Can sterile water be injected into the face before fillers?

Question

I want fillers but to see if i'll like them,I want to get something that has the same effect but is temporary like Sterile water or saline before hand just to make sure I like them.

Sirius K. Yoo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Two important points are to use sterile saline and not sterile water.  Sterile water will be painful when injected even if there were no needle involved.  Saline is not painful when injected aside from the needle used.  The second point is that whenever injections are performed, there is local swelling that occurs.  Often times, this effect looks great, but is not entirely duplicated by fillers. The saline solution is absorbed over the course of a day or two.  The swelling from injections can last for a week or more.  I would only caution you that the effect you will see from saline injections in the face is not a perfect representation of what fillers will look like.  If you are thinking about fillers, it is my experience that you would probably like the results.  Fillers enjoy a very high satisfaction rate.  Another thing you may consider is that if Hyaluronic Acid (HA) filler is injected (Restylane, Juvederm, etc), the effect is reversible if you don't like it.  HA fillers are reversed with hyaluronidase in minutes.  This is not the case with non-HA fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, etc.  See a skilled injector that can give you more detailed information and help you make the best decision for yourself.  All the best!

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

There is no need to have water or saline injected to replicate how you would appear from facial fillers.  In your consultation a well trained dermatologist can show you how you will appear from the fillers and what improvements you can realistically have from the procedure.  Saline will not accurately show how you will look from the injections.  Please consult a board certified dermatologist with experience with facial cosmetic injections for the best most natural looking results.

Naveen Somia, MBBS, PhD, FRACS · Answer

Sterile water is not recommended but sterile saline is OK.I use this method to demonstrate the effect of a 'fill' to the patient. It will last for about 2 hours.In routine practice I injected local anaesthesia prior to fillers to minimise the bleeding and bruising.The volume of local anaesthesia injected will give the patient an idea of what fillers may look like.All the best

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Saline injections may give a rough idea as to how the fillers might look but they do not have the same consistency.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD · Answer

It can be done. Just like some people can have their breasts injected with sterile saline. It will go away, but you can see what the result will look like. It also helps to have a little local in too as the injections can hurt a little.

Can sterile water be injected into the face before fillers?

Answers (5)

Answer: Saline injections

Answer: Saline injections

Answer: Yes

Answer: Yes

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Everything you need to know about Dermal Fillers

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Can sterile water be injected into the face before fillers?

Answers (5)

Answer: Saline injections

Answer: Saline injections

Answer: Yes

Answer: Yes

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Dermal Fillers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.