Dermal Fillers treatment
Facial Balancing
A holistic, multi-area approach to overall facial harmony.
- Treatment time
- 60–90 minutes for a multi-area session
- Results
- Visible immediately; settles over 2 weeks
- Longevity
- Typically 9–18 months by area
- Downtime
- Minimal — a few days of swelling
About Facial Balancing
Facial balancing steps back from individual features to look at the face as a whole: how the chin relates to the nose, how the cheeks support the mid-face, whether the jaw, temples and lips are in proportion. Small, well-placed amounts of filler across two or more areas often achieve more than a larger amount in one.
At consultation John maps where volume has been lost or was never there, and builds a plan — sometimes over more than one session — that brings the features into harmony. The best facial balancing is invisible: you simply look like a well-rested version of yourself.
Before & after
Key Benefits
- 01Treats the face as a whole rather than one feature at a time
- 02Small amounts in the right places give a natural, proportionate result
- 03Can address profile, symmetry and volume loss together
- 04A staged plan spreads cost and lets results settle between sessions
- 05Often reduces the total amount of filler needed
- 06Suited to both subtle refinement and more noticeable change
Is this treatment right for me?
Facial balancing suits people who feel something is 'off' in their proportions but can't quite pinpoint it, who have noticed volume loss across several areas, or who want a considered plan rather than a single treatment. It's particularly valuable for profile concerns involving the chin, nose and jaw.
You may be suitable if…
- You'd like a proportionate, natural overall improvement
- Volume loss shows in more than one area
- You have profile or symmetry concerns
- You're not pregnant or breastfeeding
Your consultation will consider…
- Facial proportions and symmetry from the front and in profile
- Where volume has been lost, and which areas will make the biggest difference
- A sensible order and spacing if treatment is staged
- Your budget, priorities and how much change you'd like
What to expect
Before treatment
Treatment starts with a face-to-face consultation with John. He'll look at the area in the context of your whole face, talk through what you'd like to change and what would look natural for you, and check your medical history. For a week beforehand it helps to avoid alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen and supplements such as fish oil or vitamin E where safe to do so, as they increase bruising. Please don't book within two weeks of a dental procedure.
During treatment
The skin is cleansed and a numbing cream is applied for around 10–15 minutes; many modern fillers also contain a local anaesthetic. John then places the hyaluronic acid gel using a fine needle or a blunt-tipped cannula, depending on the area, shaping and checking symmetry as he goes. You'll feel pressure and the occasional sting rather than pain. Most appointments take 30–45 minutes. In a balancing session two or more areas are treated in a planned order — often structure first (cheeks, chin, jaw) and softer areas afterwards.
After treatment
You'll see the change straight away, although the area will be a little swollen and the final shape settles over the next one to two weeks. John will go through aftercare, and you're welcome to book a review at two weeks if anything needs refining.
Watch
Results & longevity
You'll see the change at each session, with the full effect of a staged plan visible once every area has settled. Structural areas such as the chin, jaw, cheeks and temples typically last twelve to eighteen months; lips and lines around the mouth around nine to twelve. John will suggest a maintenance rhythm that keeps the overall balance.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
Recovery depends on the areas treated; expect mild swelling and tenderness for a few days and possibly a small bruise. Treating several areas in one session doesn't usually increase downtime, but allow two weeks before a major event so everything has settled.
Side effects
Swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising are the common, expected effects and settle within days. Small lumps or slight unevenness can be felt in the first couple of weeks as the gel settles and usually resolve; anything persistent can be reviewed. Uncommon risks include infection, an allergic-type reaction, or the filler sitting in an unintended spot. Rarely, filler can affect a blood vessel — John uses techniques that minimise this, checks for warning signs before you leave, and the clinic stocks the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid so it can be treated immediately.
Aftercare
Avoid touching, pressing or massaging the area for 24–48 hours unless John has asked you to. Skip strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and alcohol for 48 hours, and sleep slightly elevated on the first night to limit swelling. A cool (not frozen) compress helps if the area feels tender. Don't have facials, dental work or other treatments on the area for two weeks, and keep make-up off the injection points for the rest of the day.
Please contact the clinic straight away if you notice unusual or increasing pain, skin that looks blotchy, white or dusky, blistering, spreading redness, or any change to your vision. Ordinary swelling and bruising don't need a call, but you're always welcome to check.
- Downtime
- Minimal — usually a day or two
- Redness
- Mild, settles within hours
- Swelling
- Common for 24–72 hours
- Bruising
- Possible, fades within a week
- Normal activities
- Same day; avoid strenuous exercise for 24–48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from just having filler?
It's the planning. Rather than treating the feature you've noticed, John assesses why it stands out and treats the areas that will restore proportion — which is often a different place from where you'd expect.
How much filler will I need?
It varies widely; a balancing plan might use 2–6 ml over one or two sessions. You'll have a clear amount and cost before anything is booked.
Can it all be done in one visit?
Often yes, though staging over two sessions a few weeks apart lets each area settle and keeps the result conservative.
Will people notice?
They'll notice you look well. Because the change is to proportion rather than any one feature, it tends to be very hard to place.
Does it hurt?
A numbing cream is applied first and most fillers contain a local anaesthetic, so you'll feel pressure and the occasional sting rather than pain. The area may feel tender for a day or two afterwards.
Can it be reversed?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if needed, which is one of the reasons we use it. John keeps it in clinic.
What happens at the consultation?
John assesses the area as part of your whole face, listens to what you'd like to change, checks your medical history and explains what's realistic, how much product is likely to be needed and the cost, before anything is booked.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Trusted Touch Aesthetics in Fulham and specialises in facial balancing, wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. He is CPD-regulated and fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.