Dermal Fillers
Restore volume and contour to the face.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers restore volume, refine contours, and soften select lines without surgery. Whether plumping the lips, defining the cheeks, or softening smile lines, fillers provide immediate, natural-looking rejuvenation.
Request a Private ConsultationThe Ideal Candidate
- Loss of volume in the cheeks, lips, temples, chin, or jawline
- Smile lines, marionette lines, or contour changes related to volume loss
- Desire for immediate non-surgical facial contouring
- Comfort with temporary results and maintenance treatments
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia
- Estimated Duration
- 30–60 minutes
- Downtime
- None to 2 days
- Return to Work
- No downtime required for most patients. Return to work and social activities is immediate in the majority of cases.
Surgical Technique
Dermal filler treatment starts with facial analysis and a personalized injection plan. Numbing cream is applied before treatment. The plan is based on where volume has been lost, where support is needed, and how each area moves with expression. Small blunt-tip tubes may be used in higher-risk areas such as the temples, smile-line region, and under-eye area, while fine needles may be used for precise shaping in areas like the chin and jawline. The filler is placed at the depth and in the amount needed for that specific area, with product choice matched to the goal.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are a good fit for adults who want non-surgical volume restoration or contour refinement. They can help cheeks, lips, temples, chin, jawline, and selected folds or hollows. Candidates should not be pregnant or breastfeeding, should have no active skin infection in the treatment area, and should understand that fillers are temporary and do not replace lifting surgery when tissue descent is the main issue.
Recovery
Dermal filler treatment has little to no downtime for most patients. Mild swelling, redness, tenderness, or bruising at injection sites usually improves within two to three days. Ice can be used shortly after treatment to reduce swelling. Strenuous exercise and alcohol are usually avoided for twenty-four hours. Results are visible right away and look more settled as swelling improves during the first week. Lip filler swelling can take up to two weeks to fully settle.
Immediate Post-Treatment
Ice applied to reduce swelling. Avoid alcohol, exercise, and facial massage for 24 hours.
Settling Phase
Bruising and swelling subside. Filler integrates into tissue. Final result visible by 1–2 weeks.
Maintenance
Effect gradually diminishes depending on product and area. Touch-up or repeat treatment recommended to maintain results.
Dermal Fillers Risks & Considerations
The most serious dermal filler risk is vascular occlusion, which happens when filler enters or compresses a blood vessel and reduces blood flow. This can lead to tissue ischemia, meaning poor blood supply to the skin, and in very rare cases blindness when injections are near vessels around the eye. Risk is reduced with anatomy-based technique, low-pressure injection, and small blunt-tip tubes in selected higher-risk areas. Hyaluronidase is kept available to dissolve hyaluronic acid filler if urgent treatment is needed. More common risks include bruising, swelling, lumpiness, asymmetry, infection, and a bluish tint if filler is placed too superficially.
- Bruising and swelling
- Vascular occlusion (blocked blood flow, rare but serious)
- Tyndall effect (bluish discoloration from superficial filler)
- Nodules or lumpiness
- Infection
- Allergic reaction
- Asymmetry
Alternatives to Dermal Fillers
Botox treats expression lines caused by muscle movement but does not restore lost volume. Fat grafting can provide longer-lasting volume restoration with a surgical recovery. A facelift, neck lift, or Glidelift™ may be more appropriate when the main issue is tissue descent rather than volume loss. In many patients, fillers are best used as part of a broader facial plan rather than as a substitute for surgery.
Dermal Fillers Patient Guides
Medical Sources
Dermal Fillers - Frequently Asked Questions
- How long do fillers last?
- Depending on the product and area, fillers can last anywhere from six months to several years.
- What are fillers made of?
- Most modern fillers are made of Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin.
- Is the treatment painful?
- Many fillers contain a local anesthetic. Patients typically feel a slight pressure during injection.
- Can fillers be reversed?
- Yes. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved quickly with a special enzyme if needed.
- When will I see results?
- The results of dermal fillers are visible immediately, though some minor swelling may take a few days to subside.
Ready to talk through your options?
Every plan begins with a conversation about your anatomy, your goals, and whether this is genuinely the right procedure for you.
Schedule a ConsultationPerformed by Dr. Ruben Castro in Newport Beach, California