Dermal Fillers (Hyaluronic Acid Fillers)
Fillers for the forehead, nose, under-eyes, lips, nasolabial folds and more
Dermal fillers are injections of ingredients such as hyaluronic acid that add volume to hollow areas or define contours such as the nasal bridge.
Fillers are considered when an area lacks volume, such as hollow under-eyes or a low nasal bridge.
Dermal Fillers at a glance
- Procedure time
- About 10–15 minutes
- Anesthesia
- Numbing cream or local anesthesia
- Stitch removal
- Not needed
- Duration of results
- Around 1 year
- Swelling & bruising
- Within 1 week
- Return to daily life
- Right away
These may vary depending on the type of filler, treatment area, amount injected and the individual.
Quick answer
When are dermal fillers recommended?
Dermal fillers are considered when an area lacks volume, such as hollow under-eyes or a low nasal bridge. The treatment involves no incisions, takes a short time, and you can return to daily life right away; at Steady Plastic Surgery we use hyaluronic acid fillers. When the cause is muscle, such as expression lines or a square jaw, botulinum toxin is considered instead.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are injections of ingredients such as hyaluronic acid that add volume to hollow areas or define contours such as the nasal bridge. The treatment involves no incisions, takes a short time, and you can return to daily life right away. At Steady Plastic Surgery we use hyaluronic acid fillers, which are gradually absorbed over time.
When Fillers May Help
- A deep tear trough that casts a shadow or makes you look tired
- A low nasal bridge, or an uneven bridge line such as a nasal hump or crooked nose
- A flat or sunken forehead that makes your profile look flat
- Hollowing around the nasolabial folds that makes them look deeper
- Thin lips that lack volume
- Aegyo-sal (the small fullness under the lower lash line) that lacks volume
Fillers by Area
Forehead Filler
When the forehead is flat or sunken and the profile looks flat, filler adds volume to create a rounded curve. Because blood vessels run through the forehead, the injection points and depth are chosen carefully.
Nose Filler
When the nasal bridge is low or its line is uneven, such as with a nasal hump or crooked nose, filler fills in the low spots along the bridge to smooth the line.
Chin Filler
When the chin looks short, set back or blunt, filler adds volume to the chin to refine its shape and the line of the profile.
Front Cheek Filler
When the front of the cheek is hollow and the face looks flat or tired, filler restores volume to give the midface more dimension and soften the front view.
Under-Eye Filler
Under-eye filler is considered when a deep tear trough casts a shadow or makes you look tired, and there is hollowing with little or no fat bulging. When under-eye fat is bulging, under-eye fat repositioning is considered rather than filler.
Nasolabial Fold Filler
When hollowing around the nasolabial folds makes them look deeper, filler can help soften the folds by restoring volume. If the cheeks are also sagging, a lifting procedure may be considered as well.
Cheek Filler
When hollow cheeks make the face look gaunt, filler restores volume to soften the facial contour.
Side Cheek Filler
When the side cheek below the cheekbone is hollow and the area between the cheekbone and jaw looks sunken, filling the hollow can soften the contour.
Temple Filler
When hollow temples make the area between the forehead and cheekbone look sunken, filler restores volume so the side of the face flows more smoothly.
Aegyo-sal Filler
A small amount of filler is placed in the aegyo-sal area just below the eye to create a fuller look when you smile. It tends to suit cases where the aegyo-sal shape is already there but lacks volume.
Lip & Mouth Corner Filler
When the lips are thin or their outline is faint, filler adds volume and shape, and mouth corner filler fills the corners of the mouth so they can look more lifted. Because the lips move a lot, filler there tends to be absorbed faster than in other areas.
Marionette Line Filler
Filler fills the hollow of the marionette lines that run from the corners of the mouth toward the chin. Softer lines around the mouth can help the face look gentler and more youthful. When the lines are caused by sagging cheeks and jawline, a lifting procedure may be considered as well.
Dissolving Filler
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an injection that breaks it down (hyaluronidase). It is used when you are not happy with the shape or when complications such as lumps, migration or inflammation occur, and after dissolving, filler can be injected again or surgery such as under-eye fat repositioning can be planned.
Learn more about Under-Eye Fat Repositioning →Learn more about Facial Fat Graft →
Can Fillers Help a Peanut-Shaped Face or a Face That Looks Wide?
Can side cheek filler help a peanut-shaped face (hollow side cheeks)?
A peanut-shaped face is a face shape in which the side cheek below the cheekbone is hollow, so the area between the cheekbone and jaw looks sunken, and side cheek filler that fills the hollow can soften the contour. Once the side cheeks are filled, the cheekbones may look less prominent and the facial contour flows more smoothly, which can make the overall impression look softer.
Can fillers help when the face looks wide or the cheekbones look prominent?
When the temples, the front of the cheeks and the side cheeks are hollow, the cheekbones can stand out between them and the face can look wide. Filling the hollow temples, front cheeks and side cheeks together reduces the unevenness around the cheekbones so they look less prominent, and the facial lines flow more smoothly, which can help the face look smaller and softer.
How Dermal Filler Treatment Is Done
- 1
Design
We look at your facial proportions and the degree of hollowing to decide where and how much to inject.
- 2
Anesthesia
Numbing cream or local anesthesia is applied to the treatment area.
- 3
Injection
Filler is injected in small portions at the appropriate depth, taking the location of blood vessels into account, and a blunt-tipped cannula may be used depending on the area.
- 4
Check
We check the shape and left-right balance before finishing. The treatment takes about 10–15 minutes.
What We Check During a Filler Consultation
- Which areas are hollow and how much volume is lacking
- Whether the issue is volume loss or sagging
- The amount that suits your facial proportions
- The type and timing of any previous filler, and how much remains
Aftercare After Dermal Fillers
You can return to daily life right after dermal fillers, and it is best not to press or rub the treated area firmly for about 2 weeks so the shape can settle. Lip filler usually swells the most on days 1–2 and then gradually settles, so the final shape is assessed after the swelling has gone down.
Same day
- Return to daily life right away
1–2 days
- Lip filler swells the most during this period, then settles
First 2 weeks
- Avoid pressing or rubbing the treated area firmly
- Avoid heavy glasses or sunglasses after nose filler
- No radiofrequency or ultrasound lifting (allowed after 2 weeks)
First month
- Avoid alcohol, saunas and strenuous exercise
Dermal Filler Side Effects and Precautions
What are the side effects of dermal fillers?
After dermal fillers, besides temporary swelling, bruising and pain at the injection site, lumps, asymmetry, visible filler or filler migration can occur in rare cases. Very rarely, filler can block a blood vessel and cause serious complications such as skin necrosis or vision loss, so we inject with the location of blood vessels in mind and may use a blunt-tipped cannula to reduce the risk of vessel injury.
What are the side effects of under-eye filler?
Because under-eye filler is placed where the skin is thin, the filler may show through with a bluish tint, swelling may last and look puffy, or it may clump and look uneven. It is important to inject small amounts, a little at a time, at the appropriate depth, and if a problem occurs, the filler can be dissolved to correct it.
Contact the clinic right away if you notice these symptoms
If the skin turns white or dark red after the treatment, or if you have severe pain or any change in your vision, contact the clinic immediately.
Dermal Fillers FAQ
How long do dermal fillers last?
How long dermal fillers last depends on the type of filler, the treatment area, the amount injected and your metabolism. In many cases results last around 1 year, and filler in areas that move more tends to be absorbed faster.
Is it okay to keep getting fillers?
Dermal fillers can be repeated by topping up what has been absorbed, but frequent touch-ups before the filler is absorbed can cause it to build up, making the area look spread out or the shape look unnatural. It is important to check how much of the previous filler remains and add only what is needed.
How are fillers different from botulinum toxin?
Dermal fillers add volume to hollow areas, while botulinum toxin reduces muscle movement to soften wrinkles or reduce muscle bulk. Fillers are considered when an area lacks volume, such as hollow under-eyes or a low nasal bridge, and botulinum toxin is considered when the cause is muscle, such as expression lines or a square jaw.
Will nose filler make my nose look wider?
When nose filler is injected in an appropriate amount at the right layer, the nose usually does not look wider, but injecting a large amount at once or repeated touch-ups before the filler is absorbed can make the bridge look wide or spread out. It is important to choose an amount that suits your nasal skin and bridge width.
Can I have under-eye fat repositioning after under-eye filler?
Yes, under-eye fat repositioning can be done after under-eye filler. Remaining filler can affect the surgical result, so it may be best to dissolve it first if needed, and letting us know the type and timing of your previous filler helps with planning.
How is the cost of dermal fillers determined?
The cost of dermal fillers depends on the treatment area, type of filler and amount injected. Because the amount needed varies with your facial condition, an exact cost can be given after a consultation.
Your doctor
Dr. Dahan Kim
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Medical Director, Steady Plastic Surgery
Steady Plastic Surgery is an eye-focused plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam (Sinnonhyeon), Seoul. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dahan Kim personally sees every patient from consultation to surgery and follow-up, focusing on double eyelid surgery, double eyelid revision, under-eye fat repositioning, lower blepharoplasty and middle-aged eye surgery.
- M.D. and master's degree, CHA University School of Medicine
- Plastic surgeon, CHA Bundang Medical Center
- Member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons · Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery · Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons
Have questions?
References
- 대한미용성형외과학회. 미용성형외과학 1. 보완판. 군자출판사; 2019. ISBN 979-11-5955-430-8. [in Korean]
- 이수근, 윤춘식, 김현조, 외. 보톡스와 필러의 정석. 제3판. 한미의학; 2025. ISBN 979-11-94456-15-5. [in Korean]
- 홍기웅. 필러·보톡스 실전 노하우. 엠디월드; 2017. ISBN 978-89-91294-88-2. [in Korean]