Fillers are amazing! They can really transform your face, in a good way (forget the pillow look) when given by practitioners who know what they're doing. Strategically placed fillers can very subtly and naturally (nobody would ever know!) help to banish the things about your face that bother you - whether it's thin lips, hollow eyes or sagging jowls.

Fillers are anti-ageing injections which contain a gel-like substance, most often hyaluronic acid, which can give the skin a rejuvenated look. When injected into the skin, dermal fillers quite literally ‘fill out’ lines and wrinkles, volumise hollow, sunken areas of the face and define and reshape facial features.

When filler is injected into the skin, it smooths out fine lines and wrinkles and plumps out areas which have lost volume. Essentially, dermal fillers work in place of diminished fat, collagen and elastin. Hyaluronic acid (the most common filler substance) makes a great injectable as it attracts and holds onto lots of water - this water then helps create the plumping effect underneath the skin.

Anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers are both injectable treatments that minimise the appearance of facial wrinkles. Both are effective options for the right patient, but they address slightly different concerns and have different mechanisms of action.

Anti-wrinkle injections are also known as neuromodulators. They work by temporarily stopping the normal motion of muscles into which they are injected. This treatment relaxes wrinkles that are the result of muscles repeatedly contracting in the same location.

Fillers work by literally filling in the area underneath the skin. This approach is useful for treating wrinkles that appear due to age-related fat loss and the deterioration of collagen and elastin. By replacing lost volume and filling lines, dermal fillers temporarily restore youthful fullness to the face.

Your practitioner will likely apply a topical numbing cream to the target area to help reduce pain as much as possible. Lots of modern fillers also contain lidocaine, which will continue to numb the area with each injection.

Some areas of the face will be more sensitive than others - like the lips but, talk to your practitioner about pain management options if you’re concerned.

When hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are used, results typically last for 6-18 months. But, their exact longevity will vary from person to person as it depends on how quickly each individual metabolises the filler.

ry not to touch the treated areas immediately after treatment as this can lead to infection or interfere with the placement of filler. Exercise, alcohol and heat should be avoided for the first couple of days after the treatment and you should wait 1-2 weeks before having any other aesthetic treatments.

There’s no downtime following a filler treatment, so you’ll be able to resume your plans as usual. And any side effects you encounter should clear up within a few days of your treatment.

But, you might want to clear your calendar of important events until any signs of redness, swelling and bruising have disappeared.