Consultation
Consultations for facial volume change.
An in-person consultation with Dr Cumpston to discuss localised changes in facial volume — cheeks, temples, peri-oral area, chin, lips — the options, the alternatives, the risks (including a rare but serious one), and whether anything is the right step for you.
Also searched as: cheek, lip, chin and temple volume; cosmetic injectables.
What this consultation is for
People come to this consultation when they have noticed change in the volume or contour of a specific part of the face — flatter cheeks, hollowing of the temples, change around the mouth or chin, or considerations about the lips — and want to understand what is happening and what (if anything) can be considered.
Volume change beneath the skin happens for a number of reasons: redistribution of fat pads, bone change, skin laxity. Different layers call for different responses; sometimes the honest answer is that the layer that is actually changing is not one that any non-surgical option addresses well. That is part of what the consultation is for.
What to expect
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The consultation
Dr Cumpston assesses the area in person, reviews your medical history, asks what you have noticed and what you are hoping for, and discusses what is reasonable to consider — including the option not to proceed, and the option of addressing a different layer than the one that first comes to mind.
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Written treatment plan and cooling-off period
If a procedure is recommended and you want to consider it, you receive a written treatment plan describing what is proposed, the substances or devices that would be used, the expected effect, the risks, the recovery and the indicative cost. AHPRA’s cooling-off period for higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures applies and we observe it without exception.
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The procedure, if you decide to proceed
Any procedure that follows is performed in person by Dr Cumpston at the clinic. Duration depends on the specifics of the agreed plan; a session usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
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Follow-up
A review two to four weeks afterwards, once any swelling has settled, lets us assess how the area has responded and whether any minor adjustment would be useful.
Who this consultation suits, and who it doesn’t
Generally suitable for: adults who have noticed localised volume change and want a careful discussion about what (if anything) is appropriate, in good general health, with realistic expectations.
Not suitable, or requires careful assessment, if any procedure were to be considered:
- People under the age of eighteen.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Active infection at a proposed treatment site (including dental infection).
- Known allergy to a relevant product component (for example local anaesthetic).
- Active autoimmune disease or current immunosuppressive therapy — requires careful discussion.
- People taking blood-thinning medication — bruising risk is higher.
- People with body dysmorphic concerns — we will decline to proceed where, in clinical judgement, a procedure is not in your best interests.
Information about risks
Some of the options that might be considered at this consultation are higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures. They carry a recognised set of risks including a rare but serious complication called vascular occlusion. Read this section carefully. The general risks page covers risks common to all higher-risk non-surgical procedures.
Commonly described
- Swelling for several days, sometimes up to a week
- Bruising in some people, occasionally lasting up to two weeks
- Tenderness at the treatment area
- Mild redness
- Palpable lumps that settle as the area integrates
Less commonly described
- Asymmetry that may need adjustment at a short review
- Visible irregularity or a bluish tinge (Tyndall effect) if product is placed too superficially
- Headache
- Migration of product outside the intended placement
Rare but serious
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Vascular occlusion. If product is inadvertently placed into a small blood vessel, it can block the blood supply to a patch of skin or, in extremely rare cases involving the periorbital region, to the retinal circulation. This can cause skin damage and, very rarely, vision changes including blindness.
Vascular occlusion is the most important risk to recognise quickly. Symptoms include severe or escalating pain, skin colour change (pale, mottled, or dusky) that does not blanch when pressed, and any visual disturbance. If any of these occur after a procedure, contact the clinic immediately on 0452 108 308 or attend the nearest emergency department. Time matters — the enzyme used to manage vascular occlusion is more effective the sooner it is given. - Infection at the treatment site — may require antibiotic treatment.
- Granuloma or nodule formation — persistent lumps that may require further treatment.
- Allergic reaction — can range from mild local reaction to (very rarely) a severe systemic reaction.
- Nerve injury — usually temporary, very rarely permanent.
Recovery, if a procedure is performed
Most people return to normal activities immediately, with the expectation of visible swelling and possible bruising over the following days.
For the first 24–48 hours we typically ask that you:
- Avoid vigorous exercise
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid significant heat (sauna, hot yoga, sunbathing)
- Avoid facial massage and dental work where possible
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated if comfortable
Swelling typically settles within a week. The result is best assessed at a follow-up review two to four weeks later, once the area has integrated and any minor swelling has resolved.
About cost
A consultation fee applies and is disclosed before booking. If a procedure is recommended and agreed, its cost is set out individually in the written treatment plan you receive at consultation — this depends on the specifics of the area, the approach and what suits you. There are no fixed packages or pre-purchase deals.
Cosmetic consultations and procedures are not covered by Medicare or by most private health insurance policies.
Frequently asked questions
You will be told honestly. Sometimes the answer is that nothing is appropriate. Sometimes it is that the layer that is actually changing is not one that a non-surgical procedure addresses well, and a different conversation (including with a surgeon, where relevant) would be more useful. The point of the consultation is the right decision for you.
Whether a procedure can be partially or fully reversed depends on what was performed. For some procedures an enzyme can be used to dissolve the product; for others the effect must wear off in time. Reversibility is one of the considerations discussed at consultation and described in your written plan before any procedure.
That depends on what is done, where, and how much. Dr Cumpston’s approach is to use the minimum effective amount and to place product carefully where it is indicated. He will decline to add more product where, in his clinical judgement, doing so would not be in your best interests.
You can reach Dr Cumpston directly. Vascular complications are treated as emergencies and managed immediately. There is no charge for review of a procedure-related complication.
By phone on 0452 108 308, by email at info@drjclinics.com.au, or directly via the cosmetic medicine consultation booking link. You can also pick from all appointment types on the booking page. The consultation fee is disclosed before booking.
Next step
A consultation, in person, with Dr Cumpston
Every treatment at drJ Clinics begins with a consultation. We review your goals, your medical history and the options — including the option not to proceed. There is no obligation to book a procedure.