MRIs Show What Happens To Facial Filler Over Time—And It’s Something Out Of Nightmares

When we think of cosmetic treatments, we often focus on the initial results and how they can immediately improve our appearance. This is how facial fillers, with their ability to give you a full, symmetrical face in a matter of hours, have gained immense popularity, especially among Gen Z and Millennial women.

And because fillers require frequent maintenance, you would be forgiven for thinking our bodies naturally break down and eliminate these substances, essentially reversing their effect and leading to the need for "topping up."

But recent studies, as well as MRI scans, suggest that the general opinion may not be entirely accurate.

So, whether you already have or are considering fillers to restore facial volume or give yourself a plumper pout, it would be wise to know what you're getting yourself into.

We're breaking down why fillers stay in our bodies for longer than we may think and discuss whether these injectable substances are truly the solution for our visible aging concerns or are a bigger problem in disguise. Let's get started.

Why Don't Fillers Dissolve?

Many misconceptions plague the world of cosmetics, particularly the skincare niche. To make matters worse, these are often fueled by unverified claims from not only skincare enthusiasts and influencers but even professionals, who more often than not directly benefit from spreading false information or don't understand the science behind certain procedures or products themselves.

One such misconception is that fillers dissolve over time, which is a claim most of us have been slapped across the face with whenever we've tried to question the long-term safety of injectables.

And because these claims are often repeated by professionals, including cosmetic doctors, many people seem to believe that fillers simply disappear into thin air after a few months, or if you cared to read a little more, that the body dissolves and expels them through a complex mechanism of enzymatic activity and elimination.

The truth, however, seems to be a little different, but there's perfectly good logic behind why.

As Wendy Ouriel, a cellular biologist and CEO and founder of OUMERE, a skincare company that specializes in reversing the aging process, explains in one of her articles, "For hyaluronic acid to dissolve, whether the hyaluronic acid is from filler injections or the cells in our body, there must be a source of hyaluronidase, a class of enzymes that specifically break down hyaluronic acid in the body."

This means that for your filler to dissolve, your body must regularly produce hyaluronidase at the injection site over a prolonged period of time.

Ouriel continues by saying that "this is where the problem begins," as your body does not want to produce hyaluronidase regularly because doing so would cause your skin and other organs to break down. This is because hyaluronic acid is a natural component that's abundant in our bodies. In fact, it's an integral part of our cell structure and serves as scaffolding to our muscles and bones in the form of a "web" called the extracellular matrix.

If your body were to produce hyaluronidase in large amounts all the time, you'd experience a rapid breakdown of your skin and joints.

But if your body were to produce hyaluronidase in large amounts all the time, not only would you become more susceptible to infections, but you'd also experience a rapid breakdown of your skin and joints.

Fortunately, our bodies are incredibly smart, and instead of putting our lives in danger by risking infections, our bodies prioritize maintaining hyaluronic acid and don't overproduce hyaluronidase.

This is why, when your doctor injects hyaluronic acid (or fillers) into your skin, it doesn't dissolve and disappear in a matter of months, as some may claim. Instead, the filler migrates through frequent touching and rubbing and settles in various parts of your face, usually in areas with limited blood flow, which naturally receive less hyaluronidase, leaving fillers intact longer. In fact, recent MRI scans confirm that fillers can persist for years, especially around the eyes, but also in other areas surrounding the injection site, such as the cheeks and lips.

A now viral TikTok in which oculoplastic surgeon Kami Parsa shows the MRI scans of a woman who had hyaluronic acid injected into her face over the past six years very clearly captures what the doctor describes as "more than twice the amount of filler that was originally injected" still present.

He continues to explain that because hyaluronic acid is hydrophilic, which means it attracts water, as it migrates through the body, it gathers more and more water molecules, making the filler look larger over time and leading to what we know as "pillow face," a facial characteristic visible in many seasoned filler users, including the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, Chrissy Teigen, Madonna, and Jennifer Aniston.

A similar discovery was also reported a little over a year ago when a 60-year-old journalist, filler enthusiast, and founder of The Tweakments Guide, an online platform that provides tips on reversing the signs of aging, found out that she had around 35 ml of artificial hyaluronic acid stuck in her facial tissues.

What began as a curiosity-induced MRI scan turned into a shocking discovery. Alice Hart-Davis says that after the doctor "pressed a few buttons and helpfully deleted the underlying image of my face on the screen," the image that stared right back at her was a framework of filler that looked like a macabre mask – filler than she had gotten throughout the past 20 years.

Not only did Alice realize she had a disturbingly large amount of filler in her face, but the amount of filler stuck in her face was more than all the filler she'd ever received put together, which was again attributed to hyaluronic acid being hydrophilic.

So, although many studies "confirm" that the particles inside the substance making up the filler are fully dissolvable by the body's natural processes, being shown that all the filler you've ever injected is not only still present in your body years later but has also absorbed enough water to expand underneath your skin is a scary realization. It has left many of us questioning the legitimacy of such studies and the professionals who perpetuate these claims while continuing to offer up their "safe" services.

Yes, Filler Is Actually Aging You

Apart from the misconception that fillers simply disappear from our bodies, even when used long-term, another common misconception is that they will keep you looking younger and plumper.

While Botox does a great job in paralyzing the muscles it targets, preventing them from moving and creating dynamic or deeper lines and wrinkles, filler does not have the same effect. Filler is used to restore volume in the face, which is why it's a popular treatment for areas that are thinning due to aging or naturally don't have much volume, such as some people's lips.

However, with filler not technically being cleared by the body and instead migrating to various areas and settling in tissues, it can contribute to an aged appearance, rather than the opposite. This is because when areas such as the lips, cheeks, or even under the eyes are overfilled or stuffed with old filler, they will become puffy and stick out. When light hits the face, the areas sticking out will cause shadows in other areas, such as the nasolabial folds or the lines to the sides of the chin, making them appear more prominent, thus exacerbating the aged appearance. So, while fillers can help restore volume in some facial areas like the cheeks, they won't necessarily make you look younger and may even add years to your appearance.

Safe Filler Alternatives To Incorporate into Your Daily Routine

If you’re concerned about the potential risks and aging effects of filler, there are alternatives that can help in maintaining a more youthful appearance for longer without the use of injectables. Some effective options include high-quality skincare products that target specific concerns, such as loss of elasticity or fine lines and wrinkles, and can help refine and improve the overall complexion.

Topically applied hyaluronic acid can visibly plump your complexion by preventing moisture in the skin from evaporating.

Retinoids, peptides, and topically applied hyaluronic acid are all fantastic options that can be integrated into a daily skincare routine, with the first two directly stimulating collagen production, making the skin tighter, bouncier, and younger from the inside out, while the latter attaches itself to moisture in the skin, holds it down from evaporating through its surface, and visibly plumps the complexion, making it look and feel softer, smoother, and more hydrated.

Another great alternative to fillers is professional treatments like collagen-induction therapy or microneedling, which can be done on a monthly basis and delivers noticeable results in improving skin texture, firmness, and overall appearance.

Finally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by enriching your daily menu with collagen-boosting foods such as bone broth, fish, and citrus fruits, staying hydrated throughout the day, getting enough quality sleep, and avoiding inflammatory habits such as overindulging in sugary foods and alcohol, and living in a prolonged state of stress, can all contribute to a youthful and radiant complexion (and improve your overall health!).

Closing Thoughts

While fillers may seem like a quick and easy solution for restoring volume and achieving a more youthful appearance, recent discoveries point to the fact that this can come at a great cost over time and not just in terms of financial investment.

With many options that won't cost you your health in the long run available, thinking twice before committing yourself to the needle may be the best decision you can make to maintain a beautiful and natural-looking appearance, no matter your age.