Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler Treatments
Dermal fillers are injected just below the skin and are being used more and more to help reverse the changes associated with ageing and provide a more youthful look.
As our skin ages it gradually loses its major constituents: collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Collagen acts as the major support protein for our skin, elastin allows our skin to stay firm and resist wrinkles and hyaluronic acid helps to trap water and add volume and shape to our skin. The loss of these constituents produces changes in our skin and, together with other factors like genetics, sun exposure, alcohol and smoking, increases the likelihood of developing lines and wrinkles. These types of lines are known as static lines and they are visible when our face is still.
Dermal fillers are used to replace the loss of these elements in the skin. They can soften and contour lines, folds, and wrinkles. Dermal Fillers also mimic the hydrating and lifting effect of your skin’s natural hyaluronic acid, which keeps the skin hydrated and elastic.
There are different types of dermal fillers used in cosmetics; the safer dermal fillers are those containing hyaluronic acid, one of the natural occurring substances in our skin. These fillers are non-animal based and therefore there is a minimal or no risk of allergic reactions. That is why at SkinMedico we have made the choice of only using hyaluronic acid fillers.
We pride ourselves on using the leading brands – Juvéderm®, Restylane® and Teosyal – which are proven to be safe and reliable. These products can include local anaesthetics to minimise any discomfort that this treatment may cause.
At SkinMedico, we offer you a full medical assessment prior to your first treatment. We will advise you on an individualised plan of treatment to suit your needs. This process gives you a great opportunity to ask all the questions that you might have and discuss the treatment plan. Dermal Fillers can be carried out alone or in combination with other treatments like Botox®.
Free Aesthetic Consultation in our clinic in Chiswick. Call us today and get a free consultation with one of our Medical Aesthetic Practitioners. Call us now on 0330 999 6833.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions Concerning Dermal Fillers Injections (Juvéderm, Teosyal and Restylane)
Provided below are some of the common questions and answers regarding this treatment. These questions are to provide information and in no way intended to replace a consultation.
Dermal fillers are an injectable substance made from natural and synthetic material and have been developed for injection into the skin to restore its youthful appearance. Over 30 million people across the world have been successfully treated. The main type of dermal fillers in the market, are a soft gel consisting of stabilised, non-animal hyaluronic acid. The gel is tissue-friendly and closely resembles the hyaluronic acid that exists naturally in the body. It is long lasting but not permanent.
A treatment with dermal fillers provides an easy way to enhance your looks. The result of a single treatment can be seen instantly and lasts around one year for facial treatments and around six months for the lips. With dermal fillers you will achieve a natural looking result that does not affect facial expression. Remember your face changes over time, and treatments with dermal fillers allow you to control you looks subtly as you age.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the body that helps to hydrate and add volume to our skin. The body breaks down natural hyaluronic acid in one or two days so is constantly replaced. As we age this replacement mechanism diminishes so the moisturising and plumping effects of hyaluronic acid decrease. Hyaluronic acid is used for aesthetic treatments, and has also been used for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement as well as eye surgery.
The injection process takes a mere 15-30 minutes, you’ll also need to allow time to discuss what you are hoping to achieve with our practitioner before treatment.
Dermal fillers can be used to smooth away facial lines and wrinkles, create fuller lips, shape facial contours and revitalise the skin. The most common areas treated are:
• The nose to mouth lines (Nasolabial fold).
• Lines around the mouth (Perioral lines and Oral Commissures).
• Natural lip enhancement and definition of the border.
• Cheek enhancement and volume replacement of the mid-face area.
• Nose reshaping and correction.(Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty)
• Volume restoration in the temple area.
• Earlobe enhancement and volume replacement.
• Reduction of dynamic lines in forehead and volume replacement for brow lift.
• Also can be used for replacing soft tissue volume loss and scar corrections.
Generally, pain relief is not necessary when injecting into the skin to correct lines and wrinkles. Some people may experience the treatment as a mild discomfort. A local anaesthetic cream can be applied to the area for a more comfortable treatment experience.
The lips are a highly sensitive part of the body and, therefore, anaesthesia is usually recommended before lip enhancement. This is achieved most effectively by using a local anaesthetic.
Dermal fillers are also available with the local anaesthetic 0.3% lidocaine included for a more comfortable experience.
Our practitioner will be able to advise you on suitable anaesthesia for your treatment.
Yes, the aesthetic results are immediate. You’ll see the results as soon as your appointment is over—and no one else needs to know!
Absolutely not! You can have an appointment in your lunch hour then get right back to your normal routine.
Millions of treatments have been performed with dermal fillers in the past. Product related reactions are rare. There are some injection related reactions that may occur after any injection; they typically resolve spontaneously a few days after injection to the skin, within a week after injection into the lips. These reactions include redness, swelling, pain, itching, bruising or tenderness at the injection site. All skin injection procedures carry a small risk of infection. After lip enhancement, lips may swell for up to a week, but this typically reduces after two to three days. In case of more pronounced reactions or if they last longer than a week contact our practitioner. You should discuss side effects and post treatment reactions with our practitioner during consultation.
One of the great advantages of dermal fillers is that the effects are long lasting but not permanent. The length of the treatment depends on a number of factors including
• Age
• The area you have had treated
• Quantity of dermal filler injected
• Quality of skin
• Lifestyle
• Healthiness
However, the range of dermal fillers in the market, are proven to last up to one year in nose to mouth lines and six months in the lips. After the initial treatment, follow-up sessions are normally recommended around every six to twelve months depending on the individual and the treatment.
We advise you to avoid using aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs a couple of days before your treatment (unless they are taken for chronic medical conditions). Avoiding these medications will reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding at the point of injection. Ask our practitioner if you have any concerns.
Before treatment
Start by making an appointment with our practitioner. During consultation be prepared to discuss your treatment expectations. After discussion of what you wish to achieve and assessment of your treatment needs, our practitioner will recommend which treatment is most suitable for you.
After the consultation, and if you are happy to proceed, your practitioner will help you complete a medical assessment and you will need to sign a consent form before treatment can progress.
During treatment
The dermal filler is injected into the skin in small amounts using a very fine needle. The gel provides natural volume to smooth away the appearance of lines and wrinkles, enhance facial shape, or create fuller lips. Dermal fillers improve the elasticity and texture of skin, restoring and maintaining the skins hydrobalance.
The treatment is quick, typically taking about 15-30 minutes. Treatments with dermal fillers do not affect facial expression and the benefits can normally be seen instantly.
After treatment
Dermal fillers are biodegradable, which means they will naturally disappear in the body. To ensure an optimal and long lasting result, a top-up treatment is recommended six to twelve months after your initial dermal filler treatment. This will discuss during the consultation with our practitioner. And a follow-up appointment can be arranged.
After a treatment some reactions might occur, these include; are slight redness,
swelling, itching, bruising, pain and tenderness. The reactions are generally mild to moderate and usually disappear shortly after injection. They typically resolve spontaneously within one or two days, but for some treatments they may last longer.
Most people aged 18 or over can benefit from dermal fillers treatment. If you wish to reduce lines and wrinkles, create more defined or fuller lips, define the contours of your face, or boost your skin’s vitality, for a healthier more hydrated skin tone.
Dermal fillers should not be used in or near areas where there is or has been skin disease, inflammation or skin related problems. Dermal fillers have not been tested in pregnant or breast-feeding women, Individuals with medical conditions that lower the body’s immune response or individuals undergoing therapy that is immunosuppressive may be more prone to infection by a skin injection procedure.
During your consultation, our practitioner will carry out a full medical assessment and discuss your needs for treatment.
There is a range of different dermal fillers designed to be used at different levels in the skin to meet your treatment needs and maximise your treatment results. Discuss with our practitioner during your consultation what type of products suits your needs best.
No skin test is required, as hyaluronic acid dermal fillers do not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
If you have recently had a laser or chemical peel treatment, it is recommended you wait until the area is totally healed and the skin is back to its normal condition. This is something that you can discuss in the consultation with our practitioner.
Many patients like to book touch-up injections as well as repeat injections to maintain the effects of treatment. Generally you will need to repeat the treatment very 12 to 18 months to maintain the desired effect. Our practitioners will advise you the best time to book your follow up treatments and aftercare.