Dermal Fillers Treatments

FAQs

• What are fillers?

  Fillers are anti-ageing injections which contain a gel-like substance, most often hyaluronic acid (which is a naturally occurring substance within the body), which can give the skin a rejuvenated look. When injected into the skin, dermal fillers (as the name suggests) ‘fill out’ lines and wrinkles, add volume to areas which appear hollow and sunken and can be used to define and reshape facial features.

• Where can fillers be used?

  Dermal fillers are used to treat static lines (wrinkles that remain visible even when it’s relaxed) and for facial contouring. Treatment areas include:

  • Tear troughs (lower eye dark circles)
  • Cheeks
  • Marionette lines (which extend from the corners of the mouth down to the chin)
  • Nasolabial folds (lines either side of the nose down towards the corners of the mouth)
  • Lips
  • Chin and jawline
  • The backs of the hands
  • Knees
  • Earlobes
  • The neck

  Dynamic lines (which disappear when the face is expressionless), however, are best treated with a toxin such as Botox, Dysport or Xeomin.

• How do dermal fillers work?

  When filler is injected into the skin, it smooths out fine lines and wrinkles and plumps out areas which have lost volume. Dermal fillers help to replenish areas suffering from loss of fat, collagen and elastin.

  Hyaluronic acid (the most common filler substance) is a fantastic injectable product as it attracts and holds onto lots of water (10x its own volume) – this water then helps create the plumping effect underneath the skin.

• What are the benefits of fillers?

  Skin and facial rejuvenation are some of the biggest benefits of using dermal fillers – lines and wrinkles can be filled out and the face can be contoured (chin, cheeks, lips, and jawline) with a little help from dermal fillers. There’s also a treatment called the liquid facelift which uses fillers to give the face a firmer, youthful look as an alternative to a surgical facelift.

  It can also be used in other areas of the body such as arms, knees, hands, and earlobes.

• What are fillers made of?

  The most common types of dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is often favoured over other filler substances because it can be dissolved (with an enzyme called hyaluronidase) if anything goes wrong with the treatment or if the client doesn’t like the results.

  Another plus of hyaluronic acid is that it’s a naturally occurring molecule found in the skin, which means it’s a safe material that’s well-received by the body.

• What are possible side effects?

  You may experience redness, swelling and/or bruising at the injection site immediately following a dermal filler injection. Injection-related swelling typically resolves within several hours to a few days.

• Who should not use injectables?
  • You should not use dermal fillers if you are allergic and/or have hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.
  • You should not be treated when you have an active skin infection or inflammation in or near the treatment area, or if you have a known history or susceptibility to keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring.
  • Cosmetic injectable of any kind are generally not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • You should not have injectables within 2 weeks of having dental work
  • You should not have injectables within 4 weeks of having a vaccination.
• Who can administer injectables?

  Injectables such as dermal filler and toxin should only be used by healthcare practitioners who have appropriate training and experience. At Pacific Plastic Surgery Group this is either our physicians or Specialist Nurse injectors.

• About your injectable treatment at Pacific Plastic Surgery Group

  We recommend a consultation in person as your injector will need to examine you, listen to your goals and to help you create the best treatment plan to meet those goals. The number of syringes of filler or units of toxin will vary depending on your needs and the results expected which will be discussed during your consultation.

  For dermal fillers, especially Radiesse and Sculptra, it is recommended that you see your Injector again no sooner than 4 weeks after the initial injection session to determine if additional treatment is needed. For treatments to hip dips or cellulite dimples, keep in mind that the original skin depression may initially reappear, but the depression should gradually improve within several weeks as the treatment effect of Sculptra or Radiesse works by increasing the collagen production. At the first consultation, your Injector will advise you of the potential need for additional injection sessions.

• What should I do after each injectable treatment?

  To help ensure safe use and obtain optimal results, it is important that you comply with the aftercare instructions provided by your Injector.

  Here are some important things to do and to avoid after each session:

  • Have an Ice Pack Ready – If needed, you can apply an ice pack (wrapped in a clean cloth) to the treated area periodically after treatment to minimize swelling and/or bruising. Avoid direct contact of the ice with the skin.
  • Avoid excessive heat such a sauna, sun exposure, or cooking over a hot stove for 24 hours
  • Avoid dental work for 2 weeks
  • Do not have a vaccination for 4 weeks
  • Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours
  • Do not use lipstick, lip balm or cream on the lips for 24 hours after lip filler
  • Avoid drinking alcohol for 24 hours
  • Avoid Excess Sunlight and UV Exposure – Minimize exposure of the treated area to excessive sun and avoid ultraviolet lamp exposure until any initial swelling and redness have disappeared.
• How long does the treatment take?

  For dermal fillers please allow 45-60 minutes for your appointment. For more complex injectable appointments such as a Liquid Facelift, this can take up to 2 hours. A touch-up treatment is sometimes performed after the initial treatment to optimize your results. Ask you Injector if a follow-up appointment is recommended for you.

• Is the treatment painful?

  Some people may experience some mild discomfort with the treatment. Many dermal filler products contain an integrated local anaesthetic, lidocaine, to provide you with a more comfortable treatment experience. We typically use a topical numbing cream placed on the skin to minimize discomfort as well as other pain reduction techniques. Discuss any concerns you have with your injector so they can help to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

• What’s the recovery time of fillers?

  There’s no downtime following a filler treatment, so you’ll be able to resume your plans as usual. And any side effects you might encounter should clear up within a few days of your treatment.

  However, if you do have a big event on the horizon (such as a wedding) we recommend you schedule your treatment 3 weeks before to allow time for all swelling to resolve and for the products to be effective.

• Are dermal fillers safe?

  There are lots of important blood vessels in your face, and as such the treatment is a low-medium risk. However, the risks of dermal fillers are significantly lowered if you choose a medically qualified practitioner for the procedure who has the right training, lots of experience and the appropriate qualifications. At Pacific Plastic Surgery Group we also have made the decision to not treat very high risk areas such liquid rhinoplasty.

  It’s also really important that you chat with your practitioner about your medical history, conditions you might have or any medications you’re taking beforehand to ensure nothing will impact the safety of the treatment.

• How long do dermal fillers last?

  When hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are used, results typically last for 9-18 months. However, their exact longevity will vary from person to person as it depends on how quickly each individual metabolises the filler.

  For non-hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Radiesse and Sculptra results can last for years.