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Ultrasound Guided Filler Dissolve
in Woodland Hills, CA

Enhanced Safety. Exquisite Results.

What Could Go Wrong? Understanding the Risks of Injectable Treatments

Ultrasound is becoming the standard of care in the aesthetic realm for patient safety. Injectable treatments, such as dermal filler, have become a mainstay in the aesthetic space, allowing patients a minimally invasive option to enhance their appearance. However, like any medical procedure, there are risks associated with injectable treatments. If dermal filler is injected into a blood vessel, it can have serious consequences including skin necrosis and blindness. Dermal fillers may also be inadvertently injected into the wrong depth, causing issues such as a nodule, migration or an aesthetically displeasing result. Ultrasound guidance is critical for a targeted dissolve of problematic or unwanted HLA-based dermal filler.

At Luminous Medical Aesthetics in Woodland Hills Dr. Shaden uses ultrasound to identify dermal filler and uses ultrasound to guide the needle in real time to safely inject hyaluronidase while avoiding blood vessels to provide safe and effective results.

Your Ideal Treatment Made Better

Ultrasound Guided Dissolves

Ultrasound guidance for the reversal of migrated, unwanted, or problematic dermal fillers is crucial for effective results and safety. Ultrasound allows Dr. Shaden to locate the small aliquots of dermal filler in the face, and more importantly, will enable her to guide the needle into the specific sites requiring dissolve. Using ultrasound removes the guesswork of filler dissolve, which otherwise relies on flooding the area with the dissolving enzyme. Ultrasound guidance allows real-time identification of filler pockets and blood vessels to determine the safest needle entry points and depth to inject the hyaluronidase/dissolving enzyme precisely.

How Long Does It Take to See Results After Filler Dissolve?

Some patients report an immediate relief of pressure, decreased swelling, improved breathing, resolution or improvement of a nodule, shadow, subtle asymmetry. Results often continue to improve over the next 48 hours to 1 week as your body continues to break down the filler and the post-procedure swelling improves.

What are the risks and side effects of dissolving fillers?

Hyaluronidase is an enzyme used off-label to dissolve hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler. Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid into sugars that can then be excreted by your body. Your native/natural hyaluronic acid and previous treatments you wish to preserve could also be dissolved. You could notice reduced skin elasticity and volume if some of your natural hyaluronic acid is degraded. However, native hyaluronic acid typically regenerates within a few days. It is common to have minor bleeding, bruising, some swelling or edema, and redness near the injection site(s). Some may have an allergic reaction to hyaluronidase; a skin test done before dissolving can often determine if there is an allergy.

How Much Dissolving Enzyme Do I Need?

The amount of dissolving enzyme needed varies from person to person. Factors that impact the amount of dissolving enzyme needed include the amount of dermal filler to dissolve, the type of dermal filler used, and the end goal of the patient.

How much does it cost to dissolve?

Price varies case by case. At Luminous Medical Aesthetics we charge a base fee for the ultrasound guidance for the dissolve and per vial of dissolving enzyme used in the session. More than one session may be needed. Dermal filler placement can be a one and done appointment, however, dermal filler dissolve can be a journey depending on the type and amount of dermal filler that needs to be dissolved.

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Place Your Trust In Good Hands

Ultrasound During Your Appointment

During your dermal filler dissolve appointment, Dr. Shaden performs a targeted ultrasound to evaluate the area of concern (nodule, lump, area of puffiness, etc.) to identify sites of dermal filler and assess the vessels. Ultrasound guidance is used to visualize the vessels and determine the safest needle entry point to inject the dissolving enzyme. Ultrasound is used throughout the dissolve appointment to guide the needle in real time into the dermal filler target. Ultrasound is also used at follow-up appointments to evaluate the interval improvement and assess for any residual filler.

Next-Level Personalization

Your Ultrasound Procedure

Ultrasound is a safe, painless, and no radiation imaging modality used in Radiology. A thin layer of clear ultrasound gel is applied to the handheld ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer is placed on the area of concern and the images are evaluated for the vascular anatomy, presence, and location of dermal filler, or nodule evaluation. The gel is wiped clean. After cleansing the skin, using a sterile technique, ultrasound-guided technology is used to guide needle placement to the ideal location for targeted dermal filler dissolve. 

woodland hills Ultrasound Guided Technology patient receiving treatment

Exquisitely & Authentically You

Ultrasound-Guided Filler Dissolve Results

Results can vary. Some patients report an immediate relief of pressure or decreased swelling. Results continue to improve over the next 48 hours to 1 week post dissolve as the body continues to break down the filler and the post-procedure swelling improves. Follow-up treatments may be needed.

Rejuvenation Without Downtime

Ultrasound-Guided Dissolve Recovery and Aftercare

Following the dermal filler dissolve with ultrasound-guided technology, patients may notice some mild swelling, redness, or bruising around injection sites. These minor side effects will typically resolve within a few hours to a few days after your treatment.

You should avoid strenuous exercise and extreme heat for 24 hours but will be able to return to your regular daily activities immediately after your appointment. It is important to keep injection sites clean while they heal.

Ultrasound Guided Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, absolutely. Ultrasound guidance allows for targeted injection of the dissolving enzyme rather than flooding the area with hyaluronidase. Blood vessels are identified and avoided using ultrasound-guidance with safe needle entry points.

Your ultrasound-guided dermal filler dissolve treatment takes approximately two hours.

If a follow up dissolve is needed, it can be done as early as 3 days later.

Yes, if desired. Dr. Shaden suggests waiting approximately 2 weeks after dissolve.

While it is generally considered safe to fly after a filler dissolve treatment, the change in cabin pressure during a flight may exacerbate swelling and bruising. It may be beneficial to wait a few days before flying, if possible, to allow any initial swelling or bruising to subside.

To minimize bruising, avoid blood-thinning medications like aspirin or ibuprofen, fish oil or vitamin E for at least a week prior, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after your appointment. If you are taking any prescription blood thinners, consult your primary care physician prior to discontinuing any medication. You may consider taking Arnica supplements to potentially reduce bruising.

Yes, as long as the dermal filler is a hyaluronic acid-based filler and can be identified, it can be dissolved.

Some people may be unhappy with their dermal fillers due to visible lumps, shadows, or swelling. In rare cases, the immune system may react to the filler months or years later, causing redness, swelling, or soreness. While antibiotics or steroids can help, dissolving the filler is typically necessary. Some may choose to dissolve filler before surgery. If there is worsening pain or skin color changes after filler placement, immediate dissolution may be needed as this could indicate a vascular blockage. Always contact your injector if you suspect a problem.

Glowing Reviews

“Dr. Shaden is an absolute gem among providers with the type of integrity that is very difficult to find in the aesthetics industry. Especially in LA. I came to her office somewhat hopeless about my situation. Over the years, the accumulation of poorly placed fillers had slowly distorted my features. Other providers would tell me that what I was seeing was normal aging and that the solution was actually to add more filler, making the issue worse and worse.

Dr. Shaden was able to use ultrasound imaging of my facial tissue to confirm what I had known deep down all along: there were pockets of filler throughout my face swelling up and causing lymphatic blockage and distortion. Although I have read horror stories about dissolvers going wrong, I felt absolutely no hesitation dissolving the product with Dr Shaden, who was exceptionally knowledgeable. The ultrasound imaging is a game changer, and allows the filler to be precisely targeted while avoiding the surrounding tissue.

I have attempted dissolving treatment with another provider in the past and I can say their technique does not even come close to Dr Shaden, who was able to detect and dissolve problematic pockets of filler that the other provider had left behind. Only one day after dissolving, I already feel I look so much prettier, younger, and alive. Even though I have some slight bruising, a complete stranger complimented me on my skin and told me I was glowing! To anyone nervous about dissolving their filler, you have nothing to worry about with Dr Shaden. I promise you will be happy you did!”

— An

“10/10 experience! WOW. It’s hard finding someone with ultrasound guidance experience & Dr. Shaden not only has that but is also so sweet, informative, comforting and patient. Highly recommend!”

— Huda Hassan

"It was such a tremendous relief finding Dr. Shaden. Which seems to be the trend. After reading her reviews and similar stories of migrated filler, pain and discomfort — many who, like me, had numerous appointments with other clinicians to no avail — I booked an appointment with her. From the moment I walked into her office, I felt safe, and I knew she would be able to help me. It was immediately obvious how much she cared. Her commitment to this field, in terms of what needs to be the standard of care and ethics, gives me such hope. As she put it, “when we learn more, we do better,” and that is such a rare level of passion and consciousness in almost any profession. It doesn't have to be the way it is, it can be done differently, and Dr. Shaden is proof of that. So again, thank you Dr. Shaden, for your expertise, your willingness, and your humanity."

— Victoria

"Dr. Shaden is an angel. I’m dealing with a complicated issue and have been going to other clinics before Luminous that also have ultrasound guidance as well that could not fully resolve the issue. I was losing hope. I was frustrated, depressed and on the brink of losing my mind. Dr. Shaden is exceptionally skillful with the Ultrasound guidance and her expertise is like night and day compared to other clinics and she is overall very knowledgeable. She took her time and worked on me. She never rushed through and was very meticulous. She has a good bedside manner and most importantly she was empathetic which I find rare these days with physicians. With her, I feel like I’m on the road to recovery and seeing the light. Pleaseee don’t hesitate to book with her. I make a 1.5 drive to see her every time and it’s very well worth it. I’m definitely recommending all my friends and family to her."

— V. Lee

"I went in to have old migrated filler removed as well as uneven new filler I didn't like. Dr. Shaden spoke to me about my concerns first, let me go on and on about what I liked, what I hoped for, etc. I asked for what I thought was impossible, i asked to be left with some filler at the end and she did just that. She evened me out, smoothened my migrated filler while leaving some in the right areas, she explained everything as she went along. She checked in with me through out. I am so happy that I went to her! I am a bruiser and had minimal bruising! I was shocked. Thank you so much Dr. Shaden."

— Monic Munoz