"I’ve had fillers several times, at different clinics, and I honestly can’t remember what was used." That is how many people start their first revision visit. Some bring a receipt with only a nickname for the product.
That’s all fine. You don’t need to diagnose yourself. What helps me most is one page of notes plus whatever original records you can get. If you don’t know something, write "don’t know." That’s more useful than a guess.
Before you leave home, sort your information into three groups
□ Treatment records. List every injection by date: which side, which area, which clinic, and the product or medicine actually written in the record. Add hyaluronidase, other injections, aspiration or surgery to the same timeline. If you’re unsure of a date, write "approximately." Mark records you haven’t obtained yet as "to follow."
I often spend clinic time just working out product names. Nicknames in Taiwan are confusing, and some people only remember "the one that builds collagen." Whether a material can be dissolved, and whether it should be removed, depends on what it is, so please bring any receipt or product sticker you can find.
□ Supporting documents. Bring existing medical records, prescriptions, product labels, imaging reports and the original image files. For photos, a few are enough: before the injection, when the problem first appeared, and now. Keep the dates and unedited originals. A few photos from the right moments help more than dozens of similar selfies.
□ Health information. List prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, allergies, major medical conditions and recent treatments. Bringing the medicine packets works too. Keep taking your medicines as usual and don’t stop anything on your own before the consultation. If we do plan a procedure, we’ll tell you how to prepare.
Write down these four sentences before you think about techniques
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The area and problem that bother me most are: ________. Write what you can see separately from what you feel, such as a bulge, pulling when you smile, pain or swelling that keeps coming back. You don’t need to guess a diagnosis.
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I first noticed it in ________. Since then it has stayed the same, changed gradually or come and gone. Treatments I’ve had and what changed afterward: ________. Note separately any redness, warmth, an open wound, discharge or fever.
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The one thing I most want to improve is: ________. Contours I want to keep, or trade-offs I won’t accept: ________.
I read this sentence closely. The aim of removal is to bring the overall contour back into balance, not to take out as much as possible. What you want to keep directly shapes where I suggest removing material and how much.
- My limits around work, travel, family care and important dates are: ________. What I can adjust: ________.
If you live in another city or overseas, this sentence matters even more. Removal is often done in stages about three months apart, so patients from abroad should expect at least two trips. If you live overseas, follow-up after you return home can be done by sending us photos; you don’t need to fly back just for a check-up.
Six things you can ask directly during the visit
□ Assessment and evidence. What is the most likely problem? What is confirmed and what is still uncertain? If a test is suggested, which decision would its result change?
My rule is that I don’t tell anyone "this can be removed" or "this can’t" before I’ve looked with ultrasound. Fillers move, so I scan the whole face, not just the spot you point to.
□ Alternatives. Besides the suggested approach, is watching and waiting or another option reasonable? If we hold off, what should be monitored and when should we look again? In some cases I actually recommend observation first, or treating inflammation first.
□ Treatment goal. What is this step meant to improve, and what will it leave alone? If removal is planned, what will stay, and how are residual material and staging explained? I tell patients this first: I don’t promise 100% removal. The first session usually takes out about 30% to 50%. For most fillers, two to three sessions remove about 80% to 90%. It varies from person to person.
□ Risks and limits. Which risks matter most for this area and this approach? Hollowing, asymmetry, scarring, changes in sensation, the need for further treatment: ask the doctor to go through the ones that apply to you, one by one, instead of settling for "the risk is low."
□ Who does it, and how costs are explained. Who actually performs the procedure? Which tests, anesthesia, medicines, aftercare and follow-up visits are included? If treatment is staged or extra work is needed, how are costs explained, and who looks after you afterward? At my clinic, I perform every removal myself. Costs depend on the extent and number of sessions and are explained at your in-person consultation.
□ Recovery and getting help. Which work or activities need to change? When is follow-up? How do you reach the team during clinic hours and after hours? Which changes mean you should seek medical care directly? The pinhole is small, but this is still a removal, so swelling and bruising will happen. They usually settle in about two to three weeks, the pinhole heals in about two weeks, and the final result takes about three months. It varies from person to person. We won’t tell you recovery is short.
You can ask all of this before deciding on any treatment. If something isn’t clear, ask the doctor to explain it another way. AAD consultation questions https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/safety/ask-questions Who performs the procedure, who provides aftercare, whether extra costs may come up, and whether you can take time to think: these are also worth settling before you decide. NHS guidance on choosing a practitioner https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/advice/choosing-who-will-do-your-procedure/
Before you leave, know what the next step is
Fill in the table below. You don’t have to decide everything at the visit. If you don’t yet understand the recommendation, keep asking until you do. A consultation doesn’t mean you have to be treated that day. If some records are missing, assessment can still begin, and you’ll find out which ones you actually need.
If the clinic asks for photos or records in advance, check which channel to use and what they’ll be used for. Please don’t post medical records, contact details or photos that show who you are in public reviews or social media comments. Photos help explain the concern, but they can’t replace an examination. Which layer a lump you can feel sits in only shows up on ultrasound.
One situation should not wait for this checklist. If you have sudden vision changes, unusual or worsening pain, or skin that turns pale, gray or blue right now, get medical care immediately. Don’t wait to finish the list, find your records or hear back online. FDA emergency warning signs https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/dermal-fillers-soft-tissue-fillers
Table 1. A record to keep at the end of the consultation. It’s fine to leave spaces blank. Don’t turn something uncertain into a conclusion.
| What to take home | My notes |
|---|---|
| Current assessment, and what is still uncertain | ________ |
| Records or tests actually needed | ________ |
| Next step, and when to reassess | ________ |
| Care contacts, and when to seek medical care directly | ________ |
| Anything I still want to think about or ask | ________ |
Once your notes are ready, read about filler revision assessment, then bring this page with you. We’ll go through it item by item and work out which approach fits your situation now. https://www.minimalcutsurgery.com/en/services/repair/filler
References and evidence context
[1] American Academy of Dermatology. Best questions to ask when considering a cosmetic treatment. https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/safety/ask-questions
Professional-society patient guidance supporting consultation topics such as goals, alternatives, risks, costs and recovery. The checklist itself is an original organization of those topics.
[2] NHS. Choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/advice/choosing-who-will-do-your-procedure/
Official guidance supporting clarity about the practitioner, aftercare responsibility, costs and time to decide. UK registration rules are not applied to Taiwan or other places.
[3] U.S. FDA. Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers). https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/dermal-fillers-soft-tissue-fillers
Used only for emergency warning signs that should not wait for a routine consultation.
Dr. Ta-Ju Liu
