There was a time when plumped lips and high, sculpted cheekbones ruled the beauty scene, but today the trend is shifting. More people are seeking to undo years of overfilling in pursuit of a fresher, more natural look - a movement experts are calling "filler fatigue."
According to Sydney cosmetic doctor Dr Rafael Mejian, founder of Face Doctors, this growing desire for subtlety marks a major turning point in aesthetic medicine. "We’re seeing more patients asking to dissolve filler because they’ve lost connection with their original features," he explains.
"That’s what we call ‘filler fatigue.’ It’s not just about how they look, it’s about how they feel. There’s often a sense that their face no longer reflects their identity, especially when overfilling has blurred their natural structure. The positive shift is that more people are now seeking subtlety over size, and that’s where the artistry of injectables really comes into play."
Why does overfilling happen
While the demand for injectables remains strong, Dr Mejian says the problem starts when practitioners treat the face one feature at a time.
"Overfilling usually comes from treating the face in isolation, focusing on one area at a time, rather than understanding how all the features work together," he says. "When injectors take a millilitre-based approach, they can end up losing sight of the bigger picture, which is harmony and proportion. You’re not sculpting a single feature; you’re influencing how that feature interacts with the entire face. Just because you can add more volume doesn’t mean you should; restraint is often the key to a natural result."
He explains that one of the most common mistakes occurs when injectors promote the idea that filler can lift sagging skin.
"Overfilling often happens when injectors push the idea that fillers will lift the face," he says. "This is often used to promote the idea of bigger cheeks to lift sagging skin, but it disrupts facial harmony in the process."
The rise of filler fatigue
The term "filler fatigue" describes not only the physical effects of excessive filler - such as puffiness or distorted features, but also the emotional disconnect patients feel when their appearance no longer aligns with their sense of self. "It’s about regaining authenticity," says Dr Mejian. "We’re seeing a shift where patients are seeking to dissolve previous work to regain balance and expression, moving away from enhancement that overwhelms their natural features.”
The art of subtle tweakments
Dr Mejian’s Advanced Natural Volumisation technique focuses on restoring the face’s underlying structure rather than simply adding volume. "At Face Doctors, my technique is about restoring the scaffolding of the face, not simply adding volume," he explains. "It’s a more architectural approach: we look at the underlying structure, what’s been lost through ageing, and how to bring back symmetry and definition without compromising movement or expression. The goal isn’t to change someone’s face, it’s to help them look like the most refreshed, confident version of themselves."
This shift towards a lighter, more bespoke touch reflects a broader movement in aesthetics, one that celebrates character, texture and natural proportion over perfection. As Dr Mejian puts it: "The future of cosmetic treatment isn’t about adding more, it’s about knowing when to stop."
Expert bio
Dr Rafael Mejian is a Sydney-based cosmetic doctor and founder of Face Doctors. He specialises in advanced aesthetic techniques and facial harmonisation.