Facial aesthetics
Dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are injectable hyaluronic-acid gels used to restore or support facial volume and contour in specific areas; the effect is temporary and the material is gradually broken down by the body.
At a glance
- Layer addressed
- Volume, contour and support
- Course
- Usually a single appointment per area with a review. Longevity varies with product, area and individual metabolism.
- First appointment
- Assessment and written plan
What is assessed
- Facial proportion and where support has genuinely been lost
- Skin thickness over the intended area
- Vascular anatomy of the treatment area
- Previous filler, its type, and when it was placed
- Medical history, autoimmune conditions, and any history of cold sores
How it works
- 01
Planning
Areas are assessed and marked against facial proportion, not a template.
- 02
Consent
Risks including vascular complications are discussed in full before anything is agreed.
- 03
Treatment
Product is placed in planned volumes, in the appropriate tissue plane, using slow controlled technique.
- 04
Review
A review appointment assesses settling and symmetry before any further product is considered.
Who it suits
- Adults with realistic expectations who have completed a full assessment
- Patients whose concern is genuinely one of volume or contour rather than skin quality
What it cannot do
- Temporary — the material breaks down over months and results are not permanent
- Cannot lift significantly lax tissue
- Cannot improve skin texture or pigmentation
- Overfilling changes the face in ways that are hard to reverse quickly
Risks and side effects
- Bruising, swelling, tenderness and lumps
- Asymmetry requiring adjustment
- Infection
- Vascular occlusion — filler entering or compressing a blood vessel — which is rare but a medical emergency and can cause tissue loss or, very rarely, visual loss
- Delayed-onset nodules and inflammatory reactions
Risks are discussed individually before consent. No treatment is provided on the day a plan is first discussed.
Alternatives
- Skin-quality treatments where the concern is texture rather than volume
- Dental treatment where lower-face support relates to the teeth
- No treatment
Course and aftercare
Usually a single appointment per area with a review. Longevity varies with product, area and individual metabolism.
- Avoid pressure, massage and make-up on the area for the period advised
- Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas and alcohol for 24 hours
- Contact the practice immediately if you develop escalating pain, blanching, mottled skin or visual change
Clinician’s note
“I place less than most patients expect, and I stage it. Faces are read as a whole, and the most common problem I see from elsewhere is not a bad product but too much of it, placed to fill a line rather than to support a structure.”
Dr Vikas Prinja, Dental Surgeon · GDC 265374
Some treatments for lines and wrinkles involve prescription-only medicines. UK advertising rules do not permit these to be promoted to the public, so they are not named, priced or advertised on this website. They can only be considered after a face-to-face assessment by a prescriber, who will decide whether treatment is appropriate for you.
Consider alongside
Related facial aesthetic treatment
- Volume, contour and supportFacial aesthetics consultationA facial aesthetics consultation is an assessment of facial anatomy, proportion, muscle activity and skin quality, after which suitable options — including doing nothing — are explained in writing before any treatment is agreed.
- Muscle activityLines & wrinkles consultationA lines and wrinkles consultation assesses whether a line is caused by muscle activity, volume loss, skin quality or sun damage, because each of those has a different management route and some respond to none of them.
- Within the skinPolynucleotidesPolynucleotides are injectable products containing purified polynucleotide chains, used in aesthetic practice with the intention of improving the appearance of skin quality in specific areas over a course of treatments.
- Within the skinSkin boostersSkin boosters are injectable hyaluronic-acid preparations placed into the skin with the intention of improving skin hydration and appearance, rather than adding facial volume or contour.
Consultation
Thinking about improving your smile?
Start with a comprehensive assessment and understand your options before deciding on treatment.