How 1mL of dermal filler can improve your face

As we age, we naturally lose volume in our face, we lose fat from the fat pads under our skin and we lose bone as the skull loses volume, causing a change in the face shape. Dermal filler has become a common treatment to enhance the cheeks, lips, brow and face, due to its anti-ageing and non-surgical properties.

Dermal fillers are a bioengineered synthetic substance that’s similar to what’s naturally found in your body. They are made from cross-linked hyaluronic acid and when used in small volumes, they provide the best results.

How much filler do I need?

It can be confusing when it comes to determining how much filler you will need to achieve noticeable results. With a few millilitres of dermal filler placed strategically, it can rejuvenate your entire appearance. Most people only need 1mL of dermal filler to enhance their whole face.

The amount of filler injected will be different for every person, depending on the area they’re trying to treat. These factors include:

• Depth of wrinkles
• Amount of volume loss
• Face shape and features
• Type of filler treatment

Having a discussion with your practitioner before your treatment will determine the appropriate amount of filler needed for your desired outcome.

How far does 1 ml of dermal filler go?

Traditionally cosmetic practitioners would inject 1mL of dermal filler into one area of the face. For example, 1mL lip filler and 1mL cheek filler, however, only 1ml of filler can enhance your entire face.

Dermal filler is extremely hydrophilic, meaning it can dissolve or mix well with water. As it binds with water and gets more voluminous, it allows 1 mL of dermal filler to go a very long way. Dermal fillers are effective at projecting the skin and when injected at strategic points of the face, it aims to provide a more youthful look.

Cosmetic practitioners who only use 1mL of dermal filler for the entire face will need to inject slower. They can also be more accurate with a smaller amount of filler as they have a greater likelihood of pinpointing the exact target area of the patient’s face and treating with a small amount of filler.

What’s the average amount of filler needed for different parts of the face?

Most patients get great results with only a few millilitres of dermal filler. The amount of filler needed for the cosmetic treatments for each area of the face will vary.

Lip filler

Lip filler can boost the plumpness of the lips, enhance their softness and smoothness, and overall improves the symmetry of the lips. The body of the lips are the most commonly enhanced area, and is usually done on the top and bottom lip to achieve a natural balance.

The generally accepted standard is to inject 1ml of lip filler every 6 months, however we recommend infrequent filling of the lips, and to use only small amounts with each session.

This patient was presented to the Victorian Cosmetic Institute to enhance her lips. 1ml of lip filler was used to create fuller and more shapely lips.

Cheek filler

Cheek fillers can provide an instant lift to the cheeks and improve cheek and facial proportions. They are ideal for replacing volume loss, enhancing cheek volume, and can improve the appearance of the lower eyelid by volumising the upper cheek area.

We recommend using as little as 1ml per session for an enhanced appearance.

Tear trough filler

Tear troughs are the hollows between the lower eyelid and cheeks. Issues in this area are often associated with looking tired. Non-surgically, tear troughs can be treated with dermal fillers injection in the mid-cheek to support the lower eyelid.

Patients generally require 0.5ml to 1ml of tear trough filler to get a fresh-faced look.

Nose filler

Nose filler helps to straighten the appearance of the nose or to increase the height of the nose. It is a temporary, non-surgical alternative to surgical rhinoplasty. While bumps cannot be removed with dermal fillers, hollows can be filled to straighten the nose. Nose fillers can also raise the height of the nose in those with less prominent nasal bridges or flatter noses generally.

In the past, patients have opted for 1ml of filler above and below the bump in their nose to make the overall appearance of the nose straighter.

Forehead filler

Forehead filler can help relax the muscles around the forehead and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. With forehead filler, care needs to be taken to not cause any drooping of the brow or upper eyelid. Filler can replace any lost volume in the face and balance the appearance.

We recommend using half a millilitre at a time or one ml to cover more widespread areas.

Temple filler

Temple filler can restore the facial appearance as volume loss in the temples can make the eyebrows appear hooded and change the shape of the face. By revolumising the area, it can produce a dramatic difference.

Typically patients use 1 to 2ml to fill the temples.

Chin filler

Chin filler can create a defined or strong jawline. By enhancing the chin, the jawline can be sharpened, the profile of the face balanced, and the apparent amount of excess skin and fat in the neck can be reduced. These temporary fillers are injected into the chin to improve the shape and forward protrusion of the chin.

We’ve previously treated patients with 1ml that was injected into the chin area which helped balance their face.

As we all age in the same way, many of us have one or two areas of concern where there is significant volume loss. By concentrating on these areas, it can make a big difference with a little adjustment.

Typically our patients have about 1ml of filler in a treatment, however, a fraction of the filler syringe can be used on the treatment area, with the remainder spread throughout the entire face.

Questions to ask before filler treatment

When you’re researching which medical clinic to attend for dermal filler treatment, it’s important to ask the following questions:

• Will the dermal filler treatment be administered by a Cosmetic Doctor or Cosmetic Nurse?
• Do the Cosmetic Doctors and Cosmetic Nurses have good injecting skills and an aesthetic eye to ensure their patients look fresh, not fake?
• How long are the dermal filler treatment appointments?
• Does the medical clinic have current before and after photos you can view?

Where to get dermal filler treatment in Melbourne

Since 2005, Dr Gavin Chan and his team of highly trained and experienced Cosmetic Doctors and Cosmetic Nurses at the Victorian Cosmetic Institute have been enhancing their patient’s faces by using dermal fillers. At your consultation the Cosmetic Doctor or Cosmetic Nurse will assess your face, ask what you’d like to improve and give you treatment options.

For some patients, dermal filler treatment may not be appropriate. If you have a lot of facial volume loss, it may be more appropriate to combine dermal fillers with other treatments such as bio-stimulators, bio-remodelling or other collagen stimulating treatments. Call our friendly customer service team to book a consultation today 1300 863 824 or book online.