A filler dissolving consultation at Core Aesthetics is an individual clinical assessment of existing filler, what is present, how it has settled, and whether dissolution is the appropriate next step. The dissolving procedure is not performed at the consultation. Suitability and approach are individually determined by Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse. Results vary.
Not everyone who attends a filler dissolving consultation wants their filler dissolved because it looks obviously wrong. Some do. But others are not sure what they have, how much of it is filler and how much is their own anatomy, and whether dissolving is actually what they need or whether it is simply the first option they thought of.
The dissolving consultation at Core Aesthetics is an assessment, not a booking for a procedure. The goal of the consultation is to understand the full picture before any clinical decision is made.
In some cases, the recommendation at the end of that consultation is to dissolve. In others, it is to wait. In others still, it is to add structure in a different area, which shifts the balance of the face and addresses the concern without removing anything. Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse, has 30 years of clinical experience and approaches this conversation without a commercial preference for any particular outcome.
What the Consultation Assesses
Before any decision is made about dissolving, Corey assesses the existing state of your face, not just the area you are concerned about.
What is actually present. Filler is temporary but not invisible on assessment. Corey evaluates the volume distribution across the face, identifies areas where filler has been placed based on clinical presentation, and distinguishes between filler-related fullness and age-related or anatomical change. This distinction matters because dissolving filler does not correct change that was already present before treatment.
How the filler has settled. Filler placed recently behaves differently from filler placed two or three years ago. Filler in well-perfused areas behaves differently from filler in areas of denser tissue. The assessment takes the timeline and context of your treatment history into account.
Whether dissolving is the right tool. The dissolving procedure is a clinical tool with specific appropriate uses. It is not a correction for every kind of dissatisfaction, and it carries clinical risk. Corey assesses whether the concern you have is likely to be addressed by dissolving, whether dissolving is likely to produce the outcome you want, and whether there are alternatives that better address the problem.
What follows dissolution, if it proceeds. For many patients, dissolving is not the end of the treatment story, it is a reset before re-treatment. The consultation covers what a realistic post-dissolution picture looks like and what, if any, follow-up treatment would be clinically appropriate.
When Dissolving Is Clinically Appropriate
Dissolving existing filler is not always the right answer, but it is sometimes the only one. The circumstances where it is most clearly appropriate include:
Filler that has migrated from its original placement. Some presentations indicate that product has moved from where it was originally placed, most commonly in areas that involve significant movement or have had high volumes placed over multiple sessions. When migration has created an appearance that cannot be improved by time or by adding structure elsewhere, dissolution addresses the problem directly.
A result that is actively causing concern rather than simply not meeting expectations. There is a difference between filler that a patient likes less than they hoped for and filler that is genuinely problematic. The former is often best managed by waiting and review. The latter may require earlier intervention.
Filler in an area where re-treatment is planned and the existing volume is not a good foundation. Sometimes the question is not whether to dissolve, but whether dissolving now makes the eventual re-treatment more likely to succeed.
The dissolving procedure uses a prescription enzyme to break down hyaluronic acid-based filler. This technical fact is worth knowing because it means the procedure applies only to filler made from that substance, which is the most commonly used filler type. It does not apply to other filler types, which are assessed separately.
When Dissolving Is Not the Recommendation
The consultation exists to surface cases where dissolving is not the right answer, and there are more of these than most patients expect.
When the patient’s concern relates to anatomy rather than filler. Some concerns that patients attribute to past filler, facial heaviness, asymmetry, the sense that the face doesn’t look right, reflect anatomical change, skin ageing, or bone structure rather than the presence of filler. Dissolving in these cases removes filler that was not the problem and leaves everything else unchanged.
When the filler is settling normally and will continue to change. Filler placed in the last six months often looks different at six months than it did at week two. Patients who are unhappy at one month are not always unhappy at six. The consultation includes an honest conversation about whether waiting is a better option than acting.
When the concern is actually about proportion rather than volume. Adding structure to a different area, restoring support to a collapsing mid-face, for example, can change the relationship between areas of the face in a way that makes previously problematic filler look more appropriate in context.
What to Bring to the Consultation
The more information you can provide about your treatment history, the more useful the consultation will be. If you know where you were treated, approximately when, and approximately how much was used, that context is helpful. If you do not know, Corey can work with what is visible on clinical assessment.
Photographs, if you have them, of your face before the treatment you are concerned about can be useful. They are not required, but they allow a direct comparison between your baseline presentation and your current one.
You do not need a referral or a letter from your previous practitioner. The consultation is a fresh individual assessment.
After the Consultation
If the consultation recommends dissolving and you decide to proceed, a separate treatment appointment is booked. Dissolving is not performed at the consultation appointment.
The post-dissolution follow-up allows Corey to assess how the face has responded before any decision is made about whether to proceed with filler again, in what areas, and in what amount. Not all patients re-treat. Some patients dissolve and find that the result without filler is what they actually wanted. Some re-treat in the same areas. Some re-treat in different areas that were not part of the original plan. The follow-up appointment is where that determination is made.
Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse (NMW0001047575), is the sole treating practitioner at Core Aesthetics. All consultations and treatments are performed personally. Core Aesthetics is at 12A Atherton Road, Oakleigh VIC 3166, open Tuesday to Saturday by appointment.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- Patients unhappy with existing filler from any clinic who want an honest independent assessment
- Patients with a specific concern they believe is filler-related and want assessed clinically
- Patients who had filler that has migrated or looks unnatural and want to understand the options
- Patients planning re-treatment and wanting to assess whether dissolution first is appropriate
This may not be for you if
- Anyone under 18
- Patients who want a same-day dissolving procedure without a prior assessment
- Patients with known allergy to the dissolving enzyme, assessed at consultation
- Patients who have not had hyaluronic acid-based filler, other filler types are assessed separately
- Patients expecting a complete return to pre-filler baseline, results and residual change vary between individuals
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk in and get filler dissolved at the first appointment?
No. The dissolving consultation is an assessment appointment, no dissolving is performed on the same day. Corey needs to assess what is present, whether dissolving is appropriate for your specific situation, and what the plan should be before any procedure takes place. This separation of consultation from treatment is standard practice at Core Aesthetics for all procedures.
How does Corey assess what filler I have and where?
The assessment is clinical and visual. Corey evaluates the distribution of volume in your face, the firmness and movement of different areas, and the relationship between what you are seeing and what a normal anatomical baseline looks like. If you have treatment records or photographs from before your original treatment, these are helpful but not required.
What if my filler was placed a long time ago, can it still be dissolved?
The ability to dissolve filler depends on the type of filler, not just its age. Hyaluronic acid-based filler, the most common type used in cosmetic practice, can be dissolved regardless of how long ago it was placed, though the clinical picture changes with time. Filler that is several years old may have already partially or fully metabolised. The consultation determines what is actually present before any decision about dissolving is made.
Is the dissolving procedure safe?
The dissolving procedure is a medical procedure that carries real risks, including the risk of allergic reaction and the risk of dissolving more tissue than intended in certain circumstances. These risks are discussed at consultation. The procedure is performed by Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse (NMW0001047575), using prescription medicine under appropriate clinical conditions. It is not appropriate to have this procedure performed in non-clinical settings.
Will I need filler again after dissolving?
Not necessarily. Some patients dissolve existing filler and are satisfied with the outcome. Some patients dissolve and then re-treat, either in the same area or in a different area. The consultation covers what a realistic post-dissolution picture looks like for your face specifically. Re-treatment is not automatic and is not assumed, it is a separate clinical decision made at a follow-up assessment. Results vary between individuals.
What if I had filler at another clinic, can Core Aesthetics dissolve it?
Yes. Core Aesthetics assesses and treats patients who have had filler placed elsewhere. The consultation covers what is present and whether the clinical conditions for dissolving are met. Corey does not require any referral from the previous clinic. The assessment is independent and based on your current presentation.
How many dissolving sessions might I need?
This is assessed at consultation and cannot be predicted accurately without seeing your face. Some presentations resolve fully with a single dissolving session. Others require more than one, particularly if the volume is significant or if multiple areas are involved. The post-dissolution follow-up allows Corey to assess the result and determine whether further treatment is needed.
Does dissolving hurt?
The dissolving procedure involves an injection. There is typically some discomfort and often significant bruising and swelling in the hours and days that follow. The area being treated determines the level of discomfort. Corey will discuss what to expect for your specific case at the consultation.