The procedure is tolerable and usually involves initial numbing with numbing cream for 15 to 20 minutes over the sites of injection.

The use of dermal fillers for facial sculpting can be considered an art and should not be rushed; typical sessions take 30 to 60 minutes, excluding numbing time.

Complications are also mitigated when the procedure is done more carefully and not rushed.

This depends on the area of treatment and method of treatment.

In general, you will be able to leave the clinic and return to work immediately after the session. Some patients might develop small bruises at the site of injection over the next few hours, but this typically settles over the following few days.

The application of dermal fillers in facial sculpting is no small feat, and a thorough discussion of possible complications with your doctor is important before choosing to undergo the procedure.

In general, common side effects include visible injection marks, bruising, slight swelling after injections, and slight redness that settles over a few hours.

Other less common side effects can occur, and are typically discussed in detail during a consultation.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are bio-degradable – they are naturally broken down into water and other compounds that are excreted from the body. Some residual effects from the stimulation of collage production within the area of injection might lead to some retained results in the long run, but HA fillers typically break down over the course of 1-2 years.
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HA fillers, as mentioned, are made in different concentrations and viscosity levels – harder, more concentrated HAs tend to break down over 1-2 years, while softer, more mould-able fillers typically break down over 9 months to 1 year.

​Furthermore, fillers placed in areas of high mobility – such as the lip – tend to break down faster; the effects in these areas tend to be lost over about 9 months.

As such, harder fillers that are used typically in less mobile areas (cheeks, chin, nose, jawline) tend to last between 1-2 years.

Softer fillers for slightly mobile areas or sensitive areas (temples, forehead) last about a year.

The softest fillers used for sensitive areas (under-eyes, lips) tend to last 9 months before requiring a touch-up.

While this is the projected longevity of HA fillers, some patients have been found to retain HA for a period of several years, hence maintaining appreciable results for a long period.

Fillers are recommended to be over two to three sessions – the first session to build the initial structure, the second to blend, and the third session for any touch-ups if necessary. This ensures a more careful approach to facial sculpting.

After these few initial sessions, touch-ups are done every 9 months to a year to maintain the results.

Yes, HA fillers placed into the skin can be reversed.

Hyaluronidase (or hyalase, for short) is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. It is used for patients who:

Are unhappy with initial results and want to erase it and restart

Have suffered a complication from previous treatments and need the HA removed