Men's Filler Technique SOP - Dermal Filler

1. Purpose

Standardise male‑specific dermal filler planning and technique to achieve natural, structurally defined, and proportionally balanced outcomes while meeting Australian regulatory and patient‑safety requirements. ¹ ⁴ ⁶ ⁸

2. Scope

Applies to licensed injectors operating within scope under Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor. Covers assessment, planning, product rheology, region‑specific technique, ultrasound use, complication management, and governance.¹ ⁶ ⁸

3. Anatomical Principles of the Male Face

Male faces typically present larger craniofacial dimensions, stronger supraorbital ridges, wider bizygomatic and bigonial widths, flatter malar projection (less anterior zygomatic apex), a squarer, broader chin, and thicker, more sebaceous skin. Ageing patterns feature skeletal resorption with lateral > anterior midface support needs; periorbital and midface correction should be conservative to avoid feminisation.¹² ⁵ ²¹

4. Pre‑Treatment Assessment (Male‑specific)

Photographs: frontal, oblique, profile, chin‑down/up; dynamic expressions.
Intent: emphasise angularity and width (zygoma, jawline) over anterior cheek projection.
Dental/occlusion & bruxism: chin shape/projected pogonion; avoid filler where occlusal issues dominate—consider referral.
Beard/hairline patterns: plan entry points and scar camouflage.
Skin quality: sebaceous density, pores; anticipate oedema and hydrophilicity responses.
Psychology & consent: proportionate screening for unrealistic expectations/BDD; 7‑day cooling‑off for <18s; advertising restrictions.

Comply with Ahpra non‑surgical cosmetic procedure guidelines and advertising rules.¹ ³ ²

5. Product Rheology & Injection Depth

Prefer higher G′, cohesive gels or CaHA for structure (jawline, chin, lateral cheek/zygoma). Select lower hydrophilicity formulations to minimise puffiness. Place in deep supraperiosteal or sub‑SMAS planes for contour; reserve superficial planes for fine blending only. Ultrasound can confirm plane and avoid vessels.² ¹³ ¹⁶ ¹⁷

6. Region‑Specific Technique Modifications (Men)

6.1 Cheek / Zygoma

Goal: lateral width and ogee flattening rather than anterior cheekball. Technique: microbolus or short linear threads over zygomatic arch (deep), avoid excessive anterior malar apex; blend laterally into preauricular/zygoma.¹⁰ ¹²

6.2 Jawline (Angle → Body → Chin—prejowl)

Goal: straight, firm mandibular border with defined gonial angle. Technique: deep supraperiosteal microbolus at angle; subcutaneous linear threads along mandibular body; address pre‑/post‑jowl hollows.¹⁴ ¹⁵ ¹³

6.3 Chin (Width and projection, not pointiness)

Goal: broaden base and square silhouette. Technique: supraperiosteal bolus at pogonion with paramedian support; conservative central projection; respect labiomental angle.¹¹ ¹⁸

6.4 Nose (Non‑surgical rhinoplasty — advanced only)

Goal: correct dorsal irregularities while preserving a strong nasofrontal angle. High‑risk zone—prefer ultrasound guidance; micro‑aliquots; avoid high pressure/static bolus.¹⁹ ²⁰

6.5 Lips (Masculine restraint)

Aim for subtle definition and hydration; avoid excessive eversion or anterior projection. Vertical upper:lower lip proportions vary by sex and ethnicity; many male faces tolerate near‑equal vertical height (≈1:1) or modest lower‑lip dominance—use clinical judgement.²² ²³ ²⁴

6.6 Tear Trough / Periorbita (caution)

Conservative volumes; consider lateral midface support first. Prefer cannula or ultrasound guidance; avoid hydrophilic gels that swell.⁵ ¹⁶

7. Dosing Guide by Region (Men) — indicative ranges

Region	Plane	Aliquot size	Notes
Zygoma (lateral arch)	Deep supraperiosteal	0.05–0.2 mL/point	Short linear threads/microbolus; avoid anterior malar ball ¹²
Jaw angle	Supraperiosteal	0.1–0.3 mL/point	High G′ HA or CaHA; sharp angle definition ¹³ ¹⁴ ¹⁵
Mandibular body	Subcutaneous	0.05–0.1 mL/cm	Retrograde threads; maintain straight border ¹³ ¹⁵
Chin (base width)	Supraperiosteal + subcutaneous	0.05–0.2 mL/point	Paramedian support to square base ¹¹ ¹⁸
Tear trough	Supraperiosteal/sub‑orbicularis	0.02–0.05 mL/point	Conservative; consider cannula/US ⁵ ¹⁶
Lips (male)	Submucosal/subdermal	0.01–0.03 mL/line	Definition > volume; minimal eversion ²² ²³ ²⁴

8. Safety & Risk Mitigation

Ultrasound: map critical vessels pre‑procedure in high‑risk zones; consider real‑time guidance.
Injection principles: small aliquots, slow/low‑pressure, correct plane, constant needle motion; avoid large static bolus.
Aspiration is unreliable as a safety test—do not rely on it to permit risky bolus injections.
Prefer cannula in some high‑risk zones but recognise it’s not fail‑safe (small‑gauge cannula behaves like needle).
Immediate ocular pathway for any visual symptom; activate RANZCO protocol.
Have hyaluronidase and anaphylaxis kit open and ready; rehearse drills.

Evidence and guidance: ¹⁶ ²⁵ ²⁶ ⁹ ¹⁰

9. Regulatory Compliance (Australia 2025)

Ahpra non‑surgical cosmetic procedure guidelines in effect (2025) for performance and advertising.
TGA: no public advertising of S4 prescription‑only injectables; ensure ARTG inclusion and device traceability (include UDI where available).
RACGP IPC + ACSQHC/NSQHS standards for infection prevention, medication safety, clinical governance.
Documentation: consent, batch/lot, ARTG/UDI, injection map and planes, ultrasound screenshots if used; adverse events → TGA IRIS/MDIR.

Key sources: ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁶ ⁷ ⁸

10. Complication Management (Fast Reference)

Cutaneous vascular occlusion: stop, warm compress, massage; high‑dose pulsed hyaluronidase flooding throughout ischaemic field; repeat until reperfusion.
Ocular symptoms: cease immediately; call 000; urgent ophthalmology transfer; follow RANZCO pre‑hospital guidance; do not delay with in‑clinic maneuvers.
Anaphylaxis: adrenaline 1:1000 IM 0.5 mL; lay flat; high‑flow O₂; monitor; transfer to ED.
Infection: follow RACGP/IPC; consider culture, antibiotics; document and review.

Guidance: ⁹ ¹⁰ ⁶ ¹

11. Audit & Training

Quarterly: technique vs outcomes (region, product, dose, complications); peer review of 5 consecutive male cases.
Annual: ultrasound mapping/injection refresh; anaphylaxis and ocular drills; VO simulation; document CPD aligned with Ahpra expectations.

Sources

Ahpra (2025) Performing non‑surgical cosmetic procedures — Guidelines hub., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Cosmetic-procedure-guidelines.aspx ↩
TGA (2025) Advertising health services and cosmetic injections — FAQ., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/products/regulations-all-products/advertising/specialised-advertising-issues-and-topics/advertising-health-services-and-cosmetic-injections-frequently-asked-questions-and-answers ↩
Ahpra (2025) Advertising guidelines for higher‑risk non‑surgical cosmetic procedures., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Cosmetic-procedure-advertising-guidelines.aspx ↩
RACGP (2024) Infection prevention and control guidelines (primary care)., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.racgp.org.au/running-a-practice/practice-standards/racgp-infection-prevention-and-control-guidelines ↩
Bannister JJ et al. (2022) Sex differences in adult facial 3D morphology. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/fpsam.2021.0301 ↩
ACSQHC (2021, updated 2024) NSQHS Standards (2nd ed.)., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-05/national_safety_and_quality_health_service_nsqhs_standards_second_edition_-_updated_may_2021.pdf ↩
NHMRC/ACSQHC (2024) Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-01/australian_guidelines_for_the_prevention_and_control_of_infection_in_healthcare_current_version_v11.22_9_january_2024.pdf ↩
Ahpra (2025) News — new guidelines in effect for non‑surgical cosmetic procedures., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-09-02-New-guidelines-for-cosmetic-procedures.aspx ↩
RANZCO (2024) Filler Blindness Guidelines — pre‑hospital pathway., viewed 05 November 2025, https://ranzco.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RANZCO-Filler-Blindness-Guidelines_2024.pdf ↩
ASCIA (2024) Acute management of anaphylaxis — guideline., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.allergy.org.au/images/ASCIA_HP_Guidelines_Acute_Management_Anaphylaxis_2024.pdf ↩
Chen B et al. (2022) Chin augmentation with hyaluronic acid: injection technique. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9241653/ ↩
Bannister JJ, Juszczak H, Aponte JD, Katz DC, Knott PD, Weinberg SM, Hallgrímsson B, Forkert ND, Seth R (2022), Sex differences in adult facial three-dimensional morphology: Application to gender-affirming facial surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine, 24(S2): S24–S30, viewed 05 November 2025, https://doi.org/10.1089/fpsam.2021.0301 ↩
Moradi A et al. (2023) CaHA best‑practice guidelines; jawline augmentation rationale. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10120162/ ↩
Dallara JM (2014) Calcium hydroxylapatite for jawline rejuvenation. J Cosmet Dermatol., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24641600/ ↩
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Vasconcelos‑Berg R et al. (2024—2025) Best practices for high‑frequency ultrasound guidance for fillers. Diagnostics (MDPI)., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11353849/ ↩
Jung JY et al. (2024—2025) Recommendations on ultrasound‑guided hyaluronic acid filler injections. J Cosmet Dermatol., viewed 05 November 2025, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jocd.16759 ↩
Al‑Khafaji MQM et al. (2023) Review of HA for chin augmentation. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10719547/ ↩
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Matthews HS et al. (2023) Data‑driven phenotyping of facial dimorphism. PLoS Comput Biol., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10335371/ ↩
Kar M (2018) Is it possible to define the ideal lips? J Cutan Aesthet Surg., viewed 05 November 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5952987/ ↩
de Queiroz Hernandez PM et al. (2023) Attractiveness vs lip ratios. Sci Rep., viewed 05 November 2025, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31332-1 ↩
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Disclaimer for Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor Policies & Procedures

The policies and procedures contained within this document are the exclusive property of Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor and are provided for internal clinical governance and educational purposes only. These materials represent the internal operational framework, safety standards, and evidence-based protocols developed and implemented by Dr. Bart John Scanlon and the Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor team. They are designed specifically for use within Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor and reflect our clinic’s own professional standards, risk assessments, and compliance obligations under Australian law and regulatory authorities. External individuals, practitioners, or organisations must not copy, reproduce, distribute, or rely upon these materials, in whole or in part, for their own clinical, commercial, or educational use without prior written consent from Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor. These materials do not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice and are not intended to be adopted as official protocols or procedures by any other entity. Any external use or adaptation must be independently reviewed and modified to meet the relevant laws, guidelines, and standards applicable to the user’s own jurisdiction, scope of practice, and facility operations. Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor and Dr. Bart Scanlon accept no liability for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the unauthorised use, reliance upon, or misinterpretation of this material.