As we see more celebrities and people in general reversing cosmetic procedures, experts say you might see some differences in your body after lip or face fillers are dissolved or implants are removed.
Model and social media influencer Blac Chyna, whose real name is Angela White, recently opened up in an Instagram video about dissolving her face fillers in her cheeks and jawline.
“I’m just tired of the look and it’s just not flattering. It’s just not what I look like,” Chyna said in the Instagram video. “It totally changed my face and I’m just ready to get back to Angela. Blac Chyna’s Blac Chyna and I feel like I’ve outgrown that.”
Three days before, the 34-year-old uploaded another video to her Instagram about the removal of her breast implants and the illegal silicone butt injections she got when she was 19. Chyna showcased the results during her Ellements Magazine cover premiere.
“I just want all the ladies out there to know — do not get silicone shots because you can get sick, you can die, have complications, and all other crazy stuff,” Chyna said. She said that the removal procedure took more than eight hours, rather than the four she expected, because of problems with the silicone clogging the machinery. In another video, she adds, “As you can see, I got my breasts reduced. One of the best decisions I could have done in a very long time.”
Although cosmetic procedures were on the rise in 2021, the number of cosmetic dissolution or removal procedures also rose from 2021 to 2022.
In 2021, 365,000 people had breast augmentations and 148,000 people had their cosmetic procedures reversed, with 32% of those people removing their breast implants and replacing them. About 47%, or 71,000 people, removed their implants and did not have them replaced.
Other celebrities who have opened up about reversing cosmetic procedures include Courteney Cox, who had face fillers dissolved; Chrissy Teigen, who had breast implants removed; and Cardi B, who had butt injections taken out. Many people on social platforms like TikTok are sharing their experiences dissolving fillers and reversing cosmetic procedures, like Chyna.
Kimya Sasani, 29, from Toronto, dissolved her face fillers after getting them every six to 12 months and noticing that her face started to look puffy. She’s pleased with the results and said she is much happier with how she looks.
“It was relatively painless,” Sasani said. “I had an injector who was highly skilled and the pain level was very minimal for me but I also have a high pain tolerance. I noticed right away the difference because the dissolving process is instant once they inject you. I noticed right away I looked way more sculpted, especially my cheeks.”
With all the changes in cosmetic surgery trends — from lip injections to implants and filler removal — we asked plastic surgeons about the process of dissolving fillers and whether there are any risks associated with the reversals that are making headlines.
This is what experts recommend that people know before getting procedures so that they are happier with the results and less likely to have complications or want to have them removed or reversed at a later date.
The process of getting fillers — and dissolving them
Fillers, or dermal fillers, are gel-like substances that are injected to temporarily plump up the skin. They can be created from hyaluronic acid, which is a substance found naturally in our skin and tissues. Other types of fillers include calcium hydroxylapatite, which is found in bone, or poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA), a synthetic material.
The injections are typically used to smooth fine lines and crow’s feet (the wrinkles that we get around our eyes) as well as increase fullness into the lips, cheeks, chin, under-eye hollows, jawline, and the back of the hand. Generally, this popular procedure is a temporary improvement to add volume back into the face to reverse thinning that can happen with age, and it isn’t FDA-approved for use on every part of the body.
The injections can cause side effects like bruising, redness, pain, itching, swelling, and rashes. There is also a risk of more serious side effects like the possibility of an allergic reaction or accidental injection into a blood vessel, which can be potentially life-threatening. However, these effects are rare, and fillers are considered safe treatments.
“These injectables, or hyaluronic acid fillers, are temporary fillers and can last anywhere from three to 12 months, depending on the specific filler and the patient’s ability to metabolize it,” said Dr. Joshua Lampert, a plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Although people are often told fillers will dissolve on their own, the evidence is starting to show that they stick around longer than previously thought. They may also migrate over time from the original site of injection. That can lead people to end up with too much filler in their faces; others can lose their ability to tell what looks natural and what does not, also resulting in an “overfilled” look.
The good news is that many popular types of fillers can be reversed using an enzyme called hyaluronidase.
“The most common side effect of hyaluronidase injection is swelling, irritation, and redness around the site of injection,” Lampert told BuzzFeed News. “Hyaluronidase injection does have a small risk of a more serious allergic reaction and systemic effects.”
For non-hyaluronic acid fillers, a steroid injection might reverse the effects of fillers, or fillers can be surgically removed. Some fillers, including hyaluronic acid–based dermal fillers, can dissolve on their own using hyaluronidase.
Like getting fillers themselves, there are side effects when you dissolve them, regardless of whether they’re in the lips or the face.
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, moderate lumpiness or asymmetry can occur after getting fillers, which is why people either remove them or get them reinjected to fix issues.
The hashtag #lipdissolving has 73 million views on TikTok and #dissolvingfiller has 28 million views, with many people posting their stories about their experiences. Some people can have wrinkly lips after dissolving the fillers, particularly if the tissue has been overfilled for a long time.
That said, many seem satisfied with the filler-dissolving results.
“Most people who have facial filler dissolved are very happy they did,” said Dr. Anthony Youn, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Michigan who has a large following on YouTube.
Removing butt and breast implants
In general, the process of getting and removing fillers in your face or lips is easier than getting and removing breast and butt implants. Implants are made of substances that will never dissolve in the body, and they can also rupture or cause scar tissue to form and harden around them.
Unlike a Brazilian butt lift, or a BBL, which involves liposuction of fat from one area of the body and injecting it into the butt, implants involve placing devices containing silicone to change the shape, appearance, and contour of the butt. (BBLs are considered one of the more dangerous procedures because of the risk of placing fat in the wrong area. Although they can be safe if done by the right surgeon, some doctors say they no longer perform them.)
Because you can have breast or butt implants for decades, people have a lot longer to discover that they are causing health problems or are no longer working for their current body size or shape. What’s more, implants have a specific lifespan and generally need to be replaced over time anyway.
One reason people have breast implants removed is otherwise unexplained symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, chronic pain, and endocrine, autonomic, and nervous system dysfunction. Breast implant illness is thought to be a possible long-term complication of breast augmentation, typically with silicone implants; breast implant removal may alleviate symptoms. While generally considered safe after decades of research, breast implants have, in rare cases, been linked to squamous cell cancer or lymphomas in scar tissue, and the risk is higher with certain implant types.
For people who do decide to have breast implants removed, the amount of time it takes the area to heal often depends on how much scar tissue has formed around the implants, swelling, and postoperative changes.
Compared to face fillers, taking implants out may result in a more dramatic change, including loose skin and a change in shape. Additionally, the removal of implants requires a surgical procedure that can be more complicated than implant placement.
“Breast implant removal, or explant, often leaves the breast with a deflated area of central hollowing, significant subsequent breast and skin laxity, loss of projection, loss of conical shape, and proportional excess in the lateral breast,” Lampert said. “Breast implant removal alone places the patient at significant risk for resultant breast skin excess with rippling and nipple inversion, as the pocket collapses down to the chest wall.”
After the procedure, drains may be placed under the skin to drain any excess fluid and blood. Generally, healing can take up to a year — but for many people, the results are worth it.
“I must say, I’m very, very, very, very happy,” Chyna said right after her removal procedure.
Other celebrities, like Ashley Tisdale and Yolanda Hadid, have also said that health issues in general improved after they had implants removed. Tisdale had her breast implants removed in 2020 after “minor health issues,” including food sensitivity and gut issues. Hadid’s implants were leaking in her body after being ruptured, causing symptoms.
Removing butt implants may also result in changes in appearance.
“Other implants that can be removed including gluteal implants all present with the problem of skin and soft tissue stretch once removed,” Lampert said. “Over time, any implant stretches and thins the overlying skin. Once the implant is removed, the overlying skin and soft tissue can present with severe skin laxity. Implant removal can lead to indentations, contour irregularity, a depression, hanging loose skin or folds.”