What is the difference between anti wrinkle treatment and dermal filler?

Anti wrinkle treatment uses prescription medicine to reduce muscle activity and soften the expression lines caused by movement. Dermal filler uses hyaluronic acid product to restore volume, structural support and definition. Many clients benefit from both, addressing different aspects of facial change. The consultation at Core Aesthetics identifies which is most relevant for each individual concern.

How long does dermal filler last?

Duration varies significantly by area. Lip filler typically lasts six to twelve months. Mid face and structural filler generally lasts twelve to eighteen months or longer. Product placed in deeper structural planes with less movement metabolises more slowly than product in highly mobile areas. Expected duration for each area is discussed at consultation.

What does the assessment for dermal filler at Core Aesthetics involve?

Corey Anderson assesses the whole face rather than the individual areas a client mentions. The assessment covers volume distribution, structural proportions, skin quality and how changes in one area affect surrounding structures. Volume reduction in the mid face, for example, affects how the under eye and lower face appear. This whole face context informs every filler recommendation.

Does dermal filler hurt?

Discomfort varies by area. The lips are the most sensitive. Mid face, cheek and structural areas are generally better tolerated. Most modern hyaluronic acid fillers contain a local anaesthetic to reduce discomfort during injection. Topical numbing is also available. Any significant pain during treatment is a reason to stop and reassess placement.

What is the recovery time after dermal filler?

There is no formal recovery period. Swelling and occasional bruising are the most common post-treatment effects, peaking at 24 to 48 hours and typically resolving within a week. The final settled result is visible at approximately two weeks. Most clients can return to normal activity on the day of treatment.

What does filler feel like under the skin?

In structural areas, filler may be palpable as a slightly firmer texture beneath the skin, particularly in the first few weeks after treatment. This settles as the product integrates with surrounding tissue. In areas where product is placed superficially, firmness is more noticeable. If filler is palpable through the skin surface, this is worth reviewing.

Is there a risk of migration with dermal filler?

Migration, meaning product moving from the intended placement to an adjacent area, is more associated with certain superficial treatment areas and can be caused by excessive volume, repeated pressure or incorrect placement. At Core Aesthetics, conservative dosing and anatomically appropriate placement are how migration risk is minimised.

Can dermal filler be combined with anti wrinkle treatment in the same appointment?

Yes, and this combination is appropriate for many clients. The two treatments address different aspects of facial change and can be performed at the same appointment where the assessment supports it. Whether combining them makes sense depends on the areas being treated and is discussed at your individual consultation.

Book a Cosmetic Consultation in Oakleigh

Core Aesthetics offers individual clinical consultations for all cosmetic injectable treatments at their Oakleigh clinic. All consultations are with Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse NMW0001047575, and no treatment is recommended without a thorough individual assessment.

The consultation is not the step before the treatment. It is the most important part of the whole process.

This is not a standard disclaimer. It is the clinical reality of how good injectable outcomes are produced. The assessment that precedes treatment determines everything: whether treatment is appropriate, which approach serves the individual face, what a realistic outcome looks like, and what amount and placement will produce a natural rather than an obvious result.

At Core Aesthetics in Oakleigh, every treatment begins with an individual consultation. No exceptions.

Why the Consultation Comes First

Cosmetic injectable treatments are prescription medicines. Anti wrinkle product and dermal filler can only be legally recommended and administered by an AHPRA registered health practitioner following individual clinical assessment. This is not optional; it is a regulatory and clinical requirement.

What happens in the appointment

But at Core Aesthetics, the consultation is not simply a compliance checkpoint. It is the foundation of every outcome. Corey Anderson does not use the consultation to confirm a treatment you have already decided on. He uses it to understand your face, your goals, your concerns, and your history, and then provides an honest recommendation based on that assessment.

“Sometimes people arrive wanting one thing and leave understanding that a different approach would serve them better. That conversation is what makes everything that follows work.”

Sometimes the assessment confirms exactly what the client expected. Sometimes it identifies a different driver, a different treatment area, or a different approach entirely. Occasionally it reveals that injectable treatment is not the right tool for what the client is hoping to address. All of these are valid consultation outcomes, and all of them serve the client better than proceeding without them.

What Happens at the Consultation

The initial consultation at Core Aesthetics follows a consistent structure.

What happens in the appointment

History. Corey Anderson begins by taking your full medical history. Current medications and supplements (several affect bruising, healing and treatment planning), any prior cosmetic treatments including when, where and what was done, relevant health conditions, and any history of previous adverse reactions. This information is essential context for the assessment and the treatment plan.

Your concerns and goals. Corey discusses what has prompted you to explore treatment and what outcome you are hoping for. You do not need to arrive with a specific treatment request. Many clients arrive with a general concern, such as looking tired or noticing that something about their face has changed, and the assessment identifies what is actually driving it.

Facial assessment. Corey assesses the face at rest and in motion. He looks at the whole face in three zones: upper, mid and lower. He evaluates muscle activity patterns, volume distribution, structural proportions, skin quality, and how changes in one area are affecting the appearance of others. He notes which lines are dynamic (only visible during expression) and which have become static (visible at rest). He identifies where volume has reduced and how that reduction is affecting surrounding structures.

The recommendation. Based on the assessment, Corey explains what he is seeing, what is driving the changes or concerns you have described, and what treatment can realistically address. He recommends a specific approach, explains why, and discusses what a conservative starting point looks like. He is direct about what treatment cannot achieve.

Your questions. The consultation includes time for you to ask any questions before any decision is made. There is no pressure to proceed on the day. Treatment is never booked or assumed as part of the consultation appointment.

What the Consultation Determines

For anti wrinkle treatment
Which muscle groups are driving the concern. Individual muscle strength and activity levels. Appropriate dose ranges. Interaction between different muscle groups. Realistic expected outcome and duration.

What happens in the appointment

For dermal filler
Where volume has genuinely reduced and where the driver is elsewhere. The right starting area for whole face balance. Appropriate product and placement approach. Conservative volume to start from. What indirect improvements to expect.

Consultation Types at Core Aesthetics

Consultations at Core Aesthetics are available for all treatment areas and for general facial assessments. Clients do not need to nominate a specific treatment to book a consultation. Corey assesses the whole face and discusses what is relevant to the individual concern.

How to Prepare

Arriving prepared means Corey can spend the consultation time on assessment and discussion rather than gathering basic information.

Come with no makeup or minimal makeup so your face can be assessed without it
Bring a list of all current medications and supplements, including blood thinners, fish oil, vitamin E and any herbal supplements
Have details of any prior cosmetic treatments including location, timing and what was performed
Arrive wearing your natural expression rather than a consciously relaxed or posed face
Think about what specifically has prompted you to explore treatment, even if you cannot name a specific treatment you want

After the Consultation

After the consultation, you have all the information you need to make a decision. There is no time pressure and no follow up sales contact. If you decide to proceed with treatment, you book a separate treatment appointment. If you would like time to consider, that is entirely appropriate.

What happens in the appointment

When treatment does proceed, Corey treats from the starting point discussed at consultation, uses conservative doses, and books a two week review to assess the settled result. The review is a standard part of every first treatment at Core Aesthetics.

Book your consultation at Core Aesthetics, Oakleigh.
Open Tuesday to Saturday by appointment.

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General Information Only. This article is general in nature and does not replace a consultation with a qualified health practitioner. Treatment outcomes, suitability and risks vary by individual. Any medical or prescription treatment options can only be discussed and provided where clinically appropriate following an individual assessment.

All consultations are conducted personally by Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse (NMW0001047575, registered since January 1996). Verifiable at coreaesthetics.com.au/verify.

Written and reviewed by Corey Anderson, Registered Nurse and Cosmetic Injector | Last reviewed: April 2026
AHPRA Registration: NMW0001047575 (Nurse, registered since January 1996) | Core Aesthetics, Oakleigh VIC 3166
All prescription treatments are assessed and administered by an AHPRA registered health practitioner. Suitability is determined individually at consultation.

Clinical References