Lesley’s most asked questions

How do I get a good result?

Ensure you have a full medical consultation with the person doing the injection. Choose a properly accredited dermatologist, doctor, nurse practitioner or plastic surgeon who regularly injects fillers.

What will happen?

First, the doctor will mark out the treatment areas. Numbing cream can be applied 30 minutes before injecting. Most fillers now contain lidocaine anaesthetic, so you won’t feel anything apart from an initial prick. Results are seen immediately. Done well, fillers are low risk but lumps can occur. You may experience redness or bruising but this can usually be covered with mineral make-up.

Which fillers are best?

The safest and most widely used are made from hyaluronic acid, which rarely causes reactions. Leading brands include Juvéderm, Restylane, Voluma, Teosyal, Perlane, Hyabell and Belotero. Most practitioners use different fillers to achieve the best results – a thinner consistency for fine lines and lips, and a thicker one for deeper wrinkles and lifting. The fillers dissolve as the body breaks them down and last from three to six months, although some newer types can last up to 36 months.

What else is on the market?

Fillers such as Ellansé work beneath the surface to stimulate your own collagen production, and last one to three years. Fat cells harvested from your own body are another type of filler, lasting around five years. Also popular are hydrating injectables such Juvéderm Volite and Profhilo, which boost moisture and smooth fine lines, making them ideal for face, hands and decolletage.

Is there anything to avoid?

Never touch permanent filler – if you don’t like the result, you are stuck with it. As your face changes, the filler won’t and can look very odd. If a practitioner doesn’t disclose what they’re using, don’t have it. Likewise, if the treatment is heavily discounted and sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Dermal fillers are unregulated in the UK, so anyone can theoretically buy and inject filler.