Clinical Reflections · Clinical aesthetics
Dermal filler: treating proportion rather than an isolated feature
Presentation
A patient attended asking specifically for lip filler. During consultation, however, her main concern appeared to be overall lower-face balance rather than lip volume alone.
Clinical approach
We assessed her facial proportions and discussed what she hoped treatment would change. I explained that adding volume to one feature in isolation does not always produce the most balanced result.
We discussed several possibilities, including doing nothing, treating the lips conservatively, or considering other areas only if there was a clear clinical and aesthetic rationale.
The eventual plan prioritised proportion and subtlety rather than simply delivering the treatment initially requested.
Reflective practice
Patients often arrive asking for a particular procedure because it is the treatment name they know.
The clinician's responsibility is different. My job is to understand the concern behind the request and then decide whether the requested procedure is actually the most appropriate way to address it.
That distinction between request-led treatment and assessment-led treatment is central to how I practise aesthetics.
This case is illustrative. It draws on Dr Godara's clinical experience, with identifying details removed or changed, and does not describe any identifiable patient. It is not a guide to what is right for you: treatment suitability is assessed individually and results vary from person to person.