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A good filler result is hard to point to. People say you look well, or rested. Nobody asks what you had done.
That is the result we work toward at Nuey Aesthetics. It depends on the product and the injector, and it also depends on how the appointment feels. Being listened to. Feeling at ease in the chair. Knowing the price before you sit down.
This guide covers what dermal fillers are, what they can and cannot do, how treatment feels, what it costs and how long it lasts.
What are dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are soft gels injected under the skin to add volume, shape or support. Most are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance your body already makes to help skin hold onto water.
You may know them by name. Juvéderm, Restylane, RHA and Revanesse are all hyaluronic acid filler ranges, and each range includes several products. Some are soft and flexible, made for lips and fine lines. Others are firmer, made to support cheeks or a jawline. Each product is FDA-approved for specific uses, and those uses differ from one product to the next.
A good provider picks the product to suit the area and the result you want. Our dermal fillers page shows the areas we treat and what each typically involves.
One injectable that adds volume works quite differently. Sculptra is not a hyaluronic acid filler. It encourages your skin to build its own collagen over several months. Our comparison of Sculptra vs filler explains when each one makes sense.
How do dermal fillers work
The gel does two jobs once it is in place. It takes up space, and it draws in water.
Placed under a hollow or along a bone, it restores volume that has faded or adds a little definition that was never there. Because hyaluronic acid holds water, the result feels soft and moves with your face rather than sitting on top of it.
Your body breaks the gel down gradually over the following months. That is why results are temporary, and why they fade slowly rather than all at once.
It is also why hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved. An enzyme called hyaluronidase breaks the gel down, usually within a few days. If a result ever needs adjusting, there is a clear way back, which is one of the more reassuring things about this kind of filler.
What are dermal fillers used for
With that flexibility, filler can do quite different jobs in different parts of the face. The areas we treat include lips, cheeks, chin, jawline, temples, under the eyes, the folds around the mouth and the backs of the hands.
Lips are where many people start. A soft filler can add shape, a little volume or better balance between the upper and lower lip. Our guide to lip filler in Newport Beach sets out our conservative approach. If you only want the upper lip to show a little more, compare lip flip vs lip filler first. If dryness is the main concern, our piece on lip and skin hydration may be more relevant.
Under the eyes, a small amount of filler can soften the hollow that makes you look tired when you are not. It is a delicate area that suits some people better than others, which our guide to under eye hollowing explains.
Cheeks, chin and jawline are about structure. Filler placed along the bone can restore lift to the midface or bring a profile into balance. These areas often take two syringes, because the product is there to support rather than fill.
The areas also affect each other. A little support in the cheeks can soften the fold beside the nose without putting any filler in the fold itself. That is why we look at the whole face before suggesting a plan, even when you came in about one area.
Who is a good candidate for dermal fillers
Healthy adults who want to restore or add volume, shape or definition. The simplest way to tell is to look at your face when it is completely still.
A line that only appears when you frown or smile comes from muscle movement, and wrinkle relaxers are the better match. A hollow, a fold or a line that is there when your face is at rest is usually about volume. That is where filler fits. Plenty of faces have both, and our comparison of Botox vs dermal fillers covers how the two work together.
Expectations matter as much as anatomy. Filler can restore and refine. It does not change who you look like. A good provider will tell you when what you want is better served by a different treatment, or by no treatment at all.
If you have had filler before and do not like how it looks, you have options. Our guide on what to do if you are unhappy with your filler walks through them. Whether filler suits you is something to settle in a consultation, not in front of a mirror at home.
How to prepare for dermal fillers
Very little. Skip alcohol for a day beforehand and, if it is medically safe for you, pause supplements that thin the blood, such as fish oil and vitamin E. That lowers your chance of bruising.
Never stop a prescribed medication to prepare for a cosmetic treatment. Tell your provider what you take and let them advise. Eat before you come in, and book at least two weeks ahead of any event so swelling has time to settle. Full guidance is on our pre and post treatment care page.
One more thing helps. If there is a look you like, bring a photo. A photo of yourself from a few years ago is often more useful than a photo of someone else.
What to expect during a dermal filler appointment
Plan for thirty to sixty minutes. Much of that time is spent talking, not injecting.
Your provider will start by asking what you would like to change and why. They will look at your face at rest and in motion, explain what they suggest and tell you what it would cost. You hear the plan before anything happens. There is no pressure to go ahead on the day. Feeling at ease and being listened to are the two things our patients mention most in their reviews. We treat this part as seriously as the injections.
Then comes numbing. Many fillers contain lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic, and a numbing cream is often applied first too. People commonly describe the sensation as pressure rather than sharp pain. Lips are the most sensitive area, and our guide to whether lip filler hurts covers what to expect there.
A careful injector works in small amounts and checks as they go. Expect to sit up a few times so your provider can see how the result looks with your face upright and relaxed.
The setting matters too. Our studios are designed to feel calm and considered rather than clinical, and patients comment on the space often. That is deliberate. Being relaxed makes the whole appointment easier, including the part with the needle.
What results can you expect
You will see a difference before you leave, though the first few days are not the final picture. Swelling is normal, especially in the lips, and can make an area look fuller than it will settle.
Allow about two weeks. By then swelling has gone down and the filler has softened into the surrounding tissue. That is the right point to judge the result, and a sensible time for a review if anything needs refining.
Our preference is to start conservatively. It is easy to add a little more at a later visit. Taking filler away means dissolving it.
How long do dermal fillers last
Once settled, results typically last six to eighteen months. Where you fall in that range depends on the product, the area and how quickly your body breaks hyaluronic acid down.
Areas that move a lot sit at the shorter end. Lips are the clearest example. Deeper placements along the bone, in the cheeks or chin, tend to last longer, and firmer products usually outlast softer ones.
There is no fixed schedule for coming back. Some patients top up lips once a year and structural areas less often. You can also stop at any time. As the filler breaks down, the area gradually returns to how it would have looked without treatment.
What are the side effects of dermal fillers
Usually mild and short-lived. Swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising at the injection sites are common and tend to settle within a few days to a week. Small firm spots can sometimes be felt in the first couple of weeks and usually soften as the filler settles.
Less commonly, filler can sit unevenly or show a faint bluish tint if it is placed too close to the surface. Both can be corrected, often by dissolving the product.
The most serious risk is rare. If filler enters or presses on a blood vessel, it can restrict blood flow to the skin and, very rarely, affect vision. That is why anatomy, technique and training matter so much. It is also why every injector should keep hyaluronidase on hand and know how to use it. Your provider will go through the full risk profile with you before treatment.
Contact the clinic straight away if you notice pain that is getting worse, skin that turns pale or dusky, or any change in your vision. Early attention matters.
Who should avoid dermal fillers
Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone with an active infection, cold sore or rash near the treatment area and anyone with a known allergy to the filler's ingredients, including lidocaine. Some autoimmune conditions and medications need a conversation first.
If you get cold sores, mention it when you book, since lip treatment can trigger one. Dental work or a vaccination close to your appointment is worth mentioning too. None of this is a self-assessment. Bring your medication list and expect questions about your history. A provider who declines to treat when it is not right for you is doing their job well.
Dermal filler aftercare
Keep the first day or two simple. Avoid touching or pressing the area and skip strenuous exercise, heat and alcohol for 24 to 48 hours. Sleep on your back with your head slightly raised the first night.
A cold compress helps with swelling. Hold off on facials, massage and dental work for about two weeks, since pressure can move filler before it settles. Makeup can usually go back on the next day. Full instructions are on our pre and post treatment care page, and our FAQ covers common questions.
How much do dermal fillers cost
At Nuey Aesthetics, dermal fillers are $295 to $595 per syringe, depending on the product used. You pay by the syringe, so the total depends on how many your plan needs.
Areas that usually take one syringe, such as lips, chin, under the eyes and marionette lines, start at $295. Areas that usually take two, such as cheeks, jawline and the folds beside the nose, start at $590. Dissolving filler starts at $200 per area.
Every price is published on our treatments page and is the same for everyone. Your provider confirms the cost of your plan before treatment begins. First-time guests receive $100 off their first syringe through our new guest offers, which brings lip filler to $195. The offer covers a first syringe only, and full terms are on the offers page.
We price this way by design. The products, the provider training and the studio experience are the same for every guest. If spreading the cost helps, financing is available.
Dermal fillers in Newport Beach and Studio City
Both studios offer dermal fillers at the same published prices and to the same clinical standards. Our Newport Beach studio serves Orange County. Our Studio City studio serves the San Fernando Valley and the wider Los Angeles area. Membership and pricing carry across both, so you can book at whichever suits you.
Treatment is provided by registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other qualified medical providers, under the guidance of an experienced medical director. Both studios were designed around the same idea, that you should feel at ease from the moment you arrive. You can read more about how we work on our philosophy page, or find addresses and hours on our locations page.
Frequently asked questions
Are dermal fillers the same as Botox?
No. Botox is a wrinkle relaxer, one of several alongside Dysport, Letybo and Xeomin. Wrinkle relaxers soften lines caused by muscle movement. Dermal fillers add volume and shape where it has faded. They answer different questions, which is why many treatment plans include both.
Does getting filler hurt?
It is usually described as pressure and brief stinging rather than sharp pain. Many fillers contain lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic, and numbing cream is often applied first too. Lips are the most sensitive area. If you are nervous about needles, say so when you book and the appointment can be paced to suit you.
How long does filler take to settle?
About two weeks. You will see a change straight away, but swelling in the first few days can make the area look fuller than the final result. Wait until the two week mark before judging how it looks.
Can filler be dissolved if I don't like it?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be broken down with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, usually within a few days. It can correct an uneven result or remove filler altogether. At Nuey Aesthetics, dissolving starts at $200 per area, and your provider will talk through whether it is the right step.
How many syringes of filler will I need?
It depends on the area and the result you want. Lips, chin and under the eyes usually take one syringe. Cheeks, jawline and the folds beside the nose usually take two. Your provider will suggest an amount at your consultation, and starting conservatively is always an option.
Will my filler look natural?
A natural result comes from the amount used, where it is placed and the product chosen. Conservative amounts placed with care tend to look like you on a good day. Tell your provider plainly what natural means to you, and bring a photo if it helps.
Can I have filler and wrinkle relaxers at the same appointment?
Yes, and it is common. The two treatments do different jobs and do not interfere with each other. Having both at one visit also means one recovery window instead of two. Your provider will confirm the order and timing during your consultation.
Booking a filler consultation
Start with a conversation. Consultations at both studios are complimentary and there is no obligation to go ahead on the day. Your provider will also tell you plainly if filler is not the right answer. You can book a consultation at Newport Beach or Studio City whenever you are ready.
This article is for general information about aesthetic treatments and does not constitute medical advice. Treatment suitability, expected outcomes and risks vary by individual and can only be determined in a consultation with a qualified provider. Medical services at Nuey Aesthetics are provided by CA Medical Group PC under the supervision of Dr. Azin Shahryarinejad, M.D., licensed by the Medical Board of California.