Series index
This article is not the start of a series — it is its index. Below are the questions that genuinely recur in clinic and in search, answered briefly and directly, with each topic covered at length in its own article.
The questions below aren’t invented or scraped from the internet. These are the questions asked in front of me in clinic, typed into search, and sent to me on WhatsApp.
I’ve gathered them in one place and answered them exactly as I would in consultation — without exaggerating, and without minimising.
Read the ones that apply to you, or read them all.
Part one: skin boosters
1. What exactly is a skin booster?
A hydration injectable made of hyaluronic acid at a light concentration, placed in the middle layer of the skin to hydrate from within and stimulate collagen. It doesn’t fill, and it doesn’t change your features.
2. Do skin boosters make your face puffy?
No. This isn’t a volumising product. Any swelling after the session is temporary and settles within two to three days.
3. How many sessions do I need?
The standard protocol is three sessions, spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart. Then a maintenance session every 6 to 12 months.
4. When do results appear?
Initial hydration within 3 to 7 days. Genuine radiance after two to three weeks. The clearest result about a month after finishing all three sessions.
5. Where can they be injected?
The whole face, under the eyes, the neck, the hands, and sometimes the décolletage. Areas depend on skin condition.
6. How do they differ from mesotherapy?
Skin boosters hydrate with hyaluronic acid in a deeper layer and last longer. Mesotherapy delivers a vitamin cocktail more superficially and needs more frequent sessions.
7. Do they work for men?
Yes, and the proportion of men having them is rising. The aim is usually a more rested appearance with no change to features.
8. Are they suitable for oily skin?
Yes. Oily skin can still be dehydrated underneath (internal dryness with surface oil), and skin boosters address exactly that.
Part two: filler
9. What is the difference between filler and Botox?
Botox relaxes muscle and prevents movement wrinkles. Filler replaces volume. Botox for movement, filler for volume.
10. How long does filler last?
Six to eighteen months depending on product and area. Lips are usually shorter-lived than cheeks because the area moves more.
11. If I don’t like it, can it be removed?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler is dissolved with hyaluronidase, with results visible within one to three days.
12. Does filler leave a hollow when it wears off?
No. It breaks down gradually and tissues return to their natural state for your age. This is a widespread myth.
13. Does filler fix dark circles?
It fixes one type only: circles caused by a hollow casting a shadow. If they’re pigment-based or caused by thin skin, filler isn’t the answer and may make things look worse.
14. Why do lip fillers swell so much?
Swelling in the first 48 to 72 hours is normal and expected, with the final shape settling after two weeks. Don’t judge the result on day one.
15. Can I exercise after filler?
Wait 24 to 48 hours. Intense exercise increases blood flow, which increases swelling and bruising.
16. What about smoking after filler?
We advise avoiding it for at least the first 24 hours, particularly after lip filler, because repeated lip movement and heat aren’t helpful during the healing phase.
Part three: Botox
17. How long does Botox last?
Three to six months. It fades gradually, not suddenly.
18. Does it accumulate in the body?
No. It breaks down locally and is cleared by the body.
19. Will it make my face expressionless?
With the right dose, no. A “frozen” face results from excessive dosing or imprecise distribution, not from Botox inherently.
20. What should I avoid after Botox?
Don’t lie face-down or massage the area for at least four hours, and avoid intense exercise and saunas for a full day.
21. Is preventative Botox in your twenties reasonable?
In small doses and selected cases, yes. The idea is reducing the repeated movement that etches the line. But not everyone in their twenties needs it.
22. Does Botox treat sweating?
Yes. This is an established medical use, effective at reducing excessive sweating in the underarms and palms.
Part four: safety and risk
23. What are normal side effects after any injectable?
Mild redness, slight swelling, bumps at injection points, and sometimes bruising. All settle within 24 to 72 hours.
24. When should I worry and call the doctor?
Severe or increasing pain, skin pallor or colour change, redness increasing after day three, warmth, or any change in vision. All require immediate contact.
25. Who isn’t a candidate?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection at the injection site, unstable autoimmune conditions, clotting disorders, and known allergy to the product.
26. If I stop, will I end up worse than before?
No. You return gradually to your natural state for your age, not to a worse one. This is the most common myth in the field.
27. Are injectables addictive?
The substance itself isn’t. But repeated overtreatment without assessment leads to an unnatural result. The problem is the absence of someone willing to say no at the right moment.
Part five: practical questions
28. What should I start with in my thirties?
Usually a skin booster for skin quality, or low-dose Botox if there are movement lines. You don’t have to start with filler.
29. Can I have more than one treatment on the same day?
Yes in many cases, and combining is common. Sequence and timing depend on the areas and your skin type.
30. How do I know a clinic is safe?
Ask three questions: the product name and manufacturer, exactly how much will be injected, and whether the packaging will be opened in front of you. And for filler: do you keep hyaluronidase? If the answers are vague, leave.
Dr. Rehab Zakaria’s advice: “What reassures a patient most isn’t convincing her to have a treatment — it’s answering her question honestly, even when the honest answer costs me the booking. A patient who understands makes a better decision, is happier with the result, and comes back. That isn’t a marketing approach, it’s how the work should be done.”
Frequently asked questions
My question isn’t here — what do I do?
Send it to WhatsApp 01064022402 and it will be answered. Recurring questions get added to this article periodically.
Do these answers apply to everyone?
These are general educational answers. Your case has details not covered here, and individual assessment is what decides.
Where can I read more about a specific treatment?
Each treatment has its own article on the blog with full detail — skin boosters, filler, Botox, Sculptra and PDRN.
The bottom line
These questions recur because the information available about aesthetic injectables is either far too promotional, or far too alarming.
The truth sits in between, as usual: useful treatments in the right context, with limited and well-understood risks, that need an honest assessment first.
And if you leave this article with one new question to ask at your own clinic, then it has done its job.
At Dr. Rehab Zakaria’s clinic in El Tagamoa, New Cairo, the consultation is a space for questions, not for offers.
To book or ask a question: WhatsApp 01064022402.
Disclaimer: This article is for general medical education and is not a substitute for medical consultation. Any aesthetic procedure should be preceded by an individual assessment from a qualified doctor.
Continue the series
- How long skin boosters take to work — the timeline in detail
- Sculptra vs filler — the collagen-stimulator decision
- The full comparison matrix — every treatment in one table
- The full safety guide — risks and contraindications
Still deciding between treatments?
The complete guide covers every type of aesthetic injectable, how they differ and when to use each, with a full comparison table, pricing and clinic-selection criteria.
Dr. Rehab Zakaria
Clinic & beauty consultant
Consultant in Dermatology, Cosmetic, and Laser
Master’s and Doctorate in Dermatology and Laser Diseases
Certified Trainer
Master Injector