One of the advantages hyaluronic acid fillers have over other substances that could be used as fillers is how easy it is to correct or remove if the need arises. If a reaction or complication arises such as blood vessel occlusion or wrong placement; or even if the client just changes his or her mind and wants the filler removed, hyaluronic acid can easily be dissolved using filler dissolvers.
The main filler dissolver currently in the market is hyaluronidase. It is an enzyme that specifically breaks down hyaluronic acid. It was generally used for increasing the absorption of other drugs such as anesthesia, but since the increase in demand for hyaluronic acid fillers, it has also gained a lot of use in dissolving those fillers when needed.
Hyaluronidase is approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration for the purposes of subcutaneous fluid infusion, as an adjuvant to accelerate the absorption and dispersion of drugs in subcutaneous tissue or to manage extravasation, and as an adjunct to promote the absorption of contrast media in urinary tract angiography. It has also been approved and used for the purpose of increasing hematoma absorption in Europe. Even though these are the current approved uses with the US FDA. It is also commonly used in dissolving hyaluronic acid fillers, treating granulomatous foreign body reactions, and avoiding skin necrosis associated with filler injections by dissolving the fillers.
What is Liporase?
Liporase is a hyaluronidase product created by the South Korean company, Daehan New Pharm. It is mainly used in dissolving unwanted hyaluronic acid fillers. Since it only targets synthetic hyaluronic acid, it won’t affect the body’s own hyaluronic acid. It usually works fast in dissolving the fillers and effects can be seen within 24-48 hours depending on the filler placement, and amount of crosslinks.
Other than for removal of hyaluronic acid, Liporase has also been used as a booster to fat dissolving injections. Liporase enhances the effectiveness of fat dissolving injections by facilitating the fat’s absorption into the body.
Liporase comes in a powder form and the correct dosage has to be calculated based on the following factors:
- Hyaluronic acid concentration
- Amount of hyaluronic acid in the treatment sites
- Amount of cross-linking
- Filler injection quality.
The recommended dose of Liporase is 1 vial of hyaluronidase mixed with 3cc of saline to dissolve 3cc of hyaluronic acid.
What are the side effects of Liporase?
Common side effects of hyaluronidase include:
- Bleeding
- Blistering
- pain in the injection site
- Swelling
- Discoloration
- Warm skin on the injection site
- Itching
- Rash
- Tenderness
- Lumps
- Numbness
- Soreness
If any of these symptoms persist or if they become unbearable, you may contact your doctor. Some rare side effects to hyaluronidase can include:
- Cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- hives or welts
- itching
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- redness of the skin
- skin rash
- tightness in the chest
- unusual tiredness or weakness
If you get any of these side effects, contact your doctor immediately.