How they work

Most modern dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance the skin already produces naturally to hold moisture and support volume. Injected in gel form, it adds volume beneath the skin, restoring structure in areas that have lost it, such as the cheeks, or enhancing definition in areas like the lips or jawline. Because hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring, results tend to look and feel soft rather than stiff, and the effect can be adjusted or built up gradually across more than one session if a more subtle change is preferred.

What results look like, and when

Unlike anti-wrinkle treatment, filler results are visible immediately, though some initial swelling is normal and the final result usually settles over one to two weeks. How long the result lasts varies by the area treated and the specific product used, generally somewhere between six months and eighteen months, since areas with more movement, like the lips, tend to break the filler down faster than areas with less, like the cheeks.

Can it be reversed?

One advantage of hyaluronic acid fillers specifically is that they can be dissolved if needed, using an enzyme that breaks the filler down faster than it would naturally. This is worth knowing if you're nervous about committing to a change, though it's not a reason to treat the decision casually, a considered consultation beforehand matters more than the reassurance that it's reversible.

Choosing where, and how much

More isn't automatically better with filler. The goal at a good consultation is a result that looks like your own face, just refreshed or restored, rather than an obviously "done" look. This is as much about the practitioner's judgement and approach as it is about the product itself, which is why how to choose a medical aesthetics practitioner is worth reading alongside this guide if you're considering filler for the first time.