Camilla Gets JUVÉDERM Filler!

My face has been in the capable hands of Dr Alek Nikolic for the past five years, and to say that I trust him implicitly would be an understatement. I am a big fan of botox, but had never seriously considered fillers until he explained what subtle changes could be made with just a few simple injections. I mulled over the idea for about a year, and finally decided to take the plunge last week. Dr Nikolic used JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC on me, and the results are expected to last for around 18 months to 2 years. You can find out more about this particular type of filler here, and about fillers in general from this piece which Dr Nikolic penned for us last year.

Jules came with me so that she could film my appointment (Friday 31 March 2017) from start to finish and give you all an idea of what the procedure entails and how it is administered. Please be warned, this video contains footage of needles and injections, so if you’re squeamish, be prepared!

After the procedure, I felt very aware of how my face looked and felt, which was something I hadn’t experienced with botox. Although I still looked like me, the combination of the anaesthetic wearing off and the swelling from the injections left me feeling very unlike me. When I got home, I gently washed my face, and it was quite an odd sensation to feel the fillers underneath my skin – I could trace the new contours of my cheeks, mouth and chin with my fingers, and it totally creeped me out. My cheeks also felt quite tender, so I took extra care to sleep on my back that night because I had (irrational) fears of putting too much pressure on the fillers.

By the next morning I had wrapped my head around everything, and was a lot less squeamish about touching my face – everything felt pretty normal. By Monday, I couldn’t feel the fillers in my cheeks and chin at all anymore, but I can still feel the fillers in the corners of my mouth. Dr Nikolic says that this is a result of inflammation and should subside within the next few weeks. As far as bruising is concerned, I developed a tiny bruise under my chin, but my cheeks and mouth area were absolutely fine. The chin bruise was easily coverable with makeup: peach-toned corrector to cancel out the blue tones; foundation; concealer if necessary; powder to set.

Here’s a before-and-after picture which I think highlights the most noticeable changes: my cheeks are fuller, and my under-eye area looks plumped up (in fact, that whole area looks less sunken and shadowy). Also, by fractionally increasing the length of my chin, and thereby equalizing my facial proportions, I think my forehead appears smaller. I will continue to see improvements in the next 4-6 weeks as the fillers settle in and the swelling subsides completely. I am already delighted with the results, so I am excited to see further changes as the weeks progress. I feel like I look a lot more rested and refreshed, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Before and After B&W
These photographs were taken at different times of the day, which is why there is a lighting discrepancy. I have converted them to black and white so that this discrepancy is less obvious, and so that you can focus purely on the results. I have not applied any other filters.

If you are interested in fillers or botox, you can contact Dr Nikolic on 021 797 0960. If, like Jules, fillers/botox aren’t for you and you prefer to use premium skincare instead, you can visit his online store, SkinMiles.
*Dr Nikolic kindly provided this procedure free of charge. Prices for JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC filler typically range from between R4,000 – R5,000. 

10 comments on Camilla Gets JUVÉDERM Filler!

  • aneke

    I found this incredibly interesting, though the whole thing terrifies me (I’ve heard some horror stories, but obviously you have a great doctor). To me your eyes are the most noticeable change, I had no idea fillers could do that!

    • Lara

      Wow! Can’t believe the results. Thank you for blog xx

  • Bianca

    You look amazing! Fillers are incredible, I’ve also had Juvederm and the results are stunning – well rested is the perfect way to describe the results!

    • Camilla (author)

      Thank you so much xx

  • Kelly

    Your skin is actually perfection! Really fascinating video, thanks!

    • Camilla (author)

      Thanks, darling xxx

  • Roxanne

    You look amazing! Thanks for the honest review and before and afters, def makes me want to give it a try very soon!

  • Christina

    Can Dr advise if fillers can still be done on a youthful faced 60 year old with very few wrinkles but loss of tissue? ? Will it have the same effects or will more millilitres have to be used? Ooooh..nervous to do it especially under my eyes and my mouth

    • Camilla (author)

      Hi Christina. It’s best to contact Dr Nikolic directly to arrange an appointment. His contact details are in the blog post.

  • Lee

    Hi team

    I’ve had this article bookmarked for ages because I’ve wanted under-eye filler for as long as I’ve known what it was. My mom got it and was unhappy with the result, saying she often felt like her under eyes were more puffy than before – almost as if it had gone too far. (I obvs understand different people react differently, different bodies, procedures, doctors, etc.) Now with time having past, were you happy with the more medium – long term effects of the under-eye fillers? Did you/would you do it again? (I’m going to go for a proper consult with a doctor when I can, but sometimes anecdotal points to refer to can be helpful.)

    Thank you!

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