Botox and filler: the questions we hear most

Will my face freeze? Not if the dose and injection points are right. A frozen look is the result of overdosing, not of botulinum toxin itself. We deliberately dose conservatively on a first visit and add at the two-week review if needed. Adding is easy; taking away is impossible — toxin only fades with time.

How long does it last? Toxin around 3–5 months; hyaluronic fillers 9–18 months depending on area and product. Metabolism, muscle use, and location shift these numbers person to person. We advise staying away from anything marketed as 'permanent filler' — its complication history is poor.

At what age should I start? The decision follows indication, not calendar age. If expression lines are beginning to settle in, preventive toxin is worth discussing; if there is no volume loss, filler's time has not come. 'Start early and you'll need less' is partly true — and heavily used as marketing. Do not decide without an examination.

Can filler burst, or sag the face? Hyaluronic fillers are broken down slowly by the body's own enzymes; there is no 'bursting'. Left alone, the face returns to its previous state — properly placed filler does not sag a face. The real risk lies in the wrong plan and the wrong hands, which is why treatment belongs in a clinical setting under physician responsibility.