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Dermal fillers in Edinburgh

Hyaluronic acid fillers restore volume, soften deeper lines and refine features such as the lips, cheeks, chin and jawline. The aim is a result that looks like you, planned around your anatomy rather than a template.

Your practitioner
Clinician checking an unbranded syringe before treatment
Areas treated
Cheeks, Lips, Temple, Jawline, Marionette Lines, Nasolabial Folds
Treatment time
Typically 20-60 minutes

Contents

Ideal candidates

  • Broad suitability: Safe for a wide range of patients, excluding those pregnant, breastfeeding, or with certain medical conditions.
  • Medical review: A thorough consultation to ensure suitability and discuss potential effects.

What the procedure involves

  1. Consultation: An initial discussion to determine patient concerns, review medical history and discuss the benefits and risks of  treatment.
  2. Types of fillers: Use of HA fillers due to their natural occurrence in the body and role in hydration.
  3. Application areas: Commonly injected into the cheeks, lips, temple, and jawline for volume and definition and to soften lines and wrinkles.
  4. Procedure process: Cleansing the skin, followed by strategic filler injections, often containing a local anaesthetic for comfort.
  5. Immediate visibility: The fillers’ effects are visible immediately, with post-procedure swelling subsiding in a few days.

Dermal filler animation

A short 3D animation of the procedure. It loads only when you press play.

What dermal fillers can and can’t do

Hyaluronic acid filler is a good treatment for volume that has gone and lines that are there at rest. It is not a facelift, it does not last, and more of it is not better.

It can

  • Restore volume where the face has lost it, in the cheeks, temples and around the mouth.
  • Soften deeper lines and folds that are there at rest, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
  • Define the lips, chin or jawline in proportion to the rest of your face.
  • Be dissolved with an enzyme (hyaluronidase) if a result is wrong or a blood vessel is blocked, which is one reason hyaluronic acid fillers are used.

It can’t

  • Lift significantly or replace surgery. Filler adds volume. It does not tighten loose skin, and heavy or sagging tissue is a different conversation.
  • Last for ever. Hyaluronic acid is broken down over about 6 to 18 months, faster in areas that move such as the lips and slower in the cheeks and chin, and keeping the result means repeating treatment.
  • Improve with more product. Beyond the right amount, more filler changes the shape of your face rather than refreshing it, and it is harder to undo.
  • Treat lines caused by movement. Frown and forehead lines need anti-wrinkle injections, and skin texture needs skin treatment.
  • Be risk-free because it is non-surgical. A blocked blood vessel is rare but serious. We use a cannula where suitable and a needle where precision needs it, keep the dissolving enzyme on site with a written emergency protocol, and have an urgent eye referral pathway.

Your practitioner will tell you at your consultation which of these apply to you.

Our aesthetic practitioner

This treatment is planned and carried out by our aesthetic practitioner and dentist, Dr Katy Nassar.

Dr Katy Nassar

Dentist and aesthetic practitioner

GDC-registered dentistMSc Skin Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine

Risks, and how often they happen

Every treatment carries risk. Here they are in three groups, with how often they happen where the evidence allows. Your practitioner will go through them with you, and they are in your written consent.

Expected Almost everyone, and they settle

  • Swelling for a few days, more in the lips, settling within a week or two.
  • Bruising at some injection points, lasting up to two weeks.
  • Tenderness and small lumps that you can feel but not see, softening over the first two weeks.
  • Redness at the injection sites for a day or so.

Uncommon Some patients, and some need further treatment

  • Asymmetry or a visible lump, corrected with massage, a small top-up, or dissolving some of the filler.
    Uncommon
  • Swelling that lasts weeks or months, most often under the eyes, where filler holds water. It can be dissolved.
    Uncommonmore common under the eyes
  • Delayed swelling or firm nodules, appearing weeks or months later, sometimes after a viral illness or vaccine. Most settle with treatment, and the filler can be dissolved.
    Under 1 in 200per treatment
  • Cold sore reactivation around the lips in people who get them. Tell us, and preventive tablets can be prescribed.
    Uncommon

Rare but serious

  • A blocked blood vessel (vascular occlusion), where filler enters an artery and cuts off the blood supply to skin. It shows as pain, blanching or a dusky patch, and is an emergency treated by dissolving the filler. Untreated it can cause skin loss and scarring. We keep the enzyme on site and follow a written protocol.
    About 1 in 6,000syringes with a needle; about 1 in 40,000 with a cannula
  • Blindness, if filler reaches the arteries of the eye, most often after treatment of the nose, forehead or between the brows. About 500 cases have been published worldwide in a century, and sight rarely recovers fully.
    Very rare
  • Infection at the injection site, needing antibiotics and sometimes removal of the filler.
    Rare
  • Allergic reaction to the filler or the local anaesthetic in it.
    Very rare

For the long term

  • Results are temporary. How long depends on the product, the area and you. The lips wear off fastest. Repeat treatment keeps the result.
  • If you stop, your face returns towards where it would have been. Ageing carries on underneath, so the plan is revisited rather than simply repeated.
  • Tell any clinician you have had filler, including before facial surgery or dental work, and keep a note of the product and date.
  • Movement lines and skin quality need other treatments. See anti-wrinkle injections and skin boosters.
  • Nose reshaping with filler is carried out only by our rhinoplasty surgeons, because the nose carries the highest risk of serious complications.
Where these figures come from

Figures are drawn from published studies, and your own risk may be higher or lower. More from the NHS on before you have a cosmetic procedure.

Aftercare and recovery

Following treatment, you should avoid touching your face and wash your hands regularly to reduce the risk of infection. You should also avoid rubbing or massaging your face as this could affect the results of your treatment.

You should also avoid applying make-up for at least 12 hours and avoid vigorous exercise and exposure to temperature extremes until the swelling has resolved.
Within two weeks of receiving treatment, you should avoid other facial procedures, including facials, chemical peels, massage and laser treatments. You should also avoid routine dental treatment during this period.

Patient with a cup of tea in the Waterfront lounge, a nurse beside her

Frequently asked questions about hyaluronic acid fillers

How much do dermal fillers cost?
A first consultation with Dr Katy Nassar is £50. With Dr Nassar, softening lines and folds is from £300, and lip, cheek or chin enhancement from £400. Prices depend on the area, product and volume used, and are confirmed at consultation.
What are hyaluronic acid fillers?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers are dermal fillers containing a synthetic form of HA, a naturally occurring substance in our bodies known for its hydration properties. These fillers restore volume, define facial contours, and reduce wrinkles.
Where can HA fillers be applied?
HA fillers are versatile and commonly used to enhance cheeks, lips, temples, and jawlines. They are also effective in softening deep lines like marionette lines and nasolabial folds and can make minor improvements in chin shape. Nose reshaping with filler is carried out only by our rhinoplasty surgeons, because the nose carries the highest risk of serious complications.
Who is suitable for HA filler treatments?
A wide range of patients can benefit from HA fillers, excluding pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals with active infections, bleeding disorders, or certain autoimmune conditions. A consultation is essential to evaluate suitability and safety.
Are HA fillers safe?
Hyaluronic acid fillers have a good safety record and can be dissolved if needed. Serious complications are rare but real; they are set out in the risks section above and discussed at your consultation.
How long do the effects of HA fillers last?
How long filler lasts varies with the product, the area treated and you: typically about 6 to 18 months, with lips wearing off fastest and cheeks and chin lasting longest.
Is the treatment immediate and painful?
The effects of HA fillers are immediate, with any swelling from the procedure subsiding over a few days. The treatment might be slightly uncomfortable, but most fillers contain a local anaesthetic to reduce discomfort.
What should I expect in terms of aftercare?
Post-treatment care includes avoiding touching the face, regular hand washing, not applying makeup for at least 12 hours, and avoiding vigorous exercise and extreme temperatures until swelling resolves. Other facial treatments should be avoided for two weeks post-treatment.
Can HA fillers be removed?
HA fillers can be dissolved if necessary, although this is rarely required.
What are the common side effects?
Following treatment, common effects include redness, swelling, bruising, and pain at injection sites, which typically settle within a week.
How do HA fillers differ from other cosmetic treatments?
Unlike other treatments focusing on more extensive facial restructuring or targeting deeper wrinkles, HA fillers primarily address volume loss and fine lines, offering a more natural rejuvenation.
How do fillers compare with anti-wrinkle injections?
HA fillers focus on restoring volume and smoothing out static lines caused by the loss of collagen and elasticity. In contrast, anti-wrinkle injections target lines caused by muscle movement.
Can HA fillers be combined with other cosmetic procedures?
HA fillers can be effectively combined with other treatments, such as anti-wrinkle injections, for a comprehensive anti-ageing effect or alongside laser therapies and chemical peels for overall skin rejuvenation.
What precautions should be taken before treatment?
Patients are advised to avoid certain medications like blood thinners and supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, and ginseng, which may increase bruising, for a few days before the treatment.
How do lifestyle and age affect the results of HA fillers?
Lifestyle factors such as smoking and sun exposure can impact the longevity of filler results. Similarly, as the skin ages, the duration of effectiveness may vary, requiring more frequent touch-ups in older individuals.
Are there any dietary restrictions post-treatment?
Generally, there are no strict dietary restrictions post-treatment. However, staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet can support overall skin health and enhance the effects of the treatment.
Is there an ideal age to start using HA fillers?
There’s no specific ‘right age’ to start using HA fillers. They can be used when signs of ageing become noticeable or when an individual desires aesthetic enhancements, typically from the late 20s to early 30s.

Written by

Dr Katy Nassar, dentist with a special interest in facial aesthetics

Dr. Katy Nassar, BDS, GDC 80528, is an Aesthetic Practitioner at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh. She graduated from the University of Glasgow Dental School in 2002 and worked in general dental practice for fifteen years before moving into facial aesthetics. In 2022, she completed a Master’s degree in Skin Ageing & Aesthetic Medicine at Manchester University, which she was awarded with distinction. Katy is dedicated to expanding the range of non-surgical procedures offered at Waterfront Private Hospital.

Mr Awf Quaba, consultant plastic surgeon

Mr Awf Quaba, MB ChB, FRCS, GMC 3034912, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with over 35 years of experience and a co-founder of Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh. He specialises in cosmetic facial and breast surgery, has published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and is a full member of  BAAPS.