Dermal Fillers

Why dermal fillers?

Let’s face it – as much as we might enjoy the wisdom that comes with aging, we are not as happy to embrace the effects of age on our face, décolletage and hands. If you’d like to turn back the clock to when your face was a little less hollow under the eyes, your cheeks were a little plumper and your lips naturally fuller, then dermal fillers are probably for you. The breakdown of collagen is a natural part of the ageing process and the result is a loss of volume and elasticity in our skin. This leaves us looking tired, gaunt and even upset or angry.

Dermal fillers restore lost volume to the face, smoothing wrinkles and creases, and re-defining contours. They are also used to plump lips, improve recessed scarring and reduce dark circles around the eyes. Results are visible immediately with continues improvement over 2-4 weeks. How long the filler lasts depends on the type of filler being used and the amount placed. Good quality fillers generally last 12-18 months. There is minimal downtime with this procedure; mild swelling and minor bruising might occur but this settles after a couple of days.

Areas that can be treated:

Nasolabial folds

They run from the corners of the nose to the mouth.

Lips

Due to the breakdown of collagen, our lips loose their fullness and fine lines develop around our mouth. Dermal fillers, when administered by a trained medical practitioner will restore your mouth to its youthful state without the unnatural pout.

Hollows under the eyes

That constant tired look is almost impossible to hide even with the miracle creams and cover potions on the market. Dermal fillers immediately plump up the area resulting in a refreshed new look.

Marionette lines

These lines start at the corners of your mouth and run down to your chin and can result in an angry or upset look. Fillers will plump up the skin around the lines making them far less noticeable.

Acne scars

Dermal fillers are also offer great results when used to fill acne scars.

Contraindications:

Dermal fillers should not be used if patient has severe allergies (except for Radiesse fillers as they are non-allergenic) due to past records of anaphylaxis.

Side effects are usually mild and don’t longer 7 days. Side effect can include:
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Itching
• Discoloration in the skin

Types of fillers

Fillers, such as Restylane, Juvederm, Teosyal, Ravanesse and Emervel, are made from hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance found in the skin that delivers nutrients, assists the skin in retaining its moisture and softness, and adds volume to aging areas, such as the cheeks, parenthesis lines and lips. They therefore still remain one of the safest and most popular treatment options.

Hyluaronic acid fillers

Calcium-based fillers

Radiesse dermal fillers are made from micro calcium hydroxylapatatite (CaHA) components as well as carboxymethylcellulose gel. Both components are safe to use and non-allergenic. The injectable not only smoothes wrinkles, it also promotes the skin’s own collagen production. The injectable has also received FDA approval for restoring and correcting signs of facial lipoatrophy, which is the loss of subcutaneous fat, in aid of people suffering from HIV.

FAQ’s

How long do dermal fillers last?

The least mobile the site the longer the results will last. For example fillers used under the eyes in the tear troughs can last for several years whereas for fillers in the mouth area, a follow up session is normally recommended between 6 and 12 months.

At what age should I start using dermal fillers?

Wrinkle treatment can be started as you notice wrinkles developing, as softer wrinkles are easier to treat than deep wrinkles. Dermal fillers also stimulate collagen production in the area that is treated which prolongs the effect of the filler.