Key Highlights
- Facial ageing is driven largely by volume loss, not just wrinkles or sagging skin
- Dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid to restore lost structure beneath the skin
- Different areas of the face need different filler thickness and injection depth
- Results typically last between six months and two years depending on the product used
What’s Really Behind an Ageing Face
Most people assume wrinkles are the main sign of ageing, but volume loss usually comes first and drives a lot of what follows. As fat pads shift and bone density gradually decreases, the face loses its underlying support structure, which is what eventually causes skin to look hollow or lax. This is where dermal filler injections come in, since they work by rebuilding that lost structure rather than simply smoothing the surface.
Understanding this distinction changes how people think about treatment. Rather than chasing individual lines, many are now looking at dermal fillers for the face as a way to restore shape and proportion first, with smoother skin often following as a natural result of that structural support returning.
Where Fillers Are Commonly Used
Not all areas of the face lose volume at the same rate, and treatment plans usually reflect that. Here’s a general look at where dermal filler injections tend to be used and why:
- Cheeks: restoring width and lift that softens with age
- Under-eyes: reducing hollowing and shadowing
- Jawline: sharpening definition that fat loss has blurred
- Lips: adding shape without changing overall proportion
- Temples: filling hollows that can make the whole face look sunken
Most treatment plans focus on one or two of these areas rather than addressing everything in a single session, since overcorrection can look more obvious than the volume loss it’s meant to fix.
How the Treatment Actually Works
Dermal fillers are typically made from hyaluronic acid, a substance the body already produces naturally to keep skin hydrated and plump. Because of this, the product integrates with surrounding tissue rather than sitting as a foreign material, which is part of why results tend to look and feel natural when done well. The injection itself is quick, usually taking under an hour depending on how many areas are being treated.
Most people experience mild swelling or bruising for a few days afterwards, though this varies depending on the area treated and individual healing. Numbing cream or a local anaesthetic in the filler itself usually keeps discomfort to a minimum throughout the appointment, and most dermal filler injections are completed well within a lunch break.
Who Tends to Benefit From Facial Fillers
Fillers aren’t limited to any single age group, though the reasons people seek them out do tend to shift over time. Younger patients often use dermal fillers for the face to enhance or balance features, such as adding subtle definition to the jawline or lips, without addressing ageing concerns at all.
Older patients, on the other hand, more commonly seek fillers to replace volume that’s genuinely been lost over the years, restoring a fuller, more supported look to the cheeks and mid-face. In both cases, a thorough consultation helps determine which areas will actually make a visible difference, rather than treating areas by default.
Comparing Filler Options and How Long They Last
Not every filler behaves the same way once injected, and the right choice often depends on the area being treated. The table below outlines how common filler types compare:
| Filler Thickness | Best Suited For | Typical Longevity |
| Fine/soft | Lips, under-eyes | 6-9 months |
| Medium | Cheeks, nasolabial folds | 9-14 months |
| Firm/structural | Jawline, chin, temples | 12-24 months |
Choosing dermal fillers for the face isn’t just about the treatment area, though – metabolism, activity level, and skin quality all affect how long results actually hold. A proper consultation is usually the best way to set realistic expectations before booking anything.
Getting Volume Restoration Right From the Start
Fillers work best as a considered, gradual process rather than a single dramatic change. Building volume slowly across sessions, rather than overcorrecting in one go, tends to produce results that age naturally alongside the rest of the face rather than looking fixed in time.
The product used, the depth of injection, and the practitioner’s understanding of facial anatomy all matter more than the brand name on the syringe. Taking time to discuss goals and expectations beforehand makes the difference between a result that looks refreshed and one that looks overdone.
Contact Dr Valentin Low to arrange a consultation and find out which areas would benefit most from restored volume.