Dermal filler

Gel injected under the skin to add volume or smooth lines in areas such as the lips, cheeks, chin and smile lines. Most cosmetic fillers are hyaluronic acid (HA), which the body absorbs over time. Others, such as calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid and PMMA, last longer and can be harder to remove.

Adults who want temporary volume or smoothing. In the US, fillers are approved for adults 22 and older. The US FDA has not approved fillers for the nose, between the eyebrows, around the eyes, the forehead or the neck.

The area is assessed and marked, then numbed. The filler is injected and the area may be gently shaped.

Most activities can resume right away, but avoid intense exercise for 24–48 hours. Swelling, bruising, redness or an overfilled look usually improve within hours to a few days.

• Bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness and itching
• Lumps, filler you can feel under the skin, or under- or over-correction
• Infection or allergic reaction
• Filler moving away from the injection site
• Rare but serious: injection into a blood vessel, which can cause skin death (necrosis), vision loss or blindness, or stroke

• Avoid intense exercise for 24–48 hours
• Use ice to ease swelling if the clinic advises it
• Seek emergency care for vision changes, or for severe pain or weakness on one side of the body