Dermal fillers are injectable substances — most commonly hyaluronic acid, a sugar molecule that occurs naturally throughout the body — used to restore volume, improve contour, and soften creases in areas of the face that have lost fullness with age.
Mr Nakul Patel offers a careful, anatomy-led approach to dermal filler treatment in Leicester, Nottingham, and across the East Midlands. His background as a consultant plastic surgeon provides a detailed, three-dimensional understanding of facial anatomy, ageing patterns, and the tissue planes in which filler should be placed — underpinning both the safety and the quality of his results. The aim is always a natural, proportionate outcome: restoring what ageing has taken away, rather than creating a different or overdone appearance.
Restoring what ageing has taken away, rather than creating a different or overdone appearance.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are the most widely used and recommended type of dermal filler. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule found in the skin, joints, and connective tissue throughout the body — it has an exceptional capacity to attract and retain water, giving soft tissues their hydration and volume. When injected, HA filler integrates with the surrounding tissue, adding volume and support to the treated area.
Importantly, HA fillers are reversible: an enzyme called hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve hyaluronic acid rapidly if the result is not satisfactory or in the event of a complication. This reversibility is a significant safety advantage compared to non-HA filler types. Mr Patel uses only hyaluronic acid fillers and carries hyaluronidase at all appointments.
Different HA filler formulations have different properties — thickness, elasticity, longevity, and the depth at which they are best placed — and the right product is selected based on the area being treated and the outcome desired. Results typically last 6 to 18 months depending on the filler used, the area, and individual metabolism, after which repeat treatment is recommended to maintain the result.
“Nobody can tell what I've had done, they just say I look well.”Patient · Nottingham
Mr Patel will discuss which of these apply to your specific goals and anatomy at consultation.
Treatment takes 20 to 45 minutes, with most swelling and bruising settling within a few days to a week.
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if the result is not satisfactory, providing an important safety margin.
Topical anaesthetic and lidocaine within the filler itself minimise discomfort during injection.
Recontours areas that have become flattened, hollowed, or creased as facial fat, bone, and skin change with age.
Nasolabial folds and marionette lines are softened most effectively by restoring volume higher in the face, not by filling the line directly.
The goal is always restoring what ageing has taken away, never creating a different or overdone appearance.
A single appointment, with immediate visible volume and the settled final result apparent by 2 weeks.
A meaningful improvement for patients whose concerns are volume-related rather than requiring surgical correction.
Mr Patel will always advise you honestly on whether a non-surgical or surgical approach would better achieve your goals.
Dermal fillers are most effective for volume restoration, contouring, and softening of moderate creases. Mr Patel will advise you honestly at consultation on the most appropriate approach.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections: muscle-relaxing injections for dynamic lines and wrinkles, rather than volume loss.
Lip Lift Surgery: a surgical alternative for a lasting improvement in lip proportion and vermilion.
Upper Eyelid Surgery: surgical rejuvenation of excess upper eyelid skin, beyond what filler can address.
The right product and technique is selected based on the area being treated and the outcome desired. Mr Patel will discuss which areas are relevant to your goals at consultation.
| Area | Best For | |
|---|---|---|
| Lips | Volume, definition of the border and Cupid's bow, correction of asymmetry | |
| Nasolabial Folds | Lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth | |
| Cheeks & Mid-Face | Volume, lift and projection central to lower-face support | |
| Under-Eye Hollows | The hollowed, shadowed appearance beneath the eyes (tear troughs) | |
| Jawline Definition | Contouring and sharpening the jawline | |
| Chin | Projection, asymmetry, and profile balance | |
| Marionette Lines | Lines running downward from the corners of the mouth | |
| Temples | Hollowing that can give an aged or gaunt appearance | |
| Hand Rejuvenation | Volume loss on the backs of the hands |
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“Subtle, natural, and exactly what I asked for.”Patient · Leicester
Five steps, three phases: click any step to read Mr Patel's full guidance.
A thorough consultation is essential before any filler treatment. Mr Patel will assess your facial anatomy, skin quality, and ageing pattern, discuss your goals, and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan. He will explain what is and is not achievable, including whether a non-surgical approach is the right choice for your concerns or whether surgery might provide a more meaningful and lasting result.
A topical anaesthetic cream is applied to the treatment area before the procedure to minimise discomfort. Most hyaluronic acid fillers also contain lidocaine within the formulation, which further reduces any sensation during injection. The treatment takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on the number of areas.
Some immediate swelling and occasional bruising are expected — more so in certain areas (lips and tear troughs are particularly prone) than others, typically settling within a few days to a week. Avoid pressing or massaging the treated area unless specifically instructed to do so by Mr Patel. Avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, and significant heat (saunas, steam rooms) for 24 hours. Sleeping on the side of a freshly treated face should be avoided for the first night. Mild swelling can be reduced with gentle cold compresses (not placed directly on the skin), and arnica cream or supplements may help reduce bruising.
Results are immediate in terms of volume, but the full, settled outcome — with swelling resolved — is seen at 2 weeks. The final result is best assessed at this point, and a review appointment is arranged to confirm the result and address any questions.
Duration of effect is typically 6 to 18 months, varying with the filler product, area, and individual metabolic rate, after which repeat treatment is recommended to maintain the result.
“He explained exactly why less would look better — I trusted that completely.”Patient · Nottingham
Dermal filler treatment is not without risk, and the safety of injectable procedures is directly related to the anatomical knowledge and skill of the practitioner.
Mr Patel's surgical training gives him a precise, three-dimensional knowledge of the facial vascular anatomy — the location of vessels, the depth at which they travel, and the high-risk zones for vascular complications.
He uses techniques specifically designed to minimise these risks and carries hyaluronidase at every appointment to dissolve filler rapidly in the event of a vascular emergency.
Mr Patel will always discuss the safety considerations relevant to your specific planned treatment at consultation.
Dermal filler treatment is not without risk, and Mr Patel will discuss the specific risks relevant to your planned treatment areas in detail at consultation.
Yes — this is one of the key safety advantages of hyaluronic acid filler, which is what Mr Patel exclusively uses. If the result isn't what you expected, or in the rare event of a complication, an enzyme called hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve the filler, essentially undoing the treatment.
Serious complications are rare but genuinely serious, which is why they're taken so seriously. Large studies put the overall rate of vascular complications at under 1% of procedures, with early problems occurring in roughly 1 in 1,400 treatments and resolving completely in the great majority of cases when recognised and treated promptly. Vision loss is far rarer still, but is a recognised risk specifically in the glabella, nose, and periorbital areas — this is exactly why anatomical expertise, careful technique, and immediate access to hyaluronidase matter so much in who performs your treatment.
This varies by area and product — typically 6–18 months. Areas with more movement (like the lips) tend to need more frequent maintenance than areas like the cheeks or jawline. Mr Patel will discuss expected longevity for your specific treatment plan at consultation.
It's a bluish discolouration that can appear through the skin if filler is placed too superficially — most often seen in thin-skinned areas like under the eyes (tear troughs). It's avoided through correct depth of placement and product choice, and if it does occur, it can be resolved with hyaluronidase.
That's specifically what Mr Patel aims to avoid — his approach is to restore lost volume and proportion rather than to add as much as possible. Natural, balanced results that look like a refreshed version of your own face, not a different one, are the explicit goal, and he'll tell you honestly if a treatment area or volume you're requesting risks looking overdone.
For the first 24 hours, avoid pressing or massaging the treated area (unless specifically told to), strenuous exercise, alcohol, and heat such as saunas or steam rooms. Sleeping on the treated side of your face should also be avoided on the first night. Gentle cold compresses can help with swelling, and arnica may help reduce bruising.
To a degree, yes — filler can refine jawline definition, chin projection, and certain nasal contour irregularities without surgery. It has real limits, though: it adds volume and support rather than removing tissue or making structural changes, so significant reshaping — a nose that's too large, for example — still requires surgery. Mr Patel will advise honestly on what's realistically achievable with filler for your specific concern.
Book a private consultation with Mr Nakul Patel to discuss your goals and explore your options in a warm, confidential setting.
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