Hi Alice, last year I had a bad experience with having filler. It left me in a very bad place mentally. Things are calmer for me now and I feel ready at least to talk to a doctor about continuing with treatment. My promise to myself is to only seek treatment from the top tier of practitioners in the UK. The problem is, there are so many that are seemingly excellent, but ultimately they will all have their own aesthetic as it comes down to the individual. Do you have any strategies for picking the right person? I imagine it comes down to meeting with a handful for a consultation but even then, how will I know? I am terrified of getting it wrong again.

Hiya, TTG editor Georgia here. I’m really sorry to hear you went through this. It seems to me that if you’re ‘terrified’ as you say, then it might not be wise to revisit this just now. Have you sought any psychological help for what happened last year? If you do want to talk to a doctor, one of the best ways to figure out who might be a good match for you is to look at their Instagram page and website gallery for before-and-after images. That way you can see what kind of work they do and how their patients look after treatment. Also, ask to see pictures of previous patients who have received the same specific filler treatment you’re thinking of getting. It sounds like you would benefit from a very empathetic practitioner, so pay attention to how much you feel listened to and understood, and how comfortable they make you feel. Trust your gut and remember, you’re never under any obligation to proceed with treatment.