Dermal Fillers

An honest, insider guide to dermal fillers in the UK. What it really is, what it costs, what it involves, and how to choose a provider worth trusting.

What dermal fillers actually is

Dermal fillers are injectable gels that add volume and structure. Most are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in skin, which has the advantage of being dissolvable if needed. They restore volume lost with age, contour the cheeks, define the jaw and chin, and soften deeper folds such as the lines from nose to mouth.

Filler suits people who want to replace lost volume or refine facial shape, rather than soften movement lines, which is the job of anti wrinkle injections. The two are often used together. Filler is not a treatment for fine surface lines or overall skin quality, where skin boosters or resurfacing are better suited.

Because filler changes facial structure, restraint and anatomical knowledge are everything. The best results look like good genes rather than treatment.

What to expect, step by step

A first visit centres on a consultation. A good injector studies your face as a whole, discusses what you want to change, and explains what filler can realistically achieve and where it is not the answer. They confirm your medical history and choose a product suited to the area being treated.

Treatment usually takes around twenty to forty minutes. Most fillers contain a local anaesthetic, and numbing cream is often applied first, so discomfort is usually mild. Results are visible immediately, though some swelling settles over the following days before you see the final shape.

Is it right for you?

Dermal fillers suit people who have lost volume with age or who want to refine the balance of their features, for example more defined cheeks, a stronger jaw or softened folds. They appeal to those who want an immediate, visible change that can be adjusted or dissolved if needed.

They are not the right tool for fine surface lines, overall skin quality or significant skin laxity, and they cannot replace the lift of a surgical procedure. People prone to cold sores, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should raise this at consultation, as should anyone with a history of filler complications.

The honest cost

Filler is usually priced per millilitre. As an indicative 2026 range, expect around £250 to £600 per millilitre. Cheek contouring often uses two millilitres or more, so a session can run from around £300 to £600 or higher with premium lifting gels. Jaw and chin work is similar, and folds around the mouth are often a single millilitre.

Price reflects the brand and quality of the gel, the volume used, the practitioner's experience and the clinic's location, with London at the top of the range. A more experienced injector treating a complex area will reasonably cost more.

A price under about £150 per millilitre should raise questions. It can point to an unregulated product, a very inexperienced injector, or both. With filler, the cheapest option is rarely the safe one.

London clinics generally sit at the top of the per millilitre range, with regional clinics often more affordable for the same product and volume. The bigger driver of total cost is how much filler is genuinely needed, so a conservative plan from a skilled injector can cost less and look better than a larger volume from a cheaper one.

Risks, downtime and results

Common short term effects are bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection sites, which usually appear within hours and settle over a few days. Small lumps can sometimes be felt early on and are often massaged out or settle naturally.

The most serious risk is vascular occlusion, where filler enters or compresses a blood vessel. This can restrict blood supply and, rarely, cause skin damage, or in very rare cases affect vision. A trained injector reduces this risk through technique and keeps hyaluronidase, the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid filler, on site to act quickly if needed. This is one reason to choose a medically qualified provider.

Results are immediate but not guaranteed to look identical for everyone, and longevity varies. As a guide, lips last around six to twelve months, cheeks twelve to eighteen months, and jawline up to about two years, after which the body gradually absorbs the gel. Cosmetic filler is not available to under 18s in England.

Aftercare and getting the best result

For the first day or two, avoid heavy exercise, alcohol, very hot environments and pressure on the treated area, and try not to massage it unless your clinician advises otherwise. Mild swelling, tenderness or bruising is normal and usually settles within a few days.

Sip water, sleep slightly elevated if your face feels puffy, and use arnica or a cold compress if your clinic recommends it. Importantly, know who to call if you develop unusual pain, blanching or skin colour changes, since prompt action matters with the rare vascular complication.

How to choose a safe provider

Favour a medically qualified injector, a doctor, dentist or nurse with advanced facial anatomy training, working in a clinical setting with hyaluronidase available. Ask which product will be used and why, and what happens if there is a complication.

A strong consultation assesses your face as a whole, explains the plan and the realistic outcome, and is comfortable recommending less rather than more. Be cautious of very low prices, unbranded or unnamed products, pressure to add more millilitres than you came for, and anyone who cannot explain how they manage a vascular complication.

Frequently asked questions

Keep exploring

Dermal fillers are often planned alongside anti wrinkle treatment and skin quality work. Explore the related pages below.