LALAPLAN clinic

By Dr. YOUN KYOUNGJOON | Medical Director, LALAPLAN Clinic, Seoul

Appointments & Consultations : “reservation” button

I’m Dr. YOUN KYOUNGJOON, Medical Director of LALAPLAN Clinic in Jamsil, Seoul, South Korea.

When it comes to dermal fillers, natural-looking results have become increasingly important.

At LALAPLAN, we focus on using the appropriate amount of filler to create soft, balanced facial contours while prioritizing patient safety and individual facial anatomy.

However, not every patient visits us for a new filler treatment. Some patients come to our clinic because they are concerned about previous filler injections performed at other clinics, particularly when excessive amounts of filler were used. (widely recognized in South Korea for its expertise in ultrasound-guided dermal filler dissolving, combining extensive clinical experience with precise, personalized treatment approaches.)

Forehead fillers are one of the areas where we frequently encounter these concerns.

Many patients arrive with questions that have remained unanswered for years.

“Doctor, I had forehead filler more than five years ago. Could it still be there?”

“I had my forehead filler dissolved at another clinic, but my forehead still looks uneven.”

“When I press my forehead, I feel something moving underneath my skin. Could that still be filler?”

These are important questions, and the answers are often more complicated than patients expect.

1. Can Hyaluronic Acid Filler Remain in Your Face for More Than 5 Years?

Many people believe that hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers completely disappear within one or two years.

However, recent medical imaging studies suggest that filler longevity may be considerably longer in some individuals.

A 2024 study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open examined the persistence of hyaluronic acid fillers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The researchers reviewed MRI findings from 33 patients who had previously received midface fillers.

Interestingly, detectable hyaluronic acid filler remained in patients more than two years after their injections, including individuals who had not received treatment in the area for more than five years.

In some cases, filler persistence was observed for substantially longer periods. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

These findings challenge the common assumption that all hyaluronic acid fillers disappear completely within a predictable time frame.

Importantly, this study evaluated fillers in the midface rather than specifically in the forehead. Nevertheless, it provides valuable evidence that HA filler longevity can extend well beyond the duration commonly discussed during aesthetic consultations.

The key point is simple: Just because your filler was injected several years ago does not necessarily mean it has completely disappeared.

2. My Forehead Looks Flatter, but It Still Feels Lumpy. Could Filler Remain?

This is another question we frequently hear during consultations.

Some patients notice that their forehead has gradually lost its original projection.

They assume that the filler must have dissolved because the volume is no longer as noticeable.

However, a reduction in visible volume does not always mean that all the filler has disappeared.

In clinical practice, we sometimes identify residual filler deposits through ultrasound examination, even when the patient believes the original filler has mostly disappeared.

This is particularly relevant for patients who have received multiple forehead filler treatments over several years.

Repeated injections may leave filler distributed across different tissue layers.

As a result, the forehead can contain several separate deposits rather than one uniform area of filler.

These deposits may contribute to:

• Uneven forehead contours
• Visible bumps or irregularities
• Localized fullness
• Asymmetry between the left and right sides
• Areas that feel unusually firm or mobile

When multiple deposits are present, treatment may require a more detailed assessment and a carefully planned approach.

At LALAPLAN, we use facial ultrasound to help identify the location and characteristics of suspected residual filler before determining an appropriate treatment plan.

3. Can Old Forehead Filler Be Dissolved With Hyaluronidase?

Yes. If the remaining material is hyaluronic acid filler, it can generally be broken down using hyaluronidase.

Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.

The fact that a filler was injected several years ago does not automatically make it impossible to dissolve.

However, different fillers may respond differently to hyaluronidase treatment.

A 2024 study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal compared the degradation characteristics of 16 commercially available hyaluronic acid fillers manufactured using six different technologies.

The researchers found considerable differences in how these fillers responded to enzymatic degradation.

Some products degraded more readily, while others demonstrated greater resistance and required additional enzyme exposure under laboratory conditions. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

These findings suggest that filler composition and physical properties can influence the dissolving process.

However, laboratory findings do not directly determine the exact dose required for an individual patient.

In clinical practice, several factors need to be considered:

• What type of filler was previously injected?
• Where is the remaining filler located?
• How much material appears to remain?
• Is the filler concentrated in one area or distributed across multiple tissue layers?
• Are there signs of inflammation or surrounding tissue changes?

For this reason, we do not believe that simply injecting a large amount of hyaluronidase is always the most appropriate approach.

A detailed ultrasound examination can help us understand what remains beneath the skin and plan a more targeted treatment.

Appointments & Consultations : “reservation” button

4. Residual Filler and Tissue Changes Are Not the Same Thing

One of the most important things patients should understand is that not every lump following a filler procedure represents residual filler.

A forehead that feels firm, uneven, or lumpy may have several possible underlying causes.

These include residual hyaluronic acid deposits, fibrosis, inflammatory reactions, or granuloma formation.

A clinical study examining palpable nodules after dermal filler injections demonstrated why ultrasound evaluation can be useful.

Among 15 patients with palpable nodules, ultrasound findings identified:

Ultrasound finding	Number of patients
Residual hyaluronic acid deposits	9
Granulomas	3
Fibrosis	2
Filler deposits with inflammation	1

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Although this was a relatively small study, its findings highlight an important clinical distinction.

To a patient, all of these conditions may feel similar.

They may simply describe the problem as:

“There is something hard underneath my skin.”

However, the underlying tissue changes can be very different.

Why does this matter?

If the problem is primarily residual hyaluronic acid filler, hyaluronidase may be an appropriate treatment.

If fibrosis is the predominant issue, dissolving the remaining filler may not completely resolve the firmness.

If inflammation or granuloma formation is suspected, additional evaluation and a different treatment strategy may be necessary.

This is why identifying the underlying cause is an essential part of treatment planning.

At LALAPLAN Clinic, we use ultrasound findings together with the patient’s treatment history and clinical examination to develop an individualized approach.

5. Is It Possible to Dissolve All Forehead Filler in One Session?

Some cases are relatively straightforward.

When residual filler is clearly localized and the surrounding tissues are in good condition, an ultrasound examination and dissolving treatment may be performed during a single visit.

However, more complicated cases may require a staged approach.

For example, patients who have undergone repeated forehead filler injections or multiple previous dissolving treatments may have filler deposits distributed across several tissue layers.

In these situations, attempting to address everything at once may not be the most appropriate strategy.

At LALAPLAN, our priority is to carefully evaluate the existing condition and determine a treatment plan that considers both effectiveness and safety.

Depending on the ultrasound findings and clinical response, additional treatment sessions may be recommended.

The number of sessions and final results vary according to the filler type, amount, location, and surrounding tissue condition.

6. Can I Get New Forehead Filler Immediately After Dissolving the Old Filler?

This is a question patients ask surprisingly often.

In fact, a patient asked me the same question during a recent consultation.

My advice is generally to avoid rushing into another filler procedure.

Although the enzymatic activity of hyaluronidase decreases relatively quickly, the clinical recovery process involves more than the activity of the enzyme itself.

After dissolving treatment, the forehead may experience temporary swelling, tenderness, or changes in contour.

It takes time for these effects to settle and for the underlying facial contours to become easier to assess.

Injecting new filler immediately may make it difficult to determine how much volume is actually needed.

For this reason, we prefer to reassess the forehead once swelling has subsided and the tissue condition has stabilized.

At LALAPLAN, we do not perform new forehead filler injections on the same day as an elective filler-dissolving treatment.

We generally recommend allowing an appropriate recovery period before considering reinjection.

The timing depends on the individual patient’s condition, treatment response, and clinical findings.

Our goal is to make the next treatment decision based on the patient’s actual facial anatomy rather than temporary post-treatment changes.

7. When Should You Consider an Ultrasound Examination for Old Forehead Filler?

Even if your forehead filler was injected several years ago, an ultrasound examination may be worth considering if you experience any of the following:

• Your forehead appears uneven or lumpy
• Certain areas have a bluish discoloration
• The edges of the filler are visible beneath the skin
• A specific area protrudes or feels as though something moves underneath the skin
• The left and right sides of your forehead look noticeably different
• You notice persistent firmness or palpable lumps
• You have undergone multiple filler-dissolving treatments, but irregularities remain
• You are unsure what type of filler was previously injected
• You want to understand whether old filler remains before undergoing another procedure

These findings do not necessarily mean that filler removal is required.

However, they may indicate that a detailed clinical evaluation would be beneficial.

If you develop sudden severe pain, skin blanching, rapidly changing skin discoloration, visual symptoms, or signs of significant infection following filler treatment, seek urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a routine consultation.

8. Why Ultrasound Matters in Forehead Filler Removal

When patients visit LALAPLAN for forehead filler concerns, we believe that the first step is often the most important.

Before deciding how much hyaluronidase to inject, we need to understand what is actually present beneath the skin.

Facial ultrasound allows us to examine soft tissues and can help identify suspected filler deposits, their distribution, and certain associated tissue changes.

This information is particularly valuable when previous injection records are unavailable or the patient has undergone several treatments at different clinics.

Ultrasound findings are interpreted alongside a physical examination and medical history, as imaging alone cannot definitively characterize every lesion.

For patients with complex treatment histories, a detailed evaluation can help avoid unnecessary treatment and guide a more individualized plan.

At LALAPLAN, we place particular emphasis on this diagnostic process.

We carefully assess the tissue condition and discuss the available treatment options before proceeding.

Our philosophy is that successful filler correction begins with understanding the problem accurately.

A Message From Dr. YOUN KYOUNGJOON

“Forehead filler removal is not simply about how effectively we can dissolve the filler. It begins with accurately identifying what needs to be dissolved.”

Every patient’s facial anatomy, filler history, and treatment goals are different.

Some patients may benefit from a relatively simple dissolving procedure, while others require a more detailed evaluation and gradual treatment plan.

Our goal is to provide careful, individualized treatment based on medical assessment, with an emphasis on safety, natural facial contours, and realistic expectations.

— Dr. YOUN KYOUNGJOON
Medical Director, LALAPLAN Clinic

Ultrasound-Guided Forehead Filler Dissolving in Seoul, South Korea

If you previously received forehead fillers and are concerned about residual filler, uneven contours, or persistent lumps, LALAPLAN Clinic offers individualized consultations and ultrasound-based assessments.

We welcome international patients visiting Seoul for aesthetic treatments, including patients from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other countries.

LALAPLAN Clinic | Seoul, Korea

Personalized Aesthetic Medicine & Ultrasound-Guided Filler Assessment

Address

5th Floor, 100 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

International Patient Support

English · Japanese · Chinese · Thai · Spanish

Appointments & Consultations : “reservation” button