Filler might have experienced a backlash in recent years, but in the right hands, with the right product and a light touch, I believe it’s still one of the best anti-ageing treatments available.
Social media might be full of exaggerated examples that have fuelled the ‘overdone’ stereotype – think overinflated lips and heavy cheeks – but those extremes aren’t representative of what good filler should achieve. Used skillfully it doesn’t just plump, it can also lift, contour and rebalance the face. It creates a fresher look without the need for more invasive procedures.
Unlike many other tweakments, with filler the results are immediate, long-lasting, and customisable, tailored to each person’s unique anatomy. Rather than changing how someone looks, well-placed filler should simply restore what’s been lost, leaving people looking refreshed, not ‘done.’
Dr Sophie Shotter is a top aesthetic doctor
Another reason filler is one of my favourite non-surgical treatments is its versatility. It can be used in multiple areas – cheeks, lips, jawline, chin, and even under the eyes – where we lose volume with age, instantly restoring structure and softness where time has taken it away.
Whilst the above areas are the ones filler is famous for, there are other, more unusual places where I it can have a dramatic anti-ageing effect.
Earlobes
Though rarely discussed, earlobes are a giveaway of ageing. Over time, they lose volume and elasticity, meaning they can appear flat or stretched, especially if earrings have been worn for decades. Filler offers a simple solution, restoring plumpness and structure.
By adding back subtle volume, earlobes look firmer, healthier, and better able to hold jewellery without drooping. The treatment takes only minutes, with little downtime, yet makes a surprising difference to overall appearance. It’s one of those discreet tweakments people don’t notice directly — they just see earrings sitting beautifully again, without the tell-tale sag of thinning lobes.
Hands
Hands are one of the earliest places to reveal age, often more quickly than the face. As collagen and fat diminish, veins and tendons become more visible, giving a bony, skeletal look.
Dermal filler can restore volume and smoothness, instantly rejuvenating their appearance. Results are subtle but effective, making the hands look plumper and more hydrated without being obvious. It’s a tweakment that works well alongside good skincare and SPF, since filler addresses volume loss while topical care targets texture and pigmentation. Together, they ensure the hands match the youthful look often achieved in the face.
Temples
Temple hollowing is one of the more overlooked signs of ageing, yet it can make the face look gaunt, tired, or skeletal. By restoring lost volume with filler, the upper face regains its natural softness and youthful balance. Treating the temples also supports the brow, subtly lifting the eye area without the need for surgery. The effect is not about plumping but restoring structure that time has taken away. Because it’s a more advanced area, it requires an experienced injector – but when done correctly, temple filler can dramatically improve facial harmony in a way most people wouldn’t expect.
Neck
Horizontal lines across the neck – increasingly dubbed ‘tech neck’ due to time spent looking at screens – can appear even in younger people. While skincare and energy-based treatments improve skin texture, filler is uniquely effective at softening these etched-in creases. Using micro-aliquots (incredibly small amounts) of soft filler, practitioners can fill and smooth the lines without overloading the delicate area. The effect is a neck that looks fresher and more youthful, with results that can last several months. This subtle tweakment is often overlooked, yet it helps the neck match the rejuvenation people seek for their face, maintaining overall harmony.
Scars
Dermal filler can be an effective treatment for certain types of scars, particularly those that appear indented or sunken, such as acne scars or trauma-related depressions. By placing filler beneath the scar, the skin is lifted and smoothed, reducing shadowing and creating a more even surface. The improvement is usually immediate, though results are most natural and effective when combined with other treatments such as subcision, which removes the scar from deeper tissue, microneedling, which triggers the skin’s wound-healing response, or laser, which address tethering, texture and pigmentation. Filler doesn’t erase scars completely, but it can make them far less noticeable, improving confidence and creating a more balanced, uniform skin appearance without surgery.
Nose
Dermal filler can completely transform the appearance of the nose without surgery. Called non-surgical rhinoplasty, small, strategic injections can camouflage a dorsal hump, lift a drooping tip, or create straighter, more refined contours. The results are instant, with no downtime, and can last up to 18 months. For those who want to enhance their profile but who aren’t ready for a permanent rhinoplasty, it’s an ideal option. Importantly, non-surgical rhinoplasty doesn’t shrink the nose but creates balance by smoothing irregularities. Done well, it’s almost undetectable – people just notice the nose looks straighter and more harmonious with the rest of the face.
Labia majora
Filler in the labia majora is one of the more intimate but increasingly requested treatments (although I would always recommend having this with a gynaecological specialist). With age, weight loss, or hormonal changes, the labia can lose volume, leading to a deflated or sagging appearance. Hyaluronic acid filler restores plumpness and hydration, giving a smoother, more youthful contour. For some, it also improves comfort, reducing chafing and enhancing confidence both in and out of clothing. While still a lesser-known use of filler, it’s gaining popularity as more people seek holistic rejuvenation beyond the face. Discreet, quick, and not much resting time needed, it addresses both aesthetic and functional concerns in a subtle way.
And for stiletto lovers…. soles of the feet
Though unexpected, filler can also be used in the soles of the feet, particularly for people who experience pain or discomfort from standing, walking, or wearing high heels. By adding cushioning in areas where the natural fat pad has thinned, filler reduces pressure and friction, making shoes more comfortable. It’s sometimes called the ‘stiletto lift’ since it allows people to wear heels for longer without pain. While not primarily cosmetic, it’s a practical treatment that improves quality of life. The results are temporary, lasting months rather than years, but for many, the comfort it provides is invaluable.
For more information, visit Dr Sophie Shotter’s website.
