Fillers: everything you need to know in one place

This page brings together our articles on fillers in reading order. Start with how the treatment works, then the risks and warning signs; you will also find what to do after treatment and the rumours you often hear.

1 · Start here

Treatment GuidesHyaluronic Acid Filler: What It Is, How It Is Done and What the Risks AreWhat hyaluronic acid filler is, who it does not suit and how it is done. Expected side effects, signs of vascular occlusion and realistic expectations.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board GuidesBotulinum Toxin or Filler? The Differences and What Each One Is Used ForBotulinum toxin relaxes muscles; hyaluronic acid filler adds volume. Which is considered for which line, and how do duration, recovery and risks differ?Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board

2 · By area, type and related treatments

Treatment GuidesLip Filler: What It Is, How It Is Done, When the Swelling Goes Down and How Long It LastsWhat lip filler is, who it does not suit and how it is done: preparation, how swelling settles afterwards, a natural look and how long the effect lasts.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Treatment GuidesUnder-Eye Filler: Who Is It Suitable For, Who Is It Not, When Does the Swelling Go Down and How Long Does It Last?Who is under-eye filler suitable for, and who is it not? Which dark circles it does not correct, needle or cannula, swelling, duration and alternatives.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Treatment GuidesChin and Cheek Filler: Who Are Cheekbone, Chin and Jawline Fillers Suitable For, and How Long Do They Last?What is chin and cheek filler for? Who cheekbone, chin and jawline fillers suit, whether they lift sagging, how long they last, and the alternatives.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Treatment GuidesCollagen-Stimulating Fillers: How Do They Differ from Hyaluronic Acid, Who Are They For, and What Are the Risks?How collagen-stimulating fillers (poly-L-lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, polycaprolactone) work, why they cannot be dissolved, and nodule risk.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board

3 · Risks

Safety CentreFiller Complications: Swelling, Nodules, the Tyndall Effect, Late Reactions and Dissolving FillerFiller complications: swelling, nodules, bluish tint (Tyndall), infection, late reactions: how to recognise them and how filler is dissolved.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Safety CentreLip Filler Complications: Swelling, Lumps, Cold Sores, Filler Migration and Emergency SignsLip filler complications: how much swelling is normal, why lumps and migration happen, how to recognise cold sores and vascular occlusion, what to do.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Safety CentreUnder-Eye Filler Complications: The Tyndall Effect, Prolonged Swelling, Visible Filler, Risk to VisionUnder-eye filler complications: bluish tint (Tyndall), prolonged swelling, visible filler, risk to vision; who it may not suit and what to do.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Safety CentreRisks of a Non-Surgical Nose Job (Nose Filler): Why Is It Risky, and Which Signs Are an Emergency?Nose filler risks: why the nose is a high-risk area, skin tissue loss and risk to vision, the effect of previous nose surgery, and emergency signs.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Safety CentreComplications of Permanent and Semi-Permanent Fillers: Silicone, Granulomas, Late Reactions and TreatmentPermanent and semi-permanent filler complications: why granulomas, migration and infection appear years later with fillers like silicone, and treatment.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Safety CentreBruising and Swelling: How Long Do They Last after an Aesthetic Treatment, How Can They Be Reduced and When Should You Worry?How long do bruising and swelling last after an aesthetic treatment, how can they be reduced, which signs are not normal? Cold compresses, risks, warnings.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board

4 · Emergencies and aftercare

Safety CentreAfter Fillers: When Is It an Emergency? Vascular Occlusion and Other Warning SignsWhich symptoms after filler are normal and which are urgent? Signs of vascular occlusion, vision problems, infection and allergy; what to do first.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Treatment GuidesDissolving Filler (Hyaluronidase): When Is It Needed, How Is It Done, and What Should You Watch Out For?Dissolving filler with hyaluronidase: when it is needed, which fillers it works on, allergy risk and skin testing, sessions, and having filler again.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board GuidesAftercare Following Medical Aesthetic Procedures: General Principles and Warning SignsGeneral aftercare principles after injections, laser, peels and device treatments; what is normal, and when to call your physician or 112.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board

5 · Rumours

Rumour or Science?Rumour: “Filler moves around the face and migrates elsewhere” — What does the science say?Does filler move? Is filler migration real, and how common is it? Causes of fullness above the lip, the MRI data and the option of dissolving.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Rumour or Science?Rumour: “If you stop fillers, your face will sag more than before” — What does the science say?Does the face sag more than before once you stop fillers? Plain facts on what happens to hyaluronic acid, natural facial ageing and overfilling.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Rumour or Science?Rumour: “If filler is dissolved, your face’s own tissue dissolves too” — What does the science say?Does dissolving filler dissolve your own tissue too? How the enzyme hyaluronidase works, how the body renews its own hyaluronic acid, and the real risks.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board Rumour or Science?Rumour: “Botulinum toxin (commonly called ‘botox’) and fillers are addictive; once you start, you cannot stop” — What does the science say?Are botulinum toxin and fillers addictive? There is no physical dependence; the effect is temporary. What happens if you stop, and the warning signs.Reviewed by the Medical Aesthetics Expert Board