Facial volume restoration

As we age, the face changes in more than lines: there can be subtle flattening and hollowing, a gradual loss of support and definition, and changes in the lips. A facial volume restoration consultation starts with a thorough assessment of what has actually changed, and why, before any option is considered. At Hillview, that assessment and any treatment are carried out by Dr Kirk himself.

What it can address

People often describe looking more tired or flatter than they used to, lips that have thinned or lost definition, or a face that seems less balanced than it once did. These are usually structural changes rather than surface ones, so they're assessed together, not one area at a time. It's not about looking “filled”: the aim is to restore what's been lost in a way that still looks like you.

The options

There's more than one way to approach volume and support. Depending on your assessment, options may include hyaluronic acid filler, which adds gentle structure where it's needed, including the lips, and other approaches that work more gradually over a course of treatment. Which of these suits you, if any, depends on your anatomy, your goals and your medical history. If what you need is outside what we provide, we'll tell you.

How it's approached

Treatment is considered only after assessing your face, your goals and your medical history. Our approach is deliberately conservative, measured, staged where appropriate, and reviewed as we go. We'd rather build gradually than overcorrect. Where treatment isn't the right answer, we'll say so.

• A thorough assessment of the whole face, not a single area
• A conservative, staged approach where appropriate
• Reviewed over time rather than rushed
• Sometimes the honest answer is that treatment isn't right for you

A doctor-led safeguard

Injectable volume treatments are medical procedures, and rare but serious complications are possible. Part of what a doctor-led setting offers is that the same practitioner who assesses and treats you also holds the training and on-site means to manage a complication should one arise. It's a safeguard we regard as essential, not optional.

Risks, recovery and realistic expectations

This is a medical procedure and carries some risk. Temporary effects such as swelling, bruising, tenderness or firmness can occur, and less common complications are possible; the risks relevant to you will be explained in full beforehand. Results are not permanent, and an ongoing approach is needed to maintain them. Individual results vary, and what's appropriate for you is determined only after a proper assessment.