Dermal Filler

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A dermal filler is an injectable gel used to restore volume, soften folds and refine the contours of the face. Most modern fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance the body produces naturally, though other materials are also used. Fillers add structure where the face has lost it—or enhance features such as the lips and cheeks—and, unlike surgery, they are placed with a fine needle or a blunt cannula in a short in-clinic visit.

Editorial portrait of a Mediterranean woman in her forties with deep olive skin, high cheekbones and auburn hair — dermal filler for facial volume and contour — Revel Beauty Club

At a glance

  • What it is: An injectable gel that restores volume, softens folds and refines facial contours
  • Most common type: Hyaluronic acid (HA)—naturally found in the body and, importantly, reversible
  • Other types: Calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid (a collagen biostimulator) and PMMA
  • Common areas: Lips, cheeks, tear troughs, nasolabial folds, jawline and chin
  • Delivered by: A fine needle or a blunt cannula, in a short appointment
  • In Canada: Fillers are regulated as licensed medical devices by Health Canada

What is a dermal filler?

Dermal fillers are soft, injectable gels placed beneath the skin to replace lost volume, smooth lines and folds, and enhance or balance facial features. As we age, the face loses fat, bone support and collagen, and fillers offer a non-surgical way to restore some of that structure or to refine areas such as the lips, cheeks and jawline. Treatment is quick, performed in-clinic, and results are visible immediately with most products.

Types of dermal filler

Fillers differ by what they are made of. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is by far the most common—versatile, natural to the body and, uniquely, dissolvable.[1] Calcium hydroxylapatite is a thicker filler used for deeper volume and contour, while poly-L-lactic acid is a biostimulator that works gradually by prompting the skin to build its own collagen (neocollagenesis) rather than adding gel volume directly.[1] PMMA is a longer-lasting, semi-permanent option. In broad terms, most fillers either add volume immediately or stimulate collagen over time—and the choice depends on the area and the goal.

What dermal fillers treat

Fillers address volume loss and facial balance across many areas: plumping and defining the lips and the Cupid’s bow, restoring cheek and malar volume, softening nasolabial folds and marionette lines, improving tear troughs under the eyes, and defining the jawline and chin.[1] At Revel, these are offered through our face treatments, including dedicated dermal filler for lips. The best results come from an assessment of the whole face rather than treating one line in isolation.

Needle or cannula: how fillers are placed

Filler is delivered either through a fine sharp needle or through a blunt-tipped cannula. Needles allow precise, targeted placement, while cannulas glide through tissue and tend to push blood vessels aside, which can reduce bruising and lower the risk of injecting into a vessel across larger areas. Neither is universally better—an experienced injector selects the tool to suit the area, the product and the goal.

How long fillers last, and are they reversible?

Longevity depends on the product, the area treated and individual factors, generally ranging from several months to a couple of years; biostimulatory fillers work more gradually and their effect builds and then fades over a longer period.[1] A major advantage of HA fillers is that they are reversible: if a result needs adjusting, or in the event of a complication, HA can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase.[1] Non-HA fillers cannot be dissolved in the same way, which is one reason HA is so widely used.

Safety and risks

Most side effects are mild and temporary—bruising, swelling and tenderness at the injection site. The most serious risk is vascular occlusion, where filler blocks or compresses a blood vessel; it is uncommon but requires prompt treatment, and a meta-analysis found the highest-risk areas to be the glabella, nose and nasolabial folds.[3] For HA fillers, prompt hyaluronidase can dissolve the product and restore blood flow, with recovery reported in the large majority of treated cases—though timing is critical to avoid lasting damage such as tissue necrosis.[3] A superficially placed HA filler can also cause a bluish tint known as the Tyndall effect. These risks are why an experienced injector with a deep knowledge of facial anatomy matters so much.

Dermal fillers in Canada

In Canada, dermal fillers are regulated as licensed medical devices, and only products authorized by Health Canada should be used.[2] Health Canada has specifically warned that unauthorized “needle-free” filler devices sold online are not authorized and can pose real health risks, advising the public to avoid them and to have fillers administered by a qualified professional using authorized products.[2] Choosing a reputable clinic and a trained injector is the single most important safety decision a patient can make.

Related glossary terms

Clinical & editorial sources

  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Types of Dermal Fillers. plasticsurgery.org
  2. Health Canada. Information Update: Needle-free dermal filler devices used for cosmetic skin treatments are not authorized in Canada and may pose health risks. Government of Canada. recalls-rappels.canada.ca
  3. Chakhachiro A, Waseem M. Risk Factor Analysis for Vascular Occlusions After Dermal Filler Injections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus. 2025. doi:10.7759/cureus.82800

This glossary entry provides general educational information and does not replace an individual clinical assessment or medical advice.

Clinically reviewed by: Leah Zawawi, RPN | Medical Aesthetics & Injectables.

Last reviewed: August 2026.

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