Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of hyaluronic acid (HA), the backbone polymer in all FDA-cleared dermal fillers except calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). When injected into tissue containing HA filler, hyaluronidase cleaves the glycosidic bonds between glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine units, reducing the filler to smaller oligosaccharides that are rapidly absorbed by the body. The effect is visible within 24–48 hours and near-complete within 7–10 days, depending on enzyme concentration, filler crosslinking density, and tissue perfusion.
Injectables
How Hyaluronidase Dissolves Filler: Mechanism, Vascular Occlusion Protocol, and Practice Liability
Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid filler by cleaving glycosidic bonds—and knowing when to deploy it, how to manage vascular compromise, and who bears liability is essential to practice protection.
