Dr Tim Pearce
As aesthetic injectors, we often encounter patients requesting single-area treatments: “I just want my cheeks done” or “Can you fix my jawline?” While these focused requests might seem straightforward, they present an opportunity to elevate our practice and deliver truly transformative results through comprehensive facial assessment.
The reality is that patients don’t actually want their cheeks “done” – they want to feel more confident, look more refreshed, or appear more youthful. By understanding this deeper motivation, we can use the ART CODES framework to guide them toward more comprehensive, harmonious results.
Think about what makes a human face recognizable. At its most basic level, a face is composed of points, lines, and planes that interact to create structure and beauty. This concept comes from sculpting – if you simplify a face to its most basic form, like a cube, you can see how removing even one point transforms the entire structure. Similarly, in facial aesthetics, changing one area impacts the whole face.
Every facial feature exists in relationship to others. The hardest part of beauty is seeing all the structures but not being able to see where one begins and ends in a way that’s too harsh. It’s about creating gentle transitions while maintaining natural definition.
Consider these key relationships:
Understanding how light interacts with facial structures is crucial. Just as foundation helps scatter light for a more even appearance, our goal with dermal fillers is to create surfaces that reflect light naturally. This means:
Guide patients through facial analysis using the ART CODES principles:
Analyze the three key cheek points:
As faces age, they often develop increased complexity – more shadows, lines, and irregular surfaces. Our goal isn’t to eliminate all complexity but to:
Remember this crucial principle: “Not all shadows should be eliminated.” For example:
When a patient requests a specific treatment, consider this approach: “I understand you want to feel more beautiful and confident. Would you like me to do a facial assessment using the ART CODES framework? This will help us understand how to best optimize your face as a whole rather than just treating an individual area.”
Remember this sequence:
Key considerations:
The ART CODES framework provides a systematic approach to facial assessment that naturally leads practitioners and patients away from single-area treatments toward more comprehensive care. By understanding how points, lines, and planes work together, we can create more harmonious, beautiful results that truly meet our patients’ desires for enhanced confidence and beauty.
Remember: patients may come in requesting specific treatments, but what they really want is to look and feel their best. Using the ART CODES framework helps us deliver this outcome through thoughtful, comprehensive assessment and treatment planning.
The key to undetectable filler work lies in understanding and respecting facial architecture while creating gentle transitions between structures. When we can achieve this balance, we deliver results that enhance natural beauty without betraying our interventions.
Want to master Dr Tim’s Full Face Filler Framework to create stunning results for patients based on their unique anatomy and needs?
Dr Tim Pearce's Art Codes Course is a systematic approach that turns every consultation into a confident, professional experience.
Dr Tim Pearce MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP founded his eLearning concept in 2016 in order to provide readily accessible BOTOX® and dermal filler online courses for fellow Medical Aesthetics practitioners. His objective was to raise standards within the industry – a principle which remains just as relevant today.
Our exclusive video-led courses are designed to build confidence, knowledge and technique at every stage, working from foundation level to advanced treatments and management of complications.
Thousands of delegates have benefited from the courses and we’re highly rated on Trustpilot. For more information or to discuss which course is right for you, please get in touch with our friendly team.
