Two of the top questions we hear at MFI are How much are dermal fillers? And How long do dermal fillers last? Everyone wants to get the most filler mileage for their dollar, and the way to do that is with maintenance treatments.
Regularly scheduled filler maintenance treatments aren’t just a game-changer when it comes to longer-lasting results. They also cost only a fraction of your initial treatment, saving many patients thousands of dollars over time.
How Maintenance Makes Treatment More Affordable
Your initial treatment requires a bigger time and financial investment. In another blog post, we explain why we layer filler over at least two appointments to get your initial results just right.
At MFI, most of our patients still have about 80% of their initial results after one year. That means keeping your results “first-day fresh” requires only 20% of the initial amount of filler. That’s why maintenance treatments cost significantly less than your initial treatment.
The longer you wait for re-treatment, the more syringes you will need to return to your original results. Conversely, maintenance prolongs the duration of your results, so less quantity is needed for touch-ups.
For example, Under Eye / Midface Rejuvenation that initially costs $13,000 could cost as little as $2,600 at your maintenance appointment, ideally scheduled every 9 to 12 months. It’s typical for your annual maintenance costs to be about 20% of your initial treatment cost and syringe volume.
Your Injector will work with you to share the costs associated with your personalized treatment and potential maintenance plan. Many patients take advantage of the affordable financing options through our healthcare financing partner, CareCredit.
Why Regular Maintenance Matters
In addition to cost savings, there are other benefits to getting your maintenance treatments every 9 to 12 months:
- Prolonged results: Regular maintenance helps you preserve your facial enhancements for longer stretches
- Enhanced results: Touch-ups allow for ongoing natural and subtle correction and improvements
- Consistency: Routine maintenance prevents the full return of shadows, lines, and volume loss
Our patients also appreciate that their maintenance appointments are much quicker and easier than their initial treatment.
Filler Maintenance Before and After
Filler vs. BOTOX® Maintenance
Maintaining filler results is different from keeping up with BOTOX. While BOTOX (and other neuromodulators) fully break down in the body within a few months, dermal fillers break down much more slowly. This means only a small amount of filler is needed to maintain your results.
BOTOX is typically done every 3 months to maintain results and the same amount is needed at each appointment because it will fully wear off in between. Filler maintenance is typically required only once a year because the body metabolizes the product much slower, therefore less is needed for touch-ups.
How often should you get dermal fillers?
We strongly recommend touch-up treatments every 9 to 12 months annually to prevent treatment reversal and increase cost savings over time. The beauty of fillers like JUVÉDERM® and RADIESSE® extends to their impressive longevity—they stay in the body for months and even years. That’s because fillers stimulate collagen production, which keeps your skin looking younger and smoother for longer. However, you can expect the visible results of most fillers to gradually decrease by about 20% over a year.
There are a few important exceptions to our 80/20 rule for the longevity of filler results. Dramatic weight loss, either due to health issues or medical weight loss treatments like Ozempic, may cause filler results to subside more quickly. It’s also important to note that filler results may be slightly more short-lived in the lower half of the face, where there is more movement.
Why 9 to 12 Months Is Key for Maintenance
We have found that 9 to 12 months is the “sweet spot” for most maintenance treatments. At this point, you still have roughly 80% of your results, so you only need a 20% touch-up. At MFI, we only add precisely what is needed—we never overfill. That’s why our maintenance treatments are so affordable.
If you wait longer than 9 to 12 months, and your body has metabolized more of the filler, you could require re-treatment rather than just a touch-up.
Understanding filler longevity based on specific treatment types and areas can help you understand why we have found that maintenance treatments at 9 to 12-month intervals produce the best AND most cost-effective outcomes.
This chart serves as a helpful reference:
| Treatment Area | Best Time To Touch Up |
|---|---|
| Nose | 12-15 months |
| Under Eyes | 12-15 months |
| Lips | 6-12 months |
| Chin | 9-12 months |
| Cheeks | 9-12 months |
Trust Our Expertise
The Mabrie Facial Institute team is committed to ensuring that your filler maintenance doesn’t become “high maintenance.” We’ll work with you to develop an ongoing treatment schedule that accommodates your time and budget while accomplishing your aesthetic goals.
We also suggest adopting these filler maintenance tips:
- Set a consistent schedule… and stick to it! This will help you factor the cost of maintenance treatments into your budget and prevent your look from lapsing.
- Practice good skincare. A solid skincare routine prolongs the results of your injectables and contributes to overall skin health and radiance.
- Monitor changes. Keep track of visible changes you observe between treatments and communicate these to your Injector during visits.
- Live a healthy lifestyle. Stay hydrated, eat a well-balanced diet, and protect your skin from the sun to keep your look youthful and glowing.
Remember, you’re not on your own. Our caring, talented Injectors work with you to personalize your treatment and maintenance plan so that it’s fully tailored to your preferences and needs. We aim to keep you looking and feeling your best as safely and cost-effectively as possible for as long as possible!
What’s Next?
Choosing regular maintenance over sporadic treatments provides a more consistent aesthetic outcome and maximizes your investment. We encourage you to schedule a consultation today to learn more about how our personalized maintenance plans can benefit your appearance and wallet. You can also call us at (415) 445-9513 to set up an appointment. Get in touch with us today!
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