Dermal fillers are marketed as a quick, reversible way to smooth wrinkles, plump lips, and contour the face. But Beverly Hills reconstructive surgeon Dr. Kami Parsa warns that these “temporary tweaks” can have long-lasting—and sometimes irreversible—effects.
“You cannot fill your face to youth,” Parsa says, cautioning that repeated treatments may lead to “pillow face,” an overfilled, unnatural appearance.
In a viral July 2024 TikTok, viewed over 12 million times, Parsa shared MRI scans of a patient who had received over 12 syringes of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler across six years. The scans revealed nearly 28 cubic centimeters of filler—more than double the original volume—due to HA’s water-attracting nature and its potential to cause tissue expansion.
While HA fillers are advertised to dissolve within 6–24 months, Parsa notes that small amounts can remain for up to a decade, especially with frequent treatments. This lingering filler, combined with skin stretching, can distort facial proportions over time.
Overfilled syndrome develops gradually, often from layering fillers before older material dissolves, overcorrecting in a single session, or consistently targeting the same areas. The result: puffiness, roundness, and loss of natural definition.
Parsa’s message is clear—less is more. “Every day we see beautiful patients from all over the world who are very overfilled,” he says. Online, many users expressed shock, with some vowing never to get fillers after learning they can clump beneath the skin.
His advice? Be cautious, ask questions, and understand the long-term risks before opting for what may seem like a simple beauty fix.
