Before you get dermal fillers, you’ll have a consultation with your healthcare provider. You may wish to see a dermatologist, a healthcare provider who specializes in caring for skin. They’ll examine your face and ask about your goals and what areas you’d like to enhance.
They may mark your face with a pen or marker to show where the injections will be. They may also take pictures of your face. Your healthcare provider will recommend a specific type of filler or fillers and review possible side effects and recovery time.
During this consultation, your healthcare provider will also ask about your medical history. It’s important to tell them if you’re taking any medications, as some drugs can increase the risk of complications after getting fillers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have:
You can get dermal fillers in your healthcare provider’s office. Some people choose to get dermal fillers in a medical spa (also called a medspa or medispa). This is a medical clinic that delivers cosmetic procedures in a spa-like environment. Your healthcare provider cleans your skin and may apply a lotion or cream with an anesthetic. The anesthetic numbs the area so the treatment will be more comfortable.
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Using a thin needle, your healthcare provider injects small amounts of fillers under your skin. The needle will pinch or sting, but most people don’t experience much pain during these injections. Your healthcare provider may inject the fillers in several areas. The whole process can take a few minutes or up to an hour.
After receiving dermal filler injections, your healthcare provider will cleanse your skin. They may give you an ice pack to ease pain and swelling.
You may have bruises, swelling or discomfort after getting the injections. Usually, these side effects are mild and go away in a few days.
Many people see results right away after getting these injections. But everyone’s results are different. How long it takes to see results (and how long they last) depends on several factors, including the type of treatment you received.
The process for facial fat grafting is a little different. First, your healthcare provider removes fat from your own body using liposuction. After purifying the fat, they inject it into your face. This is usually an outpatient procedure (you go home the same day).
Because a fat grafting procedure requires an extra step, the process is more complicated than receiving off-the-shelf dermal fillers. Following liposuction and facial fat grafting, you may need to rest for up to two weeks. Ask your healthcare provider about the recovery time and whether this procedure is right for you.
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Many people see results of dermal fillers right away. The injections usually take less than an hour, and you can get them right in your healthcare provider’s office. Because it’s a nonsurgical treatment, recovery time is minimal.
Depending on the type of filler, results can last months or even years. Some fillers work for more than two years. Dermal fillers are also typically less expensive than elective surgical procedures.
Serious complications are rare, and some of these side effects are only temporary. But as with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there are risks. They include:
Rarely, people have vision problems following dermal filler injections. If you have problems with your eyesight, along with weakness, discomfort or pain on one side of your body, get immediate medical help.
Everyone’s recovery time is different. Your recovery time depends on:
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Most people can get back to the activities they enjoy right after getting dermal filler injections. Your healthcare provider may recommend taking a break from rigorous exercise or physical activity for a day or two, though.
After getting dermal fillers, call your healthcare provider right away if you have:
Dermal fillers smooth wrinkles and restore volume to sagging skin. Many people choose to get these injections because results are noticeable right away and recovery time is minimal. As with any elective cosmetic procedure, there’s a risk of side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits, as well as the best type of dermal fillers for you. After getting these injections, call your healthcare provider if you have bleeding, pain or swelling or signs of an allergic reaction.
How you look can affect how you feel. If you’re worried about lines and wrinkles, Cleveland Clinic’s experts can help you navigate the world of cosmetic injectables.
Last reviewed on 04/06/2022.
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