Dermal fillers in Thailand

What fillers are

Most dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance found naturally in the skin. They’re injected to add volume, lift or definition, and the result is visible straight away. They’re gradually broken down by the body over months.

Clinics in Thailand offer a wide range of brands:

• Premium international brands, such as Juvéderm and Restylane, which have several products for different areas
• Other brands, including Korean products such as Neuramis, which are usually cheaper

Some clinics also offer non-HA fillers, such as calcium hydroxylapatite or poly-L-lactic acid. These last longer, but can’t be dissolved if you’re unhappy or have a problem.

Avoid permanent fillers and “silicone injections”. Injected liquid silicone and other permanent fillers can cause serious, long-term complications that are very hard to treat.

Common treatment areas

• Lips
• Cheeks and mid-face
• Chin and jawline
• Under-eye hollows (tear troughs)
• Lines from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial folds)
• The nose (a “non-surgical nose job”), which carries higher risk

How pricing works

Fillers are usually priced per 1 ml syringe. How many you need depends on the area and the look you want. Lips often take 1 ml, while cheeks or jawline can take several. Ask for the brand, the specific product and the number of syringes in writing, and whether a follow-up top-up is included.

What to expect

The doctor may apply numbing cream first, and many fillers contain a local anaesthetic. Injections take 30–60 minutes. Expect some swelling and possibly bruising for a few days, which can be worse in the lips. Most swelling settles within 1–2 weeks. Avoid alcohol, strenuous exercise and massage of the area for a day or two, or as your doctor advises.

Risks

Common and usually temporary:

• swelling, redness, tenderness and bruising
• small lumps or unevenness

Less common but serious:

• infection
• vascular occlusion: filler blocking a blood vessel, which can damage the skin and, very rarely, cause blindness. It’s a medical emergency. Warning signs include severe pain, skin turning pale or mottled, or changes in vision during or after treatment.

This is why your injector should be a trained doctor who knows facial anatomy, has hyaluronidase on hand and has a plan for emergencies.

Questions to ask

• Is the clinic licensed, and is the injector a registered doctor? (How to check)
• Which brand and product will you use? Can I see the sealed box?
• How many ml will I need, and what’s the total price?
• Do you keep hyaluronidase at the clinic?
• What should I do if I have a problem after I’ve gone home?