Face Injectables & Fillers: My Honest Verdicts

What it does: Relaxes muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles — forehead lines, crow's feet, the 11s between the brows. Results appear over 7–14 days and last roughly 3–4 months.

My experience: I've been getting botox for years and it's the one thing I wouldn't give up. Consistent, predictable, no downtime. The key is dosing — too much and you lose expression, too little and it doesn't do the job. I've landed on a provider I trust and we've dialled it in over time.

Worth knowing: It metabolises faster if you're very active. Sunscreen and avoiding rubbing the area for 24 hours post-treatment.

What it does: Hyaluronic acid injected to restore volume, define the border, and address the thinning that happens with age. Done well, it reads as "your lips but better" — not duck.

My experience: I bruise easily (surface veins on my face don't help) so I always plan around important events. Cold compresses immediately after, arnica in advance. The result when done conservatively is exactly what I wanted — definition and a little volume without the pillow look.

Worth knowing: Hyaluronic acid filler is dissolvable if you don't like it. Start conservative — you can always add more.

What it does: Addresses the hollow under the eye that creates a tired, shadowed look. One of the most ageing areas on the face and one of the most underrated fixes.

My experience: This made an immediate visible difference to how rested I looked. It's technique-sensitive — go to someone who does a lot of them. Bruising is possible given the vascularity in that area.

Worth knowing: Swelling can take a week to fully settle. Don't judge the result until 10–14 days out.

What it does: Restores midface volume lost with age, lifts the lower face by supporting structure higher up.

My experience: Effective when done with a light hand by someone who understands the anatomy of an older face versus a younger one. The mistake is overfilling — it reads as puffy, not youthful. I'm cautious with this one now and do less than I used to.

Worth knowing: Filler migrates over time. If you've had a lot historically, dissolving and starting fresh can sometimes give a cleaner result than adding more.

What it does: Dissolvable threads inserted under the skin stimulate collagen production and provide a subtle lift. Results build over 3–6 months and last up to 18 months.

My experience: Not dramatic — don't go in expecting a facelift. But the cumulative collagen stimulation is real and the improvement is visible over time. Good for the jawline and lower face particularly. Some bruising and puckering immediately after that resolves.