Choosing a Filler: Duration, Ingredient and Provider 2015.06.29

Published 2015.06.29 · Updated 2026.11.06

Before Getting Filler: Duration, Ingredient and Provider Criteria from Dr. Wontak Choi

With many fillers on the market, choosing one has become harder as interest has grown. A Korean report from Seoul Economic Daily set out the criteria people should use, with comments from Dr. Wontak Choi, representative director of Yaan Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul. The report says fillers can be sorted mainly by duration and ingredient, and that the two are closely linked.

All treatments at Yaan Clinic are performed by a skilled, specialized medical team, delivering standardized, high-quality care based on the clinic's own proven clinical protocols.

Duration and ingredient

Hyaluronic acid fillers last about a year and hold by far the largest market share. The report attributes that to their short duration, which feels low-pressure, and to the fact that many people return for repeat sessions.

Semi-permanent fillers such as Artefill are made of PMMA and are described as lasting five years or more. They are sought by people who find repeat treatment inconvenient or worry that frequent injections raise the chance of side effects. The report adds that PMMA has a track record in items such as artificial bone and contact lenses, but is difficult to dissolve.

Dr. Choi’s advice

Dr. Choi said Artefill had US FDA approval before it received Korean approval, which supports its safety record. He stressed that for any filler the doctor’s skill in shaping the result is essential, so choosing the provider carefully is the most important step. The report concludes that a trusted practitioner can offset the drawbacks of semi-permanent filler.

The report places the choice in context: because many fillers are available and the market is large, the barrier to treatment has dropped, while choosing has become harder. Which filler to use, it says, depends on the person’s preferences and the result they want.

Yaan Clinic, Gangnam, Seoul

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