Everything You Need to Know About Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are one of the most popular non-surgical aesthetic treatments, here at MediZen. They are a type of injectable treatment widely used in medical aesthetics to address natural age-related changes such as volume loss, skin laxity and reduced definition in key facial areas.

This guide explains everything you need to know about dermal fillers, including how they work, how treatment is performed and the safety considerations involved in dermal filler treatment.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are a gel-like substance, most commonly made of hyaluronic acid that is injected into the skin to soften the appearance of wrinkles or restore facial volume. 

As we age, the fat pads in the face start to deflate and move downwards and forwards, which creates volume loss in the upper outer areas of the face. Dermal fillers are a type of non-surgical treatment used to address lost facial volume. This volume loss can happen naturally through ageing, but it can also result from trauma, scarring or certain medical conditions and treatments.  

There are two main ways dermal fillers are used:

Rejuvenation

When rejuvenating the face, fillers help create a fresher and more youthful appearance by reducing concerns such as dark circles, smile lines and shadows around the mouth. They work by restoring volume to sunken areas and smoothing out hollows.

Contouring

Fillers can also be used to contour the face by adding definition to features such as the cheekbones, chin and nose.The most important goal with dermal filler treatments is to enhance the face in a way that still looks natural.

What Areas Can Be Treated With Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers can be used on the face, neck, hands and certain areas of the body to restore lost volume and improve the appearance of wrinkles.

The face is the most commonly treated area. Common facial treatment areas include:

• Lips: to restore or add volume and improve shape. 
• Cheeks: to restore lost volume and create definition
• Jawline: to sharpen and contour
• Chin: to improve projection and balance facial proportions
• Under-eyes / tear troughs: to reduce hollowness and dark shadows
• Nose: a non-surgical rhinoplasty can correct asymmetry and reshape the nose without surgery
• Temples: to restore fullness that is often lost with age
• Smile lines / nasolabial folds: to soften the folds that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth
• Jowls: to improve definition along the lower face. Read more about jowl treatments
• Marionette lines: the lines that run downward from the corners of the mouth

Dermal filler treatment is a combination of medicine and artistry. These types of treatments must be carefully tailored to each individual’s facial structure and goals.

What are Dermal Fillers Made of?

Most dermal fillers are made with hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a water-absorbing substance that naturally exists in the body. Dermal fillers made up of HA form a smooth and flexible gel.

One of the advantages of HA fillers is that they can also be dissolved if needed. This is done using an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which breaks the filler down quickly and safely.

How Are Dermal Fillers Administered?

Dermal fillers are administered through injections into targeted areas of the skin. The most common way to do this is using a micro cannula. A cannula is a blunt-tipped device that can be guided through the tissue with a single entry point, rather than multiple needle punctures. This technique is particularly useful in higher-risk or more delicate areas such as around the eyes or along the jawline, as it can help to minimise bruising and reduce the risk of complications. This method is often used for treating areas between layers of tissue but practitioners may use either technique depending on the treatment area and patient.

Different concentrations of filler are used depending on the treatment area. For example, some areas require lighter and softer fillers, while others benefit from firmer products that provide more structure and support. Fillers also need to be injected at the correct depth within the skin to maintain a natural appearance, restore facial balance and minimise the risk of lumps or asymmetry.

Are Dermal Fillers Safe?

Yes. When performed by experienced medical professionals with a strong understanding of facial anatomy, dermal fillers are generally considered safe. 

Read more in our article about the importance of safety in injectable treatments and how to choose a practitioner, 

At MediZen, we are one of only a handful of aesthetic clinics in the West Midlands registered with both the Care Quality Commission and Save Face. Our founder, Dr David Eccleston, was named by The Times as one of the best anti-ageing doctors in the UK and by Tatler as the ‘Man in the Midlands for Injectables’. He has been performing dermal fillers in Birmingham for over 25 years.

What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are generally very safe when performed by a properly trained medical professional, but no injectable treatment is risk free so it is important to understand the potential side effects and risks.

Common side effects (these are normal and temporary):

• Bruising at the injection site
• Swelling, particularly around the lips
• Mild tenderness for 2 to 3 days

Less common side effects:

• Delayed inflammation, which can occasionally appear weeks or months after treatment
• Small lumps or asymmetry, more likely when filler is placed at the wrong depth or by an inexperienced practitioner

Rare but serious complications:

• Infection
• Vascular occlusion: this occurs when filler accidentally enters or compresses a blood vessel, which can restrict blood flow to the surrounding tissue. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.

The risk of serious complications is significantly reduced when treatment is performed by someone with genuine medical training and a thorough understanding of facial anatomy. 

Can Dermal Fillers Be Combined With Other Treatments?

Yes, dermal fillers are often combined with other aesthetic treatments to achieve more comprehensive results. A common combination is dermal fillers with botulinum toxin treatments to both soften lines and restore lost volume. Combination treatments allow practitioners to address multiple concerns at once, including volume loss, skin texture, wrinkles and collagen stimulation.

Fillers may also be combined with treatments such as:

• Sink boosters such as polynucleotides
• Microneedling
• Laser resurfacing
• Skin rejuvenation procedures

What Is the Difference Between Dermal Fillers and Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

Anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers are both injectable treatments used to address signs of ageing, but they work in completely different ways.

• Anti-wrinkle injections work on muscle activity. They temporarily relax specific facial muscles to prevent dynamic wrinkles (the lines caused by repeated movement, like frown lines and crow’s feet) from forming or deepening. 
• Dermal fillers add volume. They physically replace the structure that has been lost with age, and can also reshape and contour features. They have no effect on muscle movement.

The two treatments complement each other well, which is why many patients have both. Anti-wrinkle injections address movement-related lines while fillers restore the volume and structure that give the face its shape.

How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?

How long dermal filler lasts depends on factors such as the filler type, area treated and your own body.

On average, hyaluronic acid fillers last between 9 and 24 months, but this varies based on a few key factors:

• The area treated: areas with more movement, like the lips, tend to break down filler more quickly. Lip filler typically lasts around 6 to 12 months. Areas like the nose and under-eyes, which experience less movement, can last well over a year.
• The product used: different formulations of filler have different longevity.
• Your metabolism: patients with faster metabolisms bodies will break down the filler quicker.

Many patients choose to have a maintenance appointment every 9 to 12 months to keep results looking their best. This is usually a smaller top-up rather than starting from scratch.

What Results Can I Expect and When Will I See Them?

Results from dermal filler treatment are visible immediately and you will be given after care advice from your practitioner. Areas like the cheeks, lips, chin and temples typically show instant improvement.

Some swelling is completely normal, particularly around the lips, and this usually settles within 24 to 48 hours. The final result becomes clearer once any initial swelling has resolved, usually within 1 to 2 weeks.

You can view real patients before and after results on our website, including examples of cheek filler, jawline filler, lip filler and non-surgical rhinoplasty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose MediZen for Dermal Fillers in Birmingham?

MediZen was founded in 1999 by Dr David Eccleston who has over 25 years of experience in medical aesthetics. We are:

• Doctor-led: all filler treatments are performed by our team of highly trained doctors and nurses
• CQC registered: one of the few aesthetic clinics in Birmingham registered with the Care Quality Commission
• Save Face accredited: a government-approved register of qualified and vetted practitioners
• Results focused: 95% of our patients rated their treatment results as Good or Very Good in a recent satisfaction survey

Our clinic is based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and all injectable treatments are performed by our team of qualified doctors and nurses. To book a consultation, call 0121 308 4373 or book online.