The Dos and Don’ts Of Filler

These days it's almost as de rigueur as a facial or brow threading, but filler is still a specialist procedure and should be treated as such. Here’s the guide to getting flawless filler, every time.

Gone are the days when injectables were only discussed in hushed tones by the super-wealthy. Thanks to social media and, arguably, reality TV, the veil has been well and truly lifted on the world of “tweakments”. With more and more of us going under the needle than ever before, Vogue grilled three aesthetic doctors, Dr Tapan Patel, Dr Sarah Tonks, and Dr Nima for their top tips.

 

DO your homework when finding an aesthetic doctor

Never book in with a practitioner simply based on a friend’s review – take the time to check them out yourself. “Ideally, you want an aesthetic doctor with a solid background in cosmetic procedures to do your treatment,” advised Dr Tonks. “The best result is going to come from somebody who does these treatments day in and day out. The benefit of them being a doctor is that they can manage any complications safely, as well as delivering a great result.” For example, if you find a practitioner

whose website says they’re an aesthetic doctor and an orthopaedic surgeon, chances are they do one of those services a lot more than the other, and it won’t be the filler.

 

DON’T be swayed by filler deals

The opportunity to save some cash, especially if you’re on a budget, may seem appealing, but Dr Patel advised that no reputable clinic would entice customers that way. “I see deals such as ‘book now for 20 per cent off’ or ‘bring a friend and get a discount,’” said Dr Patel. “Or I see patients who had their filler done on a whim on a cruise ship, or because they accompanied a friend to their appointment then decided to have some, too! Incentivising people in such a way goes against good medical practice and should be a big red flag.” The clinic should always be upfront about the cost of your treatment, and if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

DO see the whole face

When you look at your practitioner’s portfolio, (and indeed, you should) make sure you see photos of client’s whole faces, not just specific areas. “This is quite common with what we call the injectable nose job. Practitioners will post a photo on Instagram that just shows the nose in isolation for a before and after – but then you have no idea how it looks in combination the rest of their face. It might be completely unbalanced. Look for clear photos of a whole face,” advised Dr Tonks.

 

 

DON’T get filler after a break-up

While a drastic haircut may be more commonly associated with that post-relationship breakdown period, Dr Nima says he often hears of people getting tweakments after a break-up. “It’s not a good idea to have something done when you’re not in a good place psychologically,” he cautioned. Even though filler can be broken down, it’s unnecessarily invasive and as Dr Nima noted, the process can affect your natural stores of collagen.

 

DON’T have a same-day filler consultation and procedure

According to Dr Patel, your consultation should always be a separate appointment that happens well before the procedure. “A cooling-off period is really important so you can decide if the treatment really is right for you. The consultation is your time to ask lots of questions, see examples of their work and understand what the costs are. If they aren’t upfront about any of these things, that’s another red flag.”

 

DO keep an open mind about where you get filler

Both Dr Tonks and Dr Patel concurred that it’s quite common for clients to come in convinced they need a certain area treated, when in reality, it’s not going to give them the effect they desire. “70 per cent of a good result is diagnosis,” explained Dr Tonks. “The rest is technique. The face needs to be balanced and just pumping up volume in what you think is your problem area won’t necessarily do the trick. For example, if you feel your eyes are a little hollow, injecting the tear trough might not be as useful as injecting a little in the upper eyelid.” Dr Nima agreed, noting, “Strategically placing filler in certain areas can help enhance features without making them look obvious. Placing a lot of filler in one go is uncontrolled, and may lead to complications, as well as the need to remove the filler later.”

 

DON’T have a filler treatment close to a big event

A special day like a wedding or a reunion might be the impetus to go under the needle, but be sure to leave plenty of time to recover. “Filler isn’t that invasive and the healing is usually fast,” said Dr Tonks. “But I would still advise leaving at least a week before a big event, in case you are one of the unlucky ones who does get a bit more bruising or swelling.”

 

DO ask about the brand of filler used

One of the questions you should ask at your consultation is what brand of filler your practitioner uses. Dr Patel favours the Juvederm family of Volbella, Voluma and Vollure, which Dr Tonks uses, along with Teosyal occasionally. You want to be able to go home and research the brand after your consultation – if you can’t find reputable information online, don’t go back there.

 

DON’T have permanent filler

It’s far less common these days, but permanent filler does still crop up from time to time. While it may sound like a great idea, especially considering standard fillers break down around the nine month mark, all the doctors warned against it. “With standard filler, if you’re unhappy, we can dissolve it fairly easily. You can’t do that with permanent filler, and if it goes badly or gets infected, you’re in real trouble,” warned Dr Tonks.

Credit: Vogue