Filler — Area by Area

What Filler Does

Most aesthetic filler is hyaluronic acid, a substance the body already contains, injected to restore volume and refine contour where tissue has hollowed or is naturally deficient.

Products differ in viscosity and cohesivity, and the correct choice depends on the area: a firm product suited to the chin would look and feel wrong in a lip. Where it is placed — the anatomical plane — matters as much as how much.

By Area

Lips

Volume and definition for thin or asymmetric lips. Restraint is the whole skill here; the difference between a natural result and an obvious one is measured in fractions of a millilitre.

Nasolabial fold

Fills the groove to soften the shadow. Important caveat: if the fold is caused by cheek descent rather than volume loss, filling adds weight to already-falling tissue. See the nasolabial fold guide for how to tell which you have.

Tear trough

Volume beneath the eye to brighten a hollow. Thin skin and a demanding anatomy make this one of the least forgiving areas — overfilling shows immediately and persists.

Nose

Non-surgical refinement of the dorsum or tip, suited to modest adjustment rather than significant change. This region carries the highest vascular risk of any filler site and should be approached with corresponding caution.

Chin, forehead, temple

Volume for overall facial balance rather than treating a single feature in isolation.

Earlobe

Restores volume to thinned lobes.

Duration and Reversibility

Hyaluronic acid filler is absorbed gradually. Depending on area, product and individual metabolism, results commonly persist from several months to over a year — mobile areas such as lips generally shorter, structural areas longer.

The significant advantage of hyaluronic acid is that it is reversible. If the result is excessive, asymmetric, or simply not what you wanted, hyaluronidase dissolves it. This is also the emergency treatment for vascular compromise, which is why it should be available wherever filler is injected. It is a fair question to ask before you are injected anywhere.

Risks & Complications — What to Know Before You Decide

• Swelling, bruising and tenderness — expected, particularly in lips and under-eye
• Lumpiness, irregularity or visible product, especially where placed too superficially
• Asymmetry requiring adjustment
• The Tyndall effect — a bluish tinge from superficial placement in thin skin
• Migration or persistence beyond the expected duration
• Infection or delayed inflammatory nodules
• Vascular occlusion — rare but the serious one. Filler entering or compressing a vessel can cause skin necrosis and, exceptionally, visual loss. Risk is highest in the nose and glabella. Immediate recognition and hyaluronidase are what change the outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long does filler last?

Commonly several months to over a year, depending on the area, the product and individual metabolism. Mobile areas metabolise faster.

Q. Can it be undone if I do not like it?

Yes, for hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronidase dissolves it, usually within a day or two. This reversibility is a genuine reason to prefer hyaluronic acid over permanent materials.

Q. Is filler safe in the nose?

It is effective for modest refinement, but it is the highest vascular-risk site for filler. It should be performed only by an experienced injector with hyaluronidase immediately to hand, and it is reasonable to ask about both.

Q. Filler or fat grafting?

Filler is quick, predictable in placed volume, and reversible, but temporary. Fat grafting uses your own tissue and lasts longer once established, but take rate varies and recovery is longer. The area and the duration you want decide it.

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