Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are soft, injectable gels placed beneath the skin to restore lost volume, soften facial folds or add definition to selected features. Made from hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the skin, filler can enhance areas such as the lips, cheeks, chin and jawline while preserving balance across the face. Every treatment begins with an assessment of your anatomy, proportions and goals so the result looks considered, natural and still recognisably you.
- Reversible (HA)
- Immediate visible change
- Lidocaine comfort
- Volume restoration
- FDA-approved products
- 30–45 minutes
- Typical treatment time, depending on the areas addressed
- Visible immediately
- You’ll see an initial change before leaving your appointment
- 8 months–2 years
- Expected longevity varies by area, product and individual response
- Around 2 weeks
- Initial swelling settles and the result becomes easier to assess
Dermal Fillers results
8 before-and-after sets from Relax Med patients, published with their consent, are in the results gallery.
Dr. Steph on dermal fillers
How it works
Restoring volume and refining shape
Hyaluronic acid filler is placed beneath the skin using a fine needle or cannula. Once injected, the gel provides support and volume within the treated area, allowing us to restore fullness, soften a fold or refine the shape of a feature.
Filler does two jobs particularly well. It can replace volume that has been lost through ageing or weight changes, including fullness through the cheeks, temples and lower face. It can also enhance definition where more structure is desired, such as the lip border, chin or jawline.
Different areas need different fillers
Not every hyaluronic acid filler behaves in the same way. Softer, more flexible gels may be selected for areas that move frequently, while firmer gels can provide greater structure and projection.
The product, amount and placement are selected according to the area being treated and the type of result we are trying to create. This is why the same filler should not automatically be used across every part of the face.
Why hyaluronic acid matters
Hyaluronic acid filler can be adjusted or dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase when clinically appropriate. This does not make filler risk-free, but it provides an important option that permanent fillers and some other injectable materials do not offer.
Filler does not relax muscle movement. Expression lines caused primarily by repeated muscle contraction may respond more appropriately to Botox, while broader loss of firmness or facial volume may require a collagen-stimulating treatment such as Sculptra.
What they treat
Lip fullness & definition
Enhance lip volume, define the borders and improve symmetry, with the amount tailored to your natural lip shape and facial proportions.
Cheek volume & facial hollowing
Restore fullness through the cheeks and midface where volume has been lost with ageing or weight loss.
Chin & jawline definition
Enhance chin projection and refine jawline contours to improve definition and balance in the lower face.
Smile lines & marionette lines
Soften folds running from the nose to the mouth and lines extending downward from the corners of the mouth. We assess the surrounding facial support before deciding where filler should be placed.
Under-eye hollows
For suitable patients, filler can soften hollowing beneath the eyes and the shadows it creates. This area requires careful assessment to determine whether filler is appropriate.
Facial balancing
Sometimes your concern involves how several features work together. We assess the face as a whole and plan treatment around your proportions, whether that means enhancing one area or combining several.
Aftercare
The first 24–48 hours
Swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising can occur after dermal filler, particularly when the lips are treated. The area may initially look fuller or less even than the final result.
Follow the aftercare instructions provided for your treatment. General guidance may include:
- Avoid pressing, rubbing or massaging the treated area unless your clinician specifically instructs you to.
- Wait at least 24 hours before strenuous exercise.
- Avoid excessive heat, including saunas, steam rooms and hot yoga, during the early recovery period.
- Follow our guidance on cold compresses and when makeup can be reapplied.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated on the first night if recommended.
- Check with our team before arranging facials, facial massage, dental work or other treatments that may place pressure on the area.
Do not stop prescribed medication or change your usual supplements unless advised by the healthcare professional who manages them.
As your result settles
Initial swelling commonly improves over the first few days, although the exact recovery varies by treatment area and individual response. Allow approximately two weeks before assessing the result, as some areas may take longer to settle.
If you are preparing for a wedding, photoshoot, holiday or other important event, schedule your treatment well in advance to allow time for recovery and review.
When to contact us
Contact our team promptly if you experience worsening redness, warmth, swelling, persistent or increasingly painful lumps, or any other unexpected change.
Seek urgent medical assistance for unusual or worsening pain, white, grey, mottled or blue skin near the treated area, or any changes in vision. These symptoms may indicate a rare complication affecting blood flow and should not wait until a follow-up appointment.
Sessions & longevity
One visit, visible results
Unlike collagen-building treatments, filler results are immediate — you see the change before you leave, with the final settled result at about two weeks once swelling resolves. Most plans are completed in a single appointment; larger structural projects (jawline, multi-area balancing) may be staged across two or three visits so volume builds naturally.
How long it lasts
- Lips — results can last up to 12 months, depending on the product, amount used and individual response.
- Other facial areas — longevity varies by product and treatment area. Some fillers can last up to two years in certain areas. We’ll explain the expected duration for your treatment at consultation.
Maintenance
Most patients book a top-up once the area has visibly softened rather than on a fixed calendar. Maintenance appointments typically use less product than the first visit — another reason starting conservative pays off.
Our filler rule
You can always add filler at a follow-up; you can’t un-inject in the chair. We start at the conservative end of your goal, let it settle, and refine where needed — that measured approach is what keeps your features balanced and your results looking like you.
Frequently asked questions
Are lip fillers painful?
Most patients describe it as pressure, not pain. Nearly all modern lip fillers contain lidocaine, and we apply topical numbing cream before injecting, so the 15–30 minute appointment is very tolerable. The lips are the most sensitive filler area — everywhere else tends to feel easier.
How long do dermal fillers last?
It depends on where the filler is placed and which gel is used. Lips run 6–12 months because they move constantly; smile lines roughly 12–18 months; and firm structural filler in the cheeks, chin, jawline, and temples can hold up to about two years. Maintenance top-ups keep results steady and usually need less product than the first visit.
Do men get dermal fillers?
Yes — and it’s growing fast. Men most often come in for chin and jawline definition, where firmer gels build stronger, flatter angles rather than soft curves. The approach differs from female facial balancing, which is exactly why it starts with a consultation rather than a template.
How much swelling or bruising should I expect?
Plan on 2–3 days of swelling — lips swell the most and can look bigger than the final result at first. Bruising is possible, especially if you take blood thinners or fish oil; arnica and cold compresses help. Everything is settled by about two weeks, which is why we suggest booking at least two weeks before a big event.
Can filler migrate?
It can, though it’s uncommon and usually traces back to technique — too much product, placed too often, or in the wrong plane — rather than to filler itself. Conservative dosing, correct depth, and the right gel for the area are the prevention. If older filler has migrated, we can dissolve it with hyaluronidase and restart cleanly.
What’s the difference between fillers and Botox?
Different jobs. A wrinkle relaxer (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) relaxes muscles to soften movement lines like frown and forehead lines. Filler adds volume and structure — lips, cheeks, chin, jawline, folds. They’re frequently combined in one plan because they solve complementary problems.
Can filler be dissolved if I don’t like it?
Yes. Hyaluronic-acid fillers are reversible: an enzyme called hyaluronidase breaks the gel down within hours. It’s used to refine an overfilled or uneven result, to clear old migrated filler before starting fresh, and — urgently — to treat a rare vascular complication. We keep hyaluronidase on site at every appointment.
Fillers vs Sculptra — which one do I need?
Sculptra is a biostimulator: it triggers your own collagen production for gradual, diffuse volume over several months. HA filler is immediate, precisely placed, and reversible. Broad facial deflation often favours Sculptra; defined shaping — lips, chin, jawline — favours filler. Many plans use both in sequence.
Is dermal filler suitable for everyone?
Suitability depends on your medical history, allergies, previous treatments and goals. Certain allergies or bleeding disorders may make filler unsuitable, and treatment should be delayed if there is an active infection or inflammation in the area. Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. Your consultation helps determine whether filler is appropriate for you.
Will I look overfilled or unnatural?
Our approach is to enhance your features while keeping your facial proportions in balance. We start conservatively, allow the result to settle and review before recommending more. Your consultation is where we discuss how much change you want and what is realistic for your features.
Ready for natural-looking lips or facial balancing?
Bring a reference photo or just your goals. We’ll assess your facial structure, recommend the right product and amount, and build conservatively for a refreshed, natural-looking result tailored to you.