But as I said, Dr. Levin knows me and my face very well, and from her perspective, this decision—though it was unexpected—made sense anatomically. Because I was an ideal candidate for filler, she immediately approved.
“You have great skin: thick, healthy, robust skin,” she says. “You don’t have any underlying skin laxity. You really fit the profile of what makes for a good candidate.” That’s also because I was 33 at the time; people in their early 20s are less likely to be appropriate candidates for filler because facial features change as we age. (As we get older, volume and bone loss occur, as well as a general sagging.) Plus, I don’t smoke, and I do have realistic expectations when it comes to results.
“Patients should have an understanding of what fillers can and cannot achieve,” says Dr. Levin. “They can enhance, but they don’t offer the same type of dramatic results that surgical interventions can. The role of filler is more subtle, natural-looking improvements rather than dramatic changes, [though] they may feel dramatic to you.”
Prepping for filler
After it was decided I would get filler right then and there during my 2024 appointment, Dr. Levin and her team started to prep. This included cleaning the injection sites (chin and jawline), slathering on a hefty amount of numbing cream, walking me through the procedure, and, most importantly, ensuring I knew the possible side effects of facial filler.
Common side effects include bruising, swelling, and potential allergic reactions. “With any cosmetic procedure, there are always risks,” says Dr. Bhanusali. “Even in the most experienced hands, there is always a risk of occlusion (injecting filler into a vessel), which can lead to compromised tissue, blindness, and other issues.” That’s why it’s important to always see a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for these types of in-office procedures.
Dr. Levin also needed to confirm that I didn’t have any alcohol in my system (no problem—I don’t drink); hadn’t gotten a dental procedure in the last two weeks or have one scheduled (this can weaken the immune system); and that I hadn’t taken aspirin or ibuprofen within the last day or two (this can cause bruising).
The injection process
As I was waiting for the numbing cream to kick in (I couldn’t feel anything from the bottom-lip down), Dr. Levin decided which filler I’d be getting. Here’s the thing about filler: It’s not a one-size-fits-all treatment. There are many (and I mean many) different types of injectable hyaluronic acid on the market, and the kind I got during my procedure was right for my face and body. And it’s important to note that what was right for me may not be right for everyone—that should be decided by the patient and dermatologist together.
There are different types of filler available for use on the chin, says Dr. Levin, but in my case, for my 2024 appointment, she chose Juvéderm’s Volux, which is FDA-approved for jawline enhancement. “Volux is a filler that we use more for structural enhancement,” she says. “We inject it onto the bone to help with that anatomical recession of your chin.” Volux made the most sense in my case because she would be building out my chin and jawline—and this filler was FDA-approved to do just that.