Dermal Fillers by the Numbers: Amounts, How Long Results Last and Review Times

Non-surgical aesthetic treatments come with their own set of numbers: how much product is used, how long results last and how soon you should be reviewed. Knowing these figures makes it easier to plan treatment sensibly, budget for maintenance and spot a clinic that is rushing you. Here are the numbers worth knowing, and a few simple ways to keep track.

Amounts: measured in millilitres

Hyaluronic acid fillers come in small syringes, usually 1ml, and a careful practitioner will often use less than you expect. As a rough guide:

• Lips: often around half to one syringe, building gradually rather than all at once
• Cheeks: usually one to two syringes, shared between both sides
• Jawline: a larger area, so it often needs more product to create a visible change

Because the jaw is a bigger structure than the lips, jaw filler in Nottingham and elsewhere is often planned over more than one appointment, adding definition in stages so the result stays natural.

Duration: months, not years

Hyaluronic acid is gradually broken down by the body, so results are temporary. How long they last depends on the area, the product and how much the area moves:

• Lips: commonly around six to twelve months, as the lips move constantly
• Cheeks, chin and jaw: often twelve months or more, as these areas move less
• Dissolving: hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved if needed, which is one reason it is the most widely used type

Choosing dermal fillers made from hyaluronic acid, from a practitioner who explains which product they use and why, gives you that safety net.

Timings: swelling, settling and review

• First few days: swelling and tenderness are normal, especially in the lips
• Around two weeks: swelling has settled and the result can be judged properly
• Review appointment: many practitioners check in at around two weeks before deciding whether anything more is needed

Lines and wrinkles: a different treatment

Fillers add volume, but they are not the usual treatment for lines caused by expression, such as frown lines and crow's feet. Treatments for those lines use a prescription-only medicine, so they must start with a face-to-face consultation with a qualified prescriber, who will decide whether treatment is suitable. If lines are your main concern, book a consultation about lines and wrinkles and ask the practitioner to explain the options, how long results typically last and when you would be reviewed.

Age and safety

In England it is illegal to give cosmetic fillers or botulinum toxin to anyone under 18. Whatever your age, look for a practitioner who is insured, takes a full medical history and is happy to say no if a treatment is not right for you.

Three ways to chart your results

• Photo timeline: photos in the same light before treatment, at two weeks and every few months afterwards
• Treatment log: the date, area, product and amount used at each appointment, so future treatment can be planned accurately
• Maintenance tracker: months between appointments for each area, to show how long results really last for you

A simple record makes each consultation more useful and helps you and your practitioner keep results natural over time. For more on charting results for skin and aesthetic treatments, see our skin clinics category.