The deep folds and hollow areas on your face are gently filled and softened, so when you look in the mirror you see a fresher, less tired face that still looks like you.
Over time, the face slowly loses some of the fat pads and supporting tissue that sit beneath the skin. Certain areas sink, and folds begin to form. The most common ones run from the side of the nose down to the corner of the mouth (the nasolabial folds, or smile lines), from the corner of the mouth down toward the chin (the marionette lines), and across the hollow beneath the eyes. Smoothing these folds with dermal filler means injecting a filler material — usually a hyaluronic acid gel, a water-holding substance that your body already makes naturally — into these areas to replace lost volume and soften the grooves. Because there are no incisions and no surgery, the downtime is short, but the result is temporary. Here is how to tell whether this approach fits you.
Everything begins with a consultation. Your doctor will listen to what you are hoping for, examine the folds and hollows that concern you while looking at you from the front, from the side, and as you move the muscles of your face, and assess the cause of each fold — whether it comes from lost volume, sagging skin, or muscle movement. Your doctor will also ask about your medical history, the medicines you take, and any allergies. This is the time to be clear about what you want and to agree together on which areas to treat, a sensible amount of filler, and whether filler is the right approach for your concern at all.
Before the injection, your doctor usually applies a layer of numbing cream to the skin to keep you comfortable; many fillers also come pre-mixed with a local anaesthetic. The treatment is done right in the procedure room. You stay awake, and no general anaesthesia is needed.
Your doctor injects the filler into the correct layer beneath the skin at planned points along the fold or hollow, using a fine needle or a blunt-tipped tube called a cannula. The filler goes in a little at a time, and your doctor shapes it gradually so the surface sits smooth and even and the two sides stay balanced. Throughout, your doctor watches the contours of your face and adjusts as needed. The face has blood vessels that lie close to some of these folds, so your doctor works carefully within the safe anatomical plane.
The total time depends on how many areas are treated and how much filler is needed. One advantage of hyaluronic acid filler is that an enzyme called hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve some of it if the result is not what you hoped for — your doctor will discuss this with you.
The aim of the treatment is to replace lost volume so the folds and hollows soften and your face looks fresher and less tired — not to create a new face. This is a moderate and temporary change, visible almost right after the injection, and how long it lasts varies from person to person.
Most people go home right after the injection and return to their usual routine that same day. You may notice mild swelling, slight redness, or a few tiny needle marks at the treated area, sometimes with a little bruising. The points below are general estimates; everyone heals at their own pace.
This treatment is generally safe when carried out with the right technique by a doctor who has the proper training, but as with any injection, risks remain. Most problems do not happen, but they can — especially since some folds on the face lie close to blood vessels. You should understand the points below before deciding, and your doctor will go through them with you in detail.
Some folds on the face lie close to blood vessels, so injecting filler into these areas calls for a clear understanding of the anatomy and placing the filler in the correct, safe layer. For that reason, at The Gioi Dep, the treatment is carried out in a sterile setting by a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery who knows the blood vessel and nerve anatomy of the face — something that matters for limiting the rare but serious risks. Before any talk of technique, our doctors take the time to examine each fold that concerns you and find its cause, so the plan is built around your own face rather than a one-size-fits-all template.
Our doctors speak honestly with you about what filler can truly do for each fold — including when the honest thing to say is that a particular fold comes mainly from sagging skin and would suit a different approach, such as a facelift, rather than steering you toward this treatment. We talk with you beforehand about the type of filler used and how we would handle any adjustment, including the option of an enzyme injection to dissolve it, and we arrange for you to return so we can assess the result once the treated area has settled. You can always reach out again if anything is worrying you.
Before the injection, your doctor usually applies numbing cream to the skin, and many fillers come pre-mixed with anaesthetic, so most people feel only a slight prick or mild pressure during the injection. Afterward, the treated area may feel a little tight or tender for a short while.
The goal is to soften the folds in a quiet, subtle way so your face looks fresher, not to make an obvious change. The result tends to look natural when the filler is placed moderately and in the right layer. How natural it looks also depends on your hopes and the features you already have, so talk things through carefully with your doctor about what you want.
Most people return to their routine and work the same day, because this is an injection treatment with no surgery. If there is mild swelling or a little bruising, it usually fades within a few days. The exact time depends on your own body and the nature of your work.
Filler helps soften and fade folds, but for very deep folds or ones that form from facial muscle movement, the result has limits and may not erase them fully. Your doctor will assess each fold and tell you honestly how much real improvement is possible.
Filler is temporary and gradually dissolves over time, usually within a few months to over a year, depending on the type of filler, the area treated, and your own body. When the fold begins to return, you can have a top-up injection if you want to maintain it.
Because the filler goes in through a fine needle or small cannula rather than a cut in the skin, this treatment usually leaves no scar. There may be tiny needle marks or light bruising at the injection points, and these usually disappear after a few days.
If a hyaluronic acid filler is used, your doctor can inject an enzyme called hyaluronidase to dissolve some of it and adjust the result. This is one advantage of this type of filler. Your doctor will talk with you about the right way to handle it.
Most treatments go smoothly, but some folds on the face lie close to blood vessels, so there is a rare risk of filler entering or pressing on a blood vessel. For this reason, the treatment needs to be carried out by a doctor who understands the blood vessel anatomy of the face and knows how to prevent and manage this. Your doctor will go through the risks clearly with you.
Age on its own is not a barrier. What matters more is your general health, the condition of your skin, and the cause of the folds that concern you. Your doctor will assess these factors during the consultation to see whether this approach fits you.
You usually see a change almost right after the injection. As the early mild swelling settles, usually within a few days to a week, the filler settles into the tissue and you see your result clearly as it nears its final look.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.