Mabrie Facial Institute 166 Geary Street Floor 1300 San Francisco, CA 94108 Phone: (415) 445-9513 Text/SMS: (866) 618-9459 Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
When filler doesn’t look or feel right, you want it fixed—safely and beautifully. At Mabrie Facial Institute, Dr. David Mabrie and our team specialize in dissolving and correcting filler for patients who’ve had disappointing results elsewhere. With over 20 years of injectable experience, Dr. Mabrie is one of California’s most trusted filler correction specialists and the top choice for clinicians seeking expert care for their patients in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are dissolved using an enzyme called hyaluronidase (Hylenex®). This enzyme works by breaking down the filler into a liquid form that the body can naturally absorb. The process begins almost immediately with noticeable effects often seen within hours. Complete correction may require multiple treatments depending on the amount and location of the filler.
The MFI approach to filler correction often involves dissolving fillers with Hylenex and re-treating the area. In some cases, we can carefully dissolve a few millimeters of filler to make a huge difference in your results. Dr. Mabrie uses his experience to determine the safest and most effective approach for each patient.
Do You Offer Ultrasound-Guided Filler Removal?
Yes, Mabrie Facial Institute offers ultrasound-guided filler dissolving. While it can help map filler in certain cases, the real key to safe and effective filler dissolving is Dr. Mabrie’s experience as a facial plastic surgeon and one of the most recognized experts in filler correction and injectables.
Why Experience Matters
Unlike clinics that occasionally offer dissolving, MFI is a referral destination for both patients and other providers.
Typical Medspa
Mabrie Facial Institute
Experience
Injectors may only dissolve filler occasionally.
Dr. Mabrie has 20+ years focused exclusively on injectables and has corrected hundreds of cases.
Training
Often limited to weekend courses or basic product training.
Board-certified head and neck surgeon with training from UCSF, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford.
Approach
Quick fix: flood the area with hyaluronidase, little follow-up.
Careful, staged correction with the Illumination 360°™ approach to restore natural balance.
Technology
May rely on ultrasound as a marketing tool.
Ultrasound available as an optional visualization aid, but results come from experience, not gadgets.
Trust
Patients treated as one-time visits.
Referral destination for patients and providers who need expert correction; long-term follow-up care.
Why Didn’t Fillers (Elsewhere) Work for Me?
Unfortunately, many providers try to do too much with fillers all at once. This can result in overfilling, and filler that spreads out or pools in the wrong areas. We have all seen people with that “puffed up” look that can happen when fillers aren’t carefully layered in stages.
At MFI, we take our time over the course of at least two appointments, carefully sculpting your contours and allowing plenty of time for swelling to subside in between treatments. This, combined with our extensive training and experience, enables us to create ideal contours, smooth transitions, and balanced results that look amazing but not obvious.
In more than 20 years of specializing in fillers, we have seen (and corrected) every complication possible, and have the clinical judgment and artistry to not only dissolve filler, but also rebuild results.
What Can Hyaluronidase Treat?
Hyaluronidase can correct unwanted results from hyaluronic acid filler, including overfilling, migration, lumps, and rare complications. At Mabrie Facial Institute, we use Hylenex to address a wide range of filler concerns:
Overfilling – “pillow face” or features that look unnatural or exaggerated
Migration – filler that has shifted from its intended area
Tyndall effect – bluish tint or shadowing, often under the eyes
Asymmetry – uneven or imbalanced filler placement
Vascular risk – urgent correction if filler compromises blood flow
Dr. Mabrie’s experience allows him to safely manage everything from subtle cosmetic concerns to complex complications. While hyaluronidase can be used anywhere HA filler was placed, the most common treatment areas are the lips, under eyes, and cheeks.
Dissolving Lip Filler With Hyaluronidase
When it comes to filler, the lips can be one of the most commonly overdone or incorrectly treated areas of the face. This is why most of us are familiar with terms like “duck lips” and “trout pout.” It’s so common, in fact, that in some circles, the overdone look has almost become the norm.
At MFI, most of the patients we treat prefer a natural lip appearance, but even for patients that may want a more dramatic lip augmentation, there are some important parameters that must be observed when we inject lip filler.
It’s important for most of the filler to be in the red or vermillion portion of the lip. When filler is placed or migrates to the surrounding white portion of the lip, it can look unnatural and give the appearance of duck lips.
Fortunately, for cases where hyaluronic acid filler is used, if there is too much filler or placed in an unwanted portion of the lips, the results can be reversed by dissolving the filler using a substance called hyaluronidase (Hylenex).
This patient's former provider overfilled the upper lip and placed filler outside the border, resulting in the elimination of her "cupid’s bow." Over two appointments, we dissolved the excess filler, then created the dramatically full yet naturally shaped lips she wanted.
This woman's lips were overfilled at another practice. We injected Hylenex with particular emphasis on the center, edges, and outer white borders. This improved overall definition and contour. Our Injectors later refilled the lips to achieve natural-looking fullness.
This woman's upper lip was overfilled by an outside injector, and the filler extended beyond the lip border, creating the appearance of "duck lips". Hylenex injections restored a more natural projection and border.
Dissolving Under Eye Filler With Hyaluronidase
The skin under the eyes is very thin, and thus filler under the eyes needs to be placed meticulously and conservatively—ideally over the course of at least two appointments. Patients come to us with complications from outside injectors, including:
Too much filler, causing contour irregularities that worsen under eye shadows
Improperly placed or too much filler causing or exacerbating under eye bags
Filler placed at an inappropriate depth causing a visible bluish tint called the Tyndall effect
Lumps, bumps, and asymmetry
We can dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers under the eyes using hyaluronidase injections. Fillers like Sculptra® or RADIESSE®, which are not made from hyaluronic acid, cannot be dissolved.
We placed two rounds of Hylenex under this woman's eyes to remove poorly placed filler from another practice that was causing a bluish tint (Tyndall effect). Once fully dissolved, we refilled the area with HA filler over the course of two appointments, paying close attention to its placement.
After incorrectly placed under eye fillers only highlighted the areas she wanted to correct, this lovely woman in her 40s turned to MFI to fix it. We dissolved the filler and skillfully achieved the natural, rejuvenated appearance she was hoping for.
Misplaced filler from another provider caused this woman to experience under eye puffiness and a bluish hue (Tyndall effect). We applied two rounds of hyaluronidase to remove the previously placed filler, then Restylane was re-added to create a more smooth, natural looking result.
This patient had gray/blue swelling under the eyes (Tyndall effect) from filler placed too superficially under the skin by an outside injector. We dissolved the filler with Hylenex injections, then added filler under the eye in the correct plane.
The MFI Advantage
Trained in facial plastic surgery at UCSF, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford, Dr. David Mabrie brings over two decades of focused injectable expertise. Patients and providers across the Bay Area turn to MFI for safe, artful, and lasting filler corrections that restore natural balance and confidence.
How Much Does It Cost To Dissolve Under Eye or Lip Filler?
Cost for dissolving filler with hyaluronidase at MFI varies depending on how much product is needed. Visit our site’s dedicated pricing page for updated price information on all our procedures. Pricing for hyaluronidase injections does not include any additional filler used after dissolving your old filler. We offer ultrasound-guided filler correction for an additional $500 fee.
Qualified borrowers may be eligible for 0% financing for 6 to 12 months through CareCredit and Alphaeon medical financing.
Dissolving Fillers
Consultation and Planning for Your Corrective Injections
Pre-Treatment Considerations
Corrective work, especially when dissolving filler, is a process that can involve dissolving over multiple appointments and re-treating, if desired. It’s important that patients be informed and prepared before deciding on treatment. A few things to consider:
Multiple Visits – Depending on the treatment area and extent of correction required, be prepared for a minimum of 2 to 3 visits.
Your results could look worse before looking better – Treatment areas could temporarily appear more sunken after dissolving filler.
Consider the timing – Since swelling is common after filler treatment, it’s best to wait at least 2 weeks before deciding whether you want your fillers dissolved.
Your Filler Dissolving Procedure
Some individuals come to us specifically because they are interested in dissolving fillers received elsewhere. In other cases, our skilled Injectors observe poorly placed or problematic filler as part of our Illumination 360° process of examining your face from every angle in extremely bright light. In either case, we will carefully mark your face to indicate where to inject the Hylenex.
Dissolving the filler involves a quick injection into the offending filler, which will break down and subside right away. This involves a little discomfort, but we offer a variety of options to keep you comfortable. The appointment takes 30 to 60 minutes, and we typically schedule a second appointment to evaluate your results and re-treat with filler.
Your Lips or Under Eyes Require Multiple Treatments
When trying to correct bad filler results and give you the results you originally sought, there are two steps involved:
Remove/dissolve previous filler
Re-treat with filler in the appropriate amount and placement
Each of these steps can take up to two treatments, so you may require two, three, or four visits.
Examples of Two+ Treatment Process for Lips
Before
Filler Dissolved by MFI
Filler Replaced by MFI
Examples of Two+ Treatment Process for Under Eyes
Before
Filler Dissolved by MFI
Filler Replaced by MFI
Preparing for Your Procedure
For the best experience, follow these tips in advance of your appointment:
A few days before your appointment, restrict blood thinners such as anti-inflammatories, fish oil, and alcohol. Limiting these will reduce your risk of bruising from injections.
DO NOT discontinue prescribed, medically necessary, medications.
Eat and drink a normal breakfast or lunch prior to your appointment; low blood sugar can make patients lightheaded during treatment
Recovery & Aftercare
You may experience redness, bruising, and swelling after your corrective injections. These should go away within a day or two. Other side effects may occur, and we’ll be sure to discuss these with you before your treatment.
Swelling
Some patients may experience swelling after Hylenex injections
This may cause temporary asymmetry, lumps, or bumps
Will gradually resolve to reveal your final results over the first 24 hours
Bruising
Bruising is normal but uncommon, and should resolve in a few days
Redness & Discomfort
Often minimal and lasting just a few days
Your treated areas may be tender to the touch
Downtime
No downtime required
May return to work immediately after treatment
May resume normal exercise the next day
Because we know you have questions about what you should and shouldn’t do after treatment, we created an entire page dedicated to injectables aftercare.
Aftercare Pro Tips
Safety
One of the reasons we have Hylenex at our disposal is as a safety precaution. One of the rare risks involved with dermal fillers is a complication called vascular occlusion. This is when an artery or vein is blocked by filler, restricting blood flow to the tissues in the area. This can quickly lead to tissue necrosis (death) if it isn’t recognized and treated quickly. This risk is somewhat higher in non surgical rhinoplasty, or when an injector is not extremely familiar with the vascular anatomy of the treatment area.
Before
After Occlusion
After Treatment with Hylenex
At Mabrie Facial Institute, we have the experience and training to generally avoid complications like vascular occlusion. However, that experience and training also enable us to look for and identify signs of vascular occlusion and immediately dissolve the filler with Hylenex if there is any risk.
Dissolving Filler FAQs
Can I dissolve my filler?
Hyaluronidase works on HA fillers, including all the products in the JUVÉDERM and Restylane families. Hyaluronidase injections will not dissolve RADIESSE, Sculptra, or transferred fat. It also has no effect on BOTOX or other neuromodulators.
How long does hyaluronidase take to work?
The Hylenex injection turns the filler from a gel-like substance into a liquid-like substance immediately upon contact. The body may then take 1 to 2 hours to absorb the liquid. When dissolving filler, the average patient requires 1 to 2 treatments, and you should wait 1 to 2 days between treatments. We usually wait 1 to 3 weeks before adding more filler.
Should I dissolve my fillers or wait?
If you’re dissatisfied with your results, your original provider should make things right for you. However, if they are unwilling or untrained in revision/correction of dermal fillers, you’ll have to choose whether to wait it out or seek corrective treatment elsewhere.
Will hyaluronidase dissolve my own tissue?
No, hyaluronidase does not dissolve fat, muscle, collagen, or other tissues. It works specifically on hyaluronic acid, which is the same substance that makes up hyaluronic acid fillers.
Does hyaluronidase affect my body’s natural hyaluronic acid?
Yes, hyaluronidase can temporarily break down some of your body’s own hyaluronic acid in addition to the filler, but this effect is short-lived. Your body naturally replaces its hyaluronic acid every 24 to 48 hours, so levels quickly return to normal.
Are hyaluronidase effects permanent?
No – hyaluronidase works quickly, starting within minutes to hours, but its effects on your natural hyaluronic acid resolve within a couple of days. That’s why it is considered a safe and effective treatment for dissolving filler.
What if I need more than one treatment to dissolve my filler?
In some cases, especially with larger amounts of filler or certain filler types, more than one session may be needed to fully dissolve the product. Dr. Mabrie will guide you through the safest approach for your individual needs.
We’d Love To See You
If you’re ready to talk to an expert about correcting fillers from another injector, request a consultation online or call us at
(415) 445-9513 to schedule your appointment. If you’ll be visiting us from outside the area, you’re in good company, and our Fly in for Your Procedure page was created just for you to help make planning your trip as smooth as possible.
A Reputation Built on Results
These guys are total pros — you can fully trust their aesthetic eye. They weren’t pushy at all and were...
I felt very relaxed and comfortable at Dr. Mabrie’s office and was confident in his expertise! Vivian...
Crystal was so sweet and helpful for this whole process. I was so nervous but she was great!
I cannot recommend Dr. Mabrie and Lyndsey enough! From my very first consultation to the final result,...
