"just a little bit of filler..."

[brogueish]

I had an appointment today for botox, which I've had a few times before. The chap told me though that what he could see (and I what I acknowledge) is that I am a bit lopsided and one side is overall lower. Botox can address the eye stuff but he said that a little filler in the cheek would lift that side of my face to match the other one. He also said botox in the jawline would help to rebalance things.

I understand the logic but I am franky quite scared of filler. He assured me I'd still look like "me", but he would say that wouldn't he! Has anyone had just a little bit of filler like this? I do not want to fall down a rabbit hole with injectables, I just want to look less haggard and not quite so asymmetrical.

Hello!

veteran filler + Botox user over here.

it depends entirely on who your practitioner is… are they a facial aesthetics expert? Do you like their work on other patients? Have they shown you photos?

if you can afford it + you trust them I would…

the nice thing about filler is it can largely be dissolved!

I wouldn't do filler. They've done scans and shown it hangs around and migrates everywhere.

When you dissolve it, you're also dissolving the natural hyaluronic acid in your skin too, which isn't great

I second this. I've dabbled in filler and have had good and not so good experiences, but I never worry as it can be instantly dissolved if you're not happy. I've only needed that option once though

Is it the case that Botox immobilises certain muscles which then causes loss of volume because those muscles aren’t working ? Is that why people start off with Botox and end up having more things done after a while ?

I second this. I went for Profilo and got talked into one round of botox and filler - fortunately small amounts and each in only one part of my face. The botox was okay (I wouldn't bother repeating though) but over time, I've regretted the filler. I think it does migrate.

The doctor I went to privately (concurrently working on NHS, trained, qualified etc) is also starting to look a bit weird, Maybe it's in my head, or maybe start of Stepford Wife syndrome. I don't know. But it's helped me get myself straight about what I am and am not okay with for myself.

Botox doesn’t cause loss of volume - most people have it on their forehead- who has a voluminous forehead?

It can cause wrinkles elsewhere as you use different muscles though.

OP I’d be really wary of filler. It can look puffy and migrate and lasts a lot longer than manufactures claim.

I’ve been having filler once a year for 8 years and botox twice a year for 5 years. I’ve not had any bad experiences with either. I have it in my jowl area every year and my cheeks every other.
I would only use my dermatologist for this, I often visit and he tells me to come back him in a couple of months as it’s too early to do the filler or botox.

8 years worth of filler will have to be going somewhere

The biggest con with filler is that they say it dissolves in 18 months but it doesn’t. It’s been shown on scans that it sticks around for years (there was a Daily Mail article where a woman had an MRI showing a huge accumulation of HA filler, she hadn’t had any done for over 4 years).

I’ve had filler in my nose twice to correct a bump/asymmetry and I don’t think I’ll ever need it again. It hasn’t totally dissolved years later, and I am content with what is left. But consequently I would never have filler in a softer area of my face (lips, cheeks, under eye etc) because it stays. Then people go back 18 months later and get more on top. And that’s why people end up with the weird filler face “look”.

Too easy to get to uncanny valley status

Nobody should be getting filler once a year. It’s claimed to last at least 18 months (but it’s much longer!).

I’ve had a few tweakments.

Lips a few times (haven’t touched them for 3 years though as it seems to have stayed put!) and just look like I have normal-sized lips now rather than the pair of skinny strawberry laces I was born with

Chin - I liked it, but it disappeared fairly quickly. Don’t think I’d bother with it again as it was bruised for weeks and the result wasn’t worth it!

Under eyes - I absolutely loved how fresh my face looked for a good 18 months afterwards, and will be getting it done again.

I had a few PDO threads put in to lift up my one flat eyebrow and they did bugger all! A little bit of filler can go a long way in rebalancing your face, as long as you choose your practitioner very carefully (ideally one who agrees that less is more!)

@ybotsemaj 8 years worth of filler will have to be going somewhere

It's broken down by the body and excreted the same way her waste substances are excreted.

In theory, yes, but many dermatologists are now warning that it often doesn't.

Not according to some newer research it's not

Thanks for all the replies - really helpful to hear different experiences. I think I will trust my gut and swerve the filler, for now at least.

I would leave well alone even botox can go awry. Of course they will all tell you it's safe and fine because ££££

Has this facial asymmetry even bothered you before? I have one eye very marginally smaller than the other (a bit like Kate Middleton). I know I do, but you’d have to really stare at me to notice and it would be weird if it bothered anyone else.

I have had two tiny bits of filler on each cheek to lift jowls and it really makes a difference. You can initially feel it like a little worm ( yup I know) - one is slightly higher than the other as my face is not symmetrical.

...annndddd that's all I need to be 100% put off for life

That wormy filler sounds like a pole in a tent, keeping everything up from collapsing.

Everyone's face is a bit asymmetrical. It's natural.

but he said that a little filler in the cheek would lift that side of my face to match the other one. He also said botox in the jawline would help to rebalance things.

Yep, of course he did…that’s his earnings!

@LadyWithLapdog yes, it has, and it is getting more pronounced on one side as I get older. I sleep on the “lower” side, which I suspect may have something to do with it.

"We put them through the MRI scanner and what we found was really staggering," Dr Chan said. "We found that filler lasted for two years, anywhere up to 12 years. So it's a massive difference to 18 months."

The truth about fillers, filters and the scientific beauty formula - ABC News