Dermal fillers are injections of a gel to plump up the skin.
This can be used for beautification –for example to create fuller lips and cheeks, or for rejuvenation –to treat age related volume loss from the face or injected under wrinkles to smooth out the skin.
The fillers that I use are products that contain a form of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body.
There is no down-time after the procedure.
Duration of effects:
Dermal fillers usually last 6 – 12 months. This is variable depending on the type of filler used, that area treated, and the individual response.
What the treatment involves:
The treatment is a relatively simple and safe procedure.
For lip filler, a local anaesthetic cream is applied about 20 minutes before the procedure, to numb the lips and minimise discomfort.
There is also local anaesthetic in the syringe along with the filler.
Using a tiny, sterile, and disposable needle, the filler is injected.
The procedure takes around 30 minutes depending on treatment area.
Immediately after the treatment, there is usually some swelling, which could cause the lips or cheeks to look bigger / more treated than they have been.
Clients can simply return to their everyday activity; there is little to no down time needed after the procedure.
Who can have this treatment:
Dermal fillers are possible from age 18 and upwards.
Who should not have these injections:
You should not have this treatment if you are pregnant or breast feeding, as while there is no evidence that it can cause harm, the possible effect on a baby is not known.
You should not have the treatment if you have certain medical conditions such as blood clotting disorders such as haemophilia, or a current skin infection at the intended injection sites.
Some medications could affect this treatment –such as blood thinners.
If you have suffered with depression or anxiety, health anxiety, body dysmorphia, or have had an eating disorder, please let me know. For some people, for psychological reasons, cosmetic treatments such as dermal fillers may not be appropriate.
Risks:
Dermal fillers are generally a safe and effective treatment, especially when carried out by an experienced injector. However, certain side effects are possible.
Possible side effects include:
- Bruising or swelling at the injection site
- An unfavourable cosmetic outcome such as lumps or asymmetry
- An allergic reaction (rare)
If you suffer from cold sores, there is a slight risk of reactivating these when lip filler is given. If you do suffer from frequent cold sores, I can prescribe an antiviral medication to reduce the risk of these after treatment.
Very rare but possible risks include the filler blocking a blood vessel, causing lack of blood supply to that area of skin. This can be reversed by a medication that I keep on site in case of any rare adverse effects such as this.
Aftercare:
You can simply return to your everyday activity, apart from activities that could move the filler such as facial massage in the day following the treatment.
You should avoid makeup and skin creams and avoid touching the face until the next day after the treatment, to reduce the (already small) risk of infection.
Many people have dermal fillers administered while on their lunch break, as there is little to no down time needed after the procedure.
However, as there can be swelling for a few days after the procedure (making the lip or cheek fillers look bigger than they actually are), you may want to avoid any important social events soon afterwards.
beautiPHI Aesthetics by Dr Louisa Godwin 