Dermal Fillers FAQs

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Dermal fillers are the most-requested non-surgical treatment at Centre for Surgery, and the questions patients ask in consultation tend to repeat. This FAQ collects the answers we give most often — covering longevity, safety, sleeping position, the right starting age, and what really happens during and after a filler appointment.

At our Baker Street clinic in Marylebone, all dermal filler treatments are performed by GMC-registered doctors using hyaluronic acid-based fillers. Hyaluronic OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow's Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis TreatmentChronic Migraine ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line FillersLiquid RhinoplastyNon-Surgical Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in skin, joints, and connective tissue; it binds water and provides cushioning and structure. Because it is broken down by enzymes the body already produces, hyaluronic acid fillers are gradually absorbed over months — and can be dissolved on demand if needed. This is the safety feature that sets them apart from older permanent fillers and biostimulators like Sculptra or Radiesse, which we do not use.

If you can’t find your question below, our patient coordinators are happy to talk things through on .

How long do dermal fillers last?

The honest answer is "it depends" — typically between 6 and 18 months, but this varies meaningfully by area and by patient. Lip fillers tend to break down fastest because the lips are constantly moving, eating, drinking and being expressed; expect 6 to 9 months on average. Cheek and jawline fillers placed deep on bone last longest — often 12 to 18 months — because they sit in a quieter anatomical layer. Tear trough fillers under the eye sit somewhere in the middle, usually 9 to 12 months.

Your individual metabolism, exercise level, and product choice all influence longevity. Patients who train intensively or have high baseline metabolic rates often metabolise filler faster than sedentary patients. We discuss realistic expectations during consultation rather than promising a specific timeframe, because over-promising on duration is a common red flag in this industry.

RELATED: Lip Fillers London | Cheek Fillers London | Tear Trough Fillers

At what age should I start dermal fillers?

There is no single correct age. Most patients have their first treatment between 25 and 40, often to address volume loss in the mid-face or to enhance lip shape. Volume loss in the cheeks usually becomes visible in the early thirties as bone resorption and fat-pad shrinkage begin; subtle cheek filler at this stage can pre-empt the deeper folds that develop later.

We do not treat anyone under 18, and we are cautious with patients in their late teens and early twenties — at that age, the face is generally still gaining definition, and intervention is rarely needed. If a young patient comes in asking for filler to copy a specific celebrity or social-media aesthetic, we will often suggest waiting and re-evaluating in a year. Good filler work is invisible; aggressive filler in a young face usually isn’t.

RELATED: How Young is Too Young for Anti Wrinkle Injections?

Are dermal fillers safe?

Hyaluronic acid fillers have an excellent safety record when administered by a trained medical practitioner who understands facial anatomy. The most common side effects — swelling, bruising, mild tenderness — are predictable and resolve within a week.

Serious complications are rare but possible.