Dermal fillers · Upper East Side, New York

Dermal Fillers in NYC

The most beautiful filler results look like you, on your best day.

Filler restores the gentle support behind the changes you notice: cheeks that have flattened a little, lips that have thinned, softer lines around the mouth. I give every injection myself.

BOOK A CONSULTATION BOOK A CONSULTATION

or call (212) 772-0740

Who injects: Dr. Day, every time
Comfort: Lidocaine in most fillers
Downtime: Most return to their day
Swelling: Usually mild
Results last: Up to a year or more, depending on the gel and area

What filler can do for you

Dermal fillers are placed under the skin for a smoother, fuller look. I think of filler as gentle support, and of a neuromodulator as a way of softening movement. The two often work well together in one plan.

Hyaluronic Acid Gels

My first choice. Smooth gels, many designed to move with your expressions.

Sculptra

Helps your skin build its own collagen, gradually, over the months after treatment.

Radiesse

Adds volume right away, with new collagen forming around it over time.

Every filler I use

Having a full range lets me match the product to your face, your skin and the look you want.

Teoxane hyaluronic acid gels: RHA Redensity, my favorite, along with RHA Redensity Eye, RHA 2, RHA 3 (its mepivacaine version is now called RHA Kiss Volume) and RHA Dynamic Volume, which was RHA 4
Restylane, by Galderma: Restylane-L, Lyft, Silk, Refyne, Defyne, Kysse, Contour and Eyelight
Evolysse, by Evolus: Evolysse Form and Evolysse Smooth
Obagi saypha, by Obagi Medical: Obagi MagIQ and Obagi ChiQ
Belotero, by Merz: Belotero Balance (+)
Revanesse, by Prollenium: Revanesse Versa, Versa+ and Lips+
Juvéderm, by Allergan: the Juvéderm family
Radiesse, by Merz: Radiesse and Radiesse (+)
Sculptra, by Galderma
Bellafill, by Tiger Aesthetics: a filler made to stay in the skin rather than be absorbed

Two more from Merz, Belotero Volume (+) and Belotero Intense (+), are expected later this year. Which one I reach for depends on the area and on you.

How fillers work, simply

Hyaluronic acid is something your skin already makes. It holds on to water, which is why it keeps skin moist and supple. Teoxane makes RHA with a process it calls Preserved Network Technology, and Revance describes the result as gels designed to move with your expressions.

Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid microparticles. In a small biopsy study of 14 people, it stimulated new type I collagen in the months after treatment. Radiesse is calcium hydroxylapatite. In a small study of 5 people, biopsies at 6 months showed new collagen around its microspheres.

Hyaluronic acid fillers, including RHA, can be broken down with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Sculptra and Radiesse can't, and non-hyaluronic acid fillers can be difficult or impossible to remove.

Is filler right for you?

Filler suits you if you'd like to soften what time has changed while still looking like yourself. The areas I treat most often:

Lines around the mouth · Lips · Cheeks · Under the eyes · Chin and jawline · Backs of the hands

A youthful face has more to do with balance than with any one line. I look at your whole face, the way light falls across it, and what you love about it, so we know what to protect.

What to expect

I
We look together
We look at your face together, and you tell me your goals and the features you love. Mostly, I listen.
II
Your plan for the year
I do a full assessment, studying your face at rest and while you talk. Then I walk you through your complete plan, from skin care and your at-home routine to in-office treatments, and map it into a calendar for the year so you can plan ahead and look forward to every visit. My assistant takes notes, reviews the plan with you and gives you a printed copy, plus one by email, before you leave.
III
Treatment, then follow-up
I give every injection myself. To keep things smooth, avoid scheduling filler right before a dental cleaning or major dental work, or within two weeks of a vaccine. Afterward we stay in touch and follow your calendar together, helping you reach your goals and making every decade your most beautiful best.

Most people return to their day almost immediately. Mild swelling or bruising can take days to a few weeks to settle, so allow about two weeks before a big event.

Before your visit

If possible, avoid blood thinners like Advil, Motrin and other NSAIDs before your injections. It's fine to resume them right after treatment. If you take a prescription blood thinner, tell me at your appointment and talk with me before changing anything. Avoid heavy exercise for 24 hours after filler. If a dental appointment or a vaccine is coming up, tell us when you book so we can time your treatment around it. Bring your questions, and even a photo of yourself from a few years ago if you like.

Comfort and safety

Most fillers I use contain lidocaine, and I can numb the skin first. Mild swelling, redness or bruising are common and usually settle within days to weeks. Rarely, filler can enter a blood vessel, which can be serious. That's why I pay close attention to anatomy and technique. At your consultation we go through your history and medications so the plan fits you.

Coming from out of town

If you're flying in, give swelling time to settle before an event, and a day or two before you fly home if you can. If your plan includes Sculptra or Radiesse, we'll map the sessions around your travel. A virtual visit first means the plan is ready when you arrive. See traveling for treatment and finding the office. The Surrey, The Carlyle, The Mark and The Lowell are within about a 10-minute walk.

Results that look like you

Hands before dermal filler treatment, Dr. Doris Day — Filler to the backs of the hands. Individual results vary.

Hands after dermal filler treatment, Dr. Doris Day — Filler to the backs of the hands. Individual results vary.

With RHA, Revance reports results that can last up to 15 months in dynamic wrinkles and folds, and up to a year in cheeks, lips and lipstick lines. Sculptra and Radiesse build gradually as your own collagen forms.

I don't believe in anti-aging. I believe in aging beautifully, in the healthiest way possible.
Doris Day, MD

Experience you can see in the result

A filler result reflects the judgment behind it: which product, how much, how deep and when to stop. I'm a master injector, injecting for over 25 years. I helped design the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale, a standard way to measure filler results, and I lecture nationally and internationally on keeping results natural.

Research that shapes how I see your face

I took part in the US clinical studies for Restylane. I'm the first author of the 2004 study that validated the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale, which became a standard measure in filler research, including studies of Restylane and Belotero Balance. I'm the principal investigator on a multicenter study sponsored by Galderma, the maker of Sculptra, looking at how skin responds to Sculptra before and after menopause. There are no results yet.

I teach injection technique to NYU residents. I've written four books on skin and aging, including Beyond Beautiful (2018). Newsweek with Statista ranked me #3 among cosmetic dermatologists in 2022 and again in 2023, and my Castle Connolly Top Doctor listing goes back to 2004.

Watch: Dr. Day on Good Day New York

On Fox 5, I talked about the facial volume loss some people notice after weight loss, and ways to address it.

The skin care plan that goes with your filler

I put together home care matched to your filler. In the days before, it's meant to help keep bruising down. Afterward, it supports your skin so you enjoy the result for longer. Skin quality shapes the result too, so I often pair filler with laser treatments as part of a longer longevity plan.

Your questions, answered

Who places the filler?

I do, every time. No one else in my practice injects filler.

What are dermal fillers?

They're injected under the skin to soften lines and restore a smoother, fuller look. I choose each one for the area and the result we want together.

Does filler hurt?

Comfort is built in. Most fillers I use contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic that numbs the area during and after treatment, and I can numb the skin first if you like.

Is there downtime?

Most people return to their everyday activities almost immediately. Some swelling or bruising is common, and it tends to fade over days to a few weeks. We talk through timing at your consultation.

How long do filler results last?

It depends on the filler and the area. In Revance's information, RHA results can last up to 15 months in dynamic wrinkles and folds, and up to a year in cheeks, lips and lipstick lines. Sculptra and Radiesse build your own collagen gradually over the months after treatment.

Will my lips look overdone?

We plan them together, so they look like your lips, only refreshed. I start with a modest amount, and we build at the follow-up only if you want more. You stay in charge of how far we go.

Am I a candidate for under-eye filler?

It may be. It depends on whether the area looks hollow rather than puffy, and whether your skin has some support. RHA Redensity Eye is the filler I usually reach for when the area looks hollow. If puffiness is the real issue, I'll say so and suggest something else.

Can filler be dissolved?

Hyaluronic acid filler, including RHA, can be broken down with hyaluronidase. Sculptra and Radiesse can't.

Why do you use RHA fillers?

Because faces move, and filler should move with them. Revance describes RHA as designed to adapt to facial movement, which is exactly why I love it for areas that move when you talk and smile. I use the whole collection, and newer fillers from other companies when they suit the area.

How far before an event or flight should I get filler?

Give yourself about two weeks before a big event, so any swelling or bruising has settled. Flying after filler is usually fine, but give yourself a day or two before you travel if you can, and plan the follow-up before you leave.

Medically reviewed by Doris Day, MD, FAAD · Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Let's plan your visit

In person or virtual. Take your time deciding.