How long do dermal fillers last? Area by area

"How long will it last?" is the fairest question in aesthetics, and the one most often answered with a vague "six to eighteen months". The honest answer depends almost entirely on where the filler is placed and how much that part of your face moves.

Lips: 6 to 12 months

The most mobile area of the face, so the fastest to break down. Talking, eating and expression all accelerate it. Most clients top up around the eight to nine month mark, and the second treatment usually lasts a little longer than the first.

Cheeks: 12 to 18 months

Cheek filler is placed deep against bone in a relatively still area, so it holds well. Because it is structural, cheek filler is also the treatment that most improves the mid-face and jawline indirectly — lifting rather than filling.

Jawline and chin: 12 to 18 months

Firm, high-projection filler placed on bone. Longevity is excellent. Jaw filler in particular is a treatment where under-filling is a false economy: it needs enough product to create a real edge, and a small amount spread thinly does nothing.

Tear troughs: 9 to 18 months

Extremely technique-dependent and, in our clinic, booked specifically with Dr Preet. Under-eye tissue is thin and unforgiving, so it is a treatment where practitioner choice matters far more than product choice.

Non-surgical rhinoplasty: 12 to 24 months

The longest-lasting placement, because the nose barely moves. It is also the highest-risk area on the face for vascular complications, which is why it is only ever performed here by our doctor.

What makes filler disappear faster

A fast metabolism, high-intensity exercise, smoking, significant weight loss, regular sauna use, and unprotected sun exposure all shorten longevity. Muscle movement is the biggest single factor, which is why anti-wrinkle treatment placed alongside filler often makes the filler last longer.

When to top up

Before it has gone completely. Topping up while roughly a third of the original filler remains keeps the result consistent and usually needs less product than starting again. We will tell you at your review roughly when to come back — and if you do not need anything yet, we will tell you that too.

Book a free consultation online or call 01902 238850.