Most of the important decisions about filler are made at the consultation, and none of them involve a needle. This is what happens at a filler consultation with me, what is worth bringing, and why there is always a gap of at least 72 hours before any filler is placed.
Before you arrive
The consultation is a separate appointment from treatment, at my private clinic in Birmingham B31. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. It is not rushed, and the address is given when your appointment is confirmed.
A booking fee of £100 secures your appointment and comes off the cost of your treatment. It is refunded if the treatment turns out not to be right for you, but is otherwise non-refundable.
You need to be 18 or over. It is a criminal offence in England to give cosmetic filler to anyone under 18, and I do not treat under-18s. If there is any doubt about your age, I will ask to see photo ID.
What to bring
You do not need to prepare anything elaborate, but a little information makes the appointment far more useful.
- A list of any medication you take regularly, including anything bought over the counter and any supplements.
- Any allergies you know of.
- Your treatment history: what you have had done, roughly when, and where.
- Anything you were given after previous filler, such as an aftercare sheet or the name of the product used.
- If you have them, photographs of how you looked before any previous filler. They help me see what has changed.
If you can, come with little or no makeup on the area we are talking about, so I can see your skin properly.
Why your previous filler matters
If you have had filler before, I want to know about it, even if it was years ago and even if you are happy with it. I will ask what was used, when, and whether any of it has been dissolved with an enzyme.
The reason is simple: what is already there affects what is sensible to add. Filler generally lasts somewhere between six and eighteen months, and lips often six to twelve, but those are typical ranges, not promises. How long it lasts depends on the product, the area and your own metabolism.
If you do not know what product was used, tell me anyway. It may mean that adding more filler is not the right next step. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme, which is part of why it is reversible, but that option only applies to hyaluronic acid filler, so knowing what you had matters. If you have filler from elsewhere and are unhappy with it, or are not sure what it is, we may talk about having it dissolved with an enzyme and starting again.
What happens in the room
- We start with what is actually bothering you, in your words, rather than with a product or a number of millilitres.
- I take a full medical history: conditions, medication, allergies and previous treatments.
- I assess your face in person, in good light, at rest and moving. Facial anatomy varies a great deal, and where it is safe to place filler depends on yours.
- For lips, I look at them in proportion to the rest of your face, not in isolation.
- You hear the risks and the aftercare before you decide, not afterwards.
- We agree a plan, an amount and a cost. You know the price before anything is booked.
Sometimes the honest answer is less than you had in mind, to wait, or to do nothing at all. Sometimes it is a different treatment entirely, because the concern is skin quality rather than structure. Hearing that is a perfectly good outcome for a consultation.
If you would like to read up beforehand, there is more detail on dermal filler in Birmingham for cheeks, chin and jaw, and on lip filler in Birmingham, including guide prices.
Why filler is never same-day
Nothing is booked on the spot, and I do not treat on the same day as a consultation. There is a minimum of 72 hours between the two.
That gap is deliberate. It gives you time to read what you were given, ask anything you thought of on the way home, and change your mind without having to have a conversation about it.
If you are planning around an event, work backwards. Consultation, then at least 72 hours, then treatment, then around two weeks for filler to settle before you judge it. Lips swell more than anywhere else for the first two or three days, so do not book lips in the week of an event.
Three questions worth asking anyone
Whoever you see, these are worth asking at a filler consultation.
- What product will you use, and is it hyaluronic acid?
- What happens if something goes wrong, and can you deal with it yourself? I can assess and manage complications myself, and I hold insurance that includes complication and emergency cover.
- Can I contact you directly afterwards? You can contact me directly afterwards.
The answers tell you a great deal. For everything else about the first appointment, see what happens at a consultation.
Have a question, or ready to book?
Every treatment begins with a face-to-face consultation. Prices are a guide and confirmed at that appointment.