Injectables
Filler Dissolving & Fat-Dissolving
Hylenex to dissolve hyaluronic-acid filler (an off-label use) and Kybella for under-chin fullness, planned at a consultation. Results vary.
Preview what's possible (illustrative only) →
Hylenex to dissolve hyaluronic-acid filler (an off-label use) and Kybella for under-chin fullness, planned at a consultation. Results vary.
Preview what's possible (illustrative only) →Not every result is the one you hoped for. At Vue Medical Spa in Salt Lake City, two corrective injectables are available: hyaluronidase (Hylenex) to dissolve hyaluronic-acid filler, and Kybella (deoxycholic acid) to reduce fullness beneath the chin. Our injectables program is led by Dr. Randal Swenson, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, and treatments are performed under his direction. Individual results vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Hylenex is a brand of hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid (HA). Many dermal fillers, including Juvéderm, Restylane and RHA, are made of HA, so hyaluronidase can break that filler down.
Off-label use. Hylenex is FDA-approved for other medical uses: to help deliver fluids under the skin, to help other injected medicines disperse and absorb, and in a type of urinary-tract imaging. Using it to dissolve filler is not an FDA-approved use. We will explain that, and your options (including letting the filler break down on its own), at your consultation.
When it's used. We offer filler dissolving when HA filler has been placed too heavily, has moved beyond where it belongs, looks lumpy or uneven, or no longer suits you. It is also one of the treatments used when filler causes a serious complication, such as blocked blood flow. Those situations need prompt medical care, and a particular outcome cannot be guaranteed.
What it does not do. Hyaluronidase works only on hyaluronic-acid products. It will not dissolve non-HA injectables such as Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid) or Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite). If you're unsure what you were treated with, your consultation is the place to sort it out.
Risks. Redness, pain, swelling and bruising at the injection site are the most common reactions. Allergic reactions such as hives or swelling have been reported in fewer than 1 in 1,000 patients, and more serious allergic reactions have been reported rarely. Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid in general, so it can also reduce your own natural hyaluronic acid in the area. Some filler may not dissolve completely, or may need more than one visit. Tell us about any allergies before treatment.
Kybella is a prescription injectable containing deoxycholic acid, a molecule found naturally in bile. It is FDA-approved to improve the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat (the “double chin”) in adults. It is not approved for fat in any other area, and we use it only under the chin.
How it works. Injected into the fat under the chin, Kybella destroys the membranes of fat cells in the treated area.
Who it suits. Before treatment we check for other causes of fullness under the chin, such as an enlarged thyroid or lymph nodes. Kybella may not be a good fit if you have a lot of loose skin or prominent neck bands, because reducing the fat could leave a result you don't like. We use extra caution if you've had surgery or other aesthetic treatment under the chin.
What to expect. Treatment is a series of small injections under the chin. The Kybella label allows up to six treatments, at least one month apart, and we tailor the number to you. Results build gradually. In the two main clinical trials, results were measured 12 weeks after the last treatment: about two-thirds of people (70% and 66.5%) improved by at least one grade on both the clinician's and the patient's rating scales, compared with about one in five on placebo (18.6% and 22.2%). Between 13% and 19% improved by two grades or more, compared with almost none to 3% on placebo. People were followed for up to 24 weeks after their last treatment.
Risks. Swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and hardness in the treated area are very common; in the trials, swelling occurred in 87% of people, bruising in 72%, pain in 70% and numbness in 66%. For some people these lasted more than 30 days: numbness in 42%, swelling in 20%, pain in 16% and hardness in 13%. Less common but more serious risks include injury to a facial nerve that can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness (4% in the trials; every reported case went away without further treatment, in 1 to 298 days), trouble swallowing (2%), nodules or lumps that may not go away and may need treatment, hair loss in the treated area, and skin sores or tissue damage if the medicine is injected too close to the surface. Kybella should not be used if there is an infection in the area.
Both treatments take about 45 minutes and need no incisions or general anesthesia. After filler dissolving, swelling, tenderness or bruising are common, and how long they last varies. After Kybella, swelling under the chin is expected, and numbness or swelling can last for weeks. We'll give you clear aftercare guidance and stay available between visits.
Plan for about 45 minutes per appointment; the number of vials depends on the correction. Member pricing available. Your final plan and price are confirmed at consultation.
Because the right amount in the wrong place, or simply too much, can change how you look and feel. Dissolving hyaluronic-acid filler can reduce an overfilled, moved or uneven result and let us reset the area, so any future filler starts from a cleaner base. How much dissolves, and how many visits it takes, varies.
It is widely used in aesthetic practice, but it is an off-label use and it carries risks. The most common reactions are redness, pain, swelling and bruising where it's injected. Allergic reactions are uncommon (fewer than 1 in 1,000 patients in the label's reports) but can happen. It can also reduce your own natural hyaluronic acid in the area, and filler may not dissolve completely. We review your health history, your allergies and what you were treated with before we start.
It varies. The Kybella label allows up to six treatments, spaced at least one month apart, and the number is tailored to your anatomy and goals. Your provider will recommend a plan after looking at how much fullness is present and what you're hoping for.
We can't promise that. Kybella destroys fat cells in the area it is injected, but the clinical studies followed people for only up to 24 weeks after their last treatment, so there is no label data on how long results last. Weight changes can also affect the area, and results vary from person to person.
The most common are swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and hardness, which for some people lasted more than 30 days. Less common but more serious risks include facial nerve injury causing an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness (4% in the trials, all resolved without further treatment), trouble swallowing (2%), lumps that may not go away, hair loss in the treated area, and skin sores or tissue damage. See the Kybella prescribing information for the full list.
No. Hyaluronidase breaks down only hyaluronic acid. Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid) and Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite) are not hyaluronic acid, so it can't dissolve them. We'll confirm what you have before recommending anything.
It depends on the treatment. After filler dissolving, swelling, tenderness or bruising are common. After Kybella, swelling under the chin is expected, and numbness or swelling can last for weeks. Both are in-office treatments with no incisions, and many people go back to their usual activities right away, though swelling under the chin can be noticeable.