Dermal Fillers

WHY DO PEOPLE NEED DERMAL FILLERS?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is normally produced by the body and it is plentiful when we are born. It occurs naturally in the deeper layers of our skin (the dermis). It helps to keep skin smooth and “plump” because it is able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The ability to retain and hold moisture is the secret to youthful, healthy, vibrant skin. As we get older our bodies produce less and less hyaluronic acid. The drop starts at around the age of 18-20 years. But after the age of 40 the downward slide becomes much quicker.

Skin starts to lose its elasticity and lines and wrinkles appear on the skin. Hyaluronic acid also supports the formation and maintenance of collagen. So we need to replace the lost hyaluronic acid as we get older because the muscle movement from facial expression starts to form a visible wrinkle on the skin even after the muscle movement stops and this is called a ‘static’ wrinkle.

The areas where Dermal Fillers can be used:

• Nasolabial folds – the groove in the skin that leads from the nose to the outer corner of the mouth.
• Lips – to enhance volume, redefine lip shape and correct ‘bleeding’ or ‘smoker’s’ lip lines above and below the lips (exaggerated when pursing the lips).
• Frown lines – commonly treated with muscle relaxant injections but occasionally residual wrinkles are seen on the skin and these can then be filled using Dermal Fillers.
• Hollows beneath the eyes ‘tear troughs’ – it is important to have a complimentary consultation prior to heaving Dermal Filler to tear troughs as this treatment may not be advisable in some circumstances i.e. should not be done where there are fat bags under the eyes or where there is excess loose skin.
• Fine creases on the skin of the face e.g. sleep lines or fine wrinkles seen on the cheeks when you smile.
• Acne scars – these can be filled using Dermal Fillers to ‘lift’ the scarring.
• Cheeks – Dermal Fillers can be used to enhance volume and reshape the cheek area on the face. This is usually the better way to reshape the cheek in those people who have a flat appearance or in those who have aged or thin skin. Once the cheek shape has been recreated it may be worthwhile going on to have Contouring Fillers to give more volume to the cheeks
• Chin enhancement – to enhance and reshape a chin that is small or where the chin is sat back in comparison to the top lip
• Chin creases – fine wrinkles can form on the chin which can look like the chin is separated from the lower lip. Muscle relaxant injections are important additions to this treatment.
• Marionette lines – the groove that forms from the corner of the mouth to the chin (“puppet-like” grooves) – Dermal Fillers can be used to fill this groove and work well with additional Muscle Relaxant injections to relax muscles that help create these grooves.
• Crow’s feet – fine wrinkles around the eyes.
• Forehead creases – these are usually treated only if Muscle Relaxant injections have not softened the wrinkles to the desired effect.

WHAT IS A DERMAL FILLER TREATMENT?

Dermal Fillers are gels, which can be injected into the skin to fill out wrinkles & deep skin folds, correct depressed scars, enlarge or reshape the lips and enhance the size of the cheeks or chin. They are Non-Permanent/Temporary fillers composed of Non-Animal Stabilised Hyaluronic Acid, which is a stable biodegradable substance that naturally metabolises out of the body over time.

There are several competing companies that produce Dermal Fillers. Each company also has different types of fillers available. There are soft, moderately thick fillers that can be injected in the most superficial layers of the skin i.e. just underneath the surface. There are firmer, thicker fillers that can be injected a little deeper for larger wrinkles and to enhance some features such as cheeks and the jawline. Then there are fillers that are specifically designed for use in certain areas of the face such as the lips and the tear troughs. Dermal Fillers can also vary in the amount of swelling and fluid attraction they produce once injected into the face.

The amount of Dermal Filler required for the treatment will depend upon your own expectations and the area to be treated. It is sometimes not possible or not advisable to get a full correction in the first treatment. Further treatments over a period of time to gradually fill up the area are often the best way to achieve optimum results. This ‘layering’ of filler in an area by repeating the treatment over a few weeks to achieve the final effect, has been shown to increase the longevity of the filler and therefore prolong the final result. Further injections of filler can be done at an additional treatment and also ‘correctional treatments’ can be done to further define an area such as lips and the jawline. In most cases only a small amount is required at a correctional treatment and often a residual amount of Dermal Filler is saved from your first treatment for use at these follow up treatments.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT DERMAL FILLER TREATMENTS

Yes, this treatment does involve the use of needles and there is a very small amount of discomfort involved with the injection. But trust me, it is worth it and the minimal discomfort is over in an instant!

Unfortunately, everything we put on, in or expose our body to has a potential side effect. Luckily, any side effects from this treatment are extremely rare. It is not possible to be allergic to the active ingredient in temporary dermal fillers but it is rarely possible to have an allergic reaction to the preservatives used to stabilize those fillers, which can lead to prolonged local swelling and redness. It is possible to get bruising from the injections so please make sure you plan the date of your treatment and avoid have a Dermal Filler treatment close to any special event or occasion. Of course any bruising will clear completely within 1-10 days with no long term effects (see Bruising for advice on what to do if you get bruising after a treatment).  Immediately after a Dermal Filler treatment, most people look ‘puffy’ in the treated area because Dermal Fillers will naturally attract water and create swelling. This lasts for about 48 hours and is usually mild and only noticeable to you or friends who know you. Once the swelling has settled the Dermal Filler will give fullness to the area injected that will last for around 6 months

Local anaesthetic injections are used to numb the cheeks and chin before Dermal Filler is injected to enhance these features. In all other treatments, the area is numbed by applying an anaesthetic cream for 45-60 minutes before the treatment or the area is cooled with ice to reduce any feeling in the area to be injected and help reduce (but not prevent) the formation of bruises and swelling.