |
| Calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) | No (partial response to sodium thiosulfate reported) | Mapping; time; laser in selected cases |
| Fat graft | No | Mapping; laser for small excess; surgical revision for large volumes |
| Permanent fillers (silicone, PMMA) | No | Specialist surgical referral |
This is the reason the first question at any correction consultation is "what was injected?" If the record is not available, ultrasound usually tells the material apart by how it reflects sound: HA appears as dark pockets, PLLA and PCL as brighter, more scattered deposits, fat as a softer, less defined area.
Why ultrasound comes first
Injecting hyaluronidase blind means guessing where the filler is and what it is. A handheld ultrasound scan takes a few minutes and shows the depth, the spread and often the type of material. It also shows whether a lump is filler at all; some are lymph nodes, cysts or scar tissue, and dissolving those does nothing.
At IN Eternity Clinic the scan is repeated before each further session, so that the enzyme or the laser is directed only at what remains. For material that cannot be dissolved, the map is what makes same-session laser correction with Time Freeze LCLR® possible: the laser is pointed at the mapped deposit rather than at the whole area.
What to expect, step by step
- Assessment. History of what was injected, when, where and by whom; photos; ultrasound map.
- Dissolving (HA). Small volumes of hyaluronidase at the mapped points; review at 1–2 weeks; repeat if needed.
- Laser correction (non-HA). For mapped deposits that cannot be dissolved, laser fragmentation in selected cases, then re-mapping.
- Rebalancing. Once the excess is gone, the face is reassessed. Lifting the descended tissue often replaces the hollow that the filler was covering, so less product is needed afterwards, if any.
Costs depend on the material, the number of zones, whether mapping is needed and how many sessions; they are explained at the consultation. The consultation fee is S$120 and is waived when a treatment is started.
Risks of dissolving
Swelling, bruising and temporary deflation are common and settle in days. Allergy to hyaluronidase is rare but real, which is why it is given in a clinic with the means to treat it. Over-dissolving leaves a hollow; staged dosing prevents it. Dissolving does not undo skin stretch from long-term over-filling, which may need lifting afterwards.
Treatment photos are not published on this website in line with Singapore’s guidelines for medical clinics. Tap the button and our clinic will send you the one-page Time Freeze before-and-after PDF privately on WhatsApp.
I want to see the Time Freeze before and after →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for filler to dissolve?
Most softening is visible within 24 to 48 hours of the hyaluronidase injection, with the area settling fully over one to two weeks. Firm, highly cross-linked fillers may need a second dose.
Can Sculptra or Ellansé be dissolved?
No. Hyaluronidase has no effect on poly-L-lactic acid or polycaprolactone. Lumps from these products are mapped by ultrasound and treated with time, massage where early, steroid injection for inflamed nodules, or laser fragmentation in selected cases.
Does dissolving filler hurt?
It is a small injection, similar to the original filler. Numbing cream is used. The area can ache and swell for a day or two afterwards.
Will my face look worse before it looks better?
Often, for a few days. Hyaluronidase also temporarily softens some of the skin’s own hyaluronic acid, so the area can look deflated before it recovers over about a week.
Can filler be dissolved on the same day as the consultation?
For hyaluronic acid, usually yes, after the ultrasound map and a discussion of what to keep. For material that cannot be dissolved, same-session laser correction is possible in selected cases.
Can I have new filler after dissolving?
It is usually better to wait two to four weeks for swelling to settle, then reassess. Many people need less than before once descended tissue has been lifted.
How much does it cost to dissolve filler in Singapore?
It depends on the amount of hyaluronidase, the number of zones and sessions, and whether ultrasound mapping and laser correction are needed. The plan and cost are set out at the consultation.
References
- DeLorenzi C. Complications of injectable fillers, part I. Aesthet Surg J 2013;33:561-575. doi:10.1177/1090820X13484492
- DeLorenzi C. Transarterial degradation of hyaluronic acid filler by hyaluronidase. Dermatol Surg 2014;40:832-841. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000000062
- Wortsman X. Identification and complications of cosmetic fillers: sonography first. J Ultrasound Med 2015;34:1163-1172. doi:10.7863/ultra.34.7.1163
These sources describe the evidence in general. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.
Book an assessment
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008. The consultation fee is waived with any medical treatment.