Health3 min(s) read
Published 10:39 27 Mar 2026 GMT
Shocking MRI scan reveals what really happens to facial fillers years later
A terrifying MRI video has revealed what really happens to facial fillers years after they are injected.
Filler treatments have exploded in recent decades, with many seeing it as a quick way to tweak their facial features.
From lips to tear troughs and even noses, there are many filler treatments which can dramatically alter a person's looks without actually going under the knife.
Many see it as a temporary change, believing that the filler is eventually broken down and dissolves within the body, before eventually disappearing entirely.
However, this new video has proven that that is - unfortunately - not completely true.
An MRI video, shared by Dr. Kami Parsa, an Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who specializes exclusively in reconstructive, revisional and cosmetic surgery of the eyes and surrounding tissue, shows what fillers look like in an MRI scan years after they were administered.
The video shows the scan of a 33-year-old patient who'd had 12ccs of filler - aka 12 syringes of hyaluronic acid - injected into her face over the course of six years.
"What's interesting here is that when we did volumetric analysis, that means when we measured the amount of filler, the amount of volume that was there, it ended up being close to 28cc, which is more than twice the amount of filler than was injected.
"What this shows us is that hyaluronic acid fillers are hydrophilic - that means they log water, and they also cause tissue expansion."
As the MRI shows, rather than dissolving naturally within the body, hyaluronic acid fillers actually tend to expand and hold water, rather than disappearing.
This can cause complications down the line, such as creating the 'pillowy' face effect some people get after years of fillers have migrated within their face.
In another video, Dr. Parsa revealed that fillers can also block the body's lymphatic system by using a flourescent dye to track where the fillers - which had been administered over five years earlier - were heading, and found that the flourescent dye was still present for days longer than normal, signifying that the lymphatic system was blocked.
People shared their shock after seeing the videos, writing: "Wild how people think filler just quietly disappears when the MRI tells a different story. It really shows how important it is to know what you’re putting in your face and how long it can stick around. Not fear mongering, just a reminder that 'temporary' isn’t always as temporary as the marketing makes it sound."
Others added: "Such a bad idea. I think it’s bad regardless of age. It’s rare that fillers look natural," and: "Wait, so when they say it 'dissolves in 6 months,' they actually mean it just 'moves to a new neighborhood' in your face? The fact that 12cc turned into a 28cc volumetric shadow is wild. Talk about a long-term commitment we didn't sign up for!"
Another commented: "Yikes, that’s a reminder that fillers aren’t completely temporary, some stuff can stick around longer than people expect."