Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are used to target the following areas:

• Lips; Used to enhance volume which is lost naturally as we age. Redefine your lip shape and banish bleeding lip lines. We can minimise those lines above and below the lips, which are exaggerated when pursing (and kissing!) and have you puckered to perfection.
• Cheeks; Used to enhance volume, add hydration and also to contour. Did you know that it the loss of volume in the cheeks that causes deep lines between your nose and outer lips? A relatively subtle treatment to the cheeks can make quite a difference to your downturned mouth!
• Under eyes; Used to erase the hollowness and evidence of too many sleepless nights.
• Nasolabial folds (from the nose to corners of mouth; Used to soften these folds, and encourage natural collagen renewal. This area is most often corrected by the lifting effect of cheek filler.
• Nose augmentation; We can correct a hook or bump, widen a thin nose and even make an Asian nose look more western.
• Deep Lines: While muscle relaxants will soften the majority of lines and wrinkles some deeper ones will benefit from fillers. In some areas, one dermal filler treatment is sometimes enough to correct long term lines when used in conjunction with regular muscle relaxants. We can use dermal fillers on many lines such as smile lines, frown lines, lip lines, crow’s feet and foreheads.
  
• Hands or décolletage; Used mostly for rehydration
• Chin and jowl; Used to give a smoother chin line by filling lose areas of the jowl and chin.

Consultations are a must, as not all clients are suitable for dermal fillers. This information is offered to you as an outline for the benefits of fillers and should not be used to make final decisions on your suitability.

For more before and after photos see the dermal fillers section of our before and after page.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are aesthetic gel based treatments and are injected into the skin. They are specifically designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, contour the face and create volume. Some dermal fillers are also used to hydrate and revitalise your skin. Dermal fillers are based on Hyaluronic acid (HA).

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that naturally exists in your body. It is a sugar molecule that exists naturally in almost all living organisms. Natural HA binds water so it acts as a lubricant and shock absorber in movable parts of the body such as joints. It is also important for the transport of nutrients and in regulating water balance in skin.

How do dermal fillers work?

By boosting your skin’s with hyaluronic acid, dermal fillers revitalise and add volume to the areainstantly. This diminishes the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and giving a natural softer look. The gel is very tissue-friendly and closely resembles the natural hyaluronic acid that exists in the body.

What are the benefits of dermal filler?

A single treatment can be seen instantly and can last for around 6 to 24 months depending on the thickness of the product and a number or biological factors of an individual client. We use dermal filler injections to give a natural looking result that does not affect facial expression. As we age, our faces change over time, so dermal fillers allow you to control you looks subtly as you age.

What Brand of Dermal Fillers do you stock?

At Australian Skin Clinics, we carry a range of dermal fillers to cater to the exact needs of each client. We use only the best brands and we always have plenty stock as dermal fillers are very popular with our clients.

Why are there different names of fillers?

Dermal filler products vary in thickness, anaesthetic content and longevity.  Each brand names each thickness of filler definitely so think of the name as a way to recognize the different product easily.

Why doesn’t this website talk about specific fillers?

The TGA prevent doctors advertising the names of prescription medicines so it is actually illegal  for us to mention the trade names on here. We do however have the leading brands of all fillers and when you have your consultation we can freely talk about the options available.

Do dermal filler treatments hurt?

Depending on the area, your practitioner may apply or inject a local anaesthetic to the area to be treated. Some of the fillers already contain local anaesthetic which also makes the treatment tolerable.

Are Dermal Fillers Safe?

As we are injecting the skin, there is of course a risk of bruising, swelling or itching at the point of injection, as well as uncommon cases of infection, ulcers and allergic reaction.

At Australian Skin Clinics, our thoroughly trained staff put you ahead of potential risks and complications involved with dermal fillers through skill alone.

Are dermal fillers forever?

We believe temporary fillers are the best option, so permanent fillers are not available at Australian Skin Clinics. Permanently filled lips or cheeks could appear out of place as your face changes with natural ageing.

The longevity of dermal fillers ranges from 6-24 months depending on the brand, thickness and area treated. Individual body factors such as how fast your body metabolises the product are also relevant to how long the filler lasts.

What if I don’t like the result?

The beauty of temporary fillers is that we can dissolve them easily. If you really hate your new look we can easily remove them although it is extremely rare for us to need to do so!

Are your injectors qualified?

Absolutely. Only trained nurses and doctors administer our injectable treatments. We also keep up to date with the latest techniques and have regular in-service training sessions.

Are dermal filler treatments safe?

Our most used dermal filler is the most scientifically documented HA based dermal filler in the world with comprehensive studies that support its safety and efficacy. It has been used in over 10 million treatments worldwide during the last twelve years and it is safe.

Because the dermal filler resembles the body’s own hyaluronic acid, the risk of allergic reaction is minimal.

What areas can be treated?

Dermal fillers can be used to smooth away facial lines and wrinkles, create fuller lips and shape facial contours, such as cheeks and chin, and revitalise the skin.

The most common areas treated are:

• Nose to mouth lines (the nasolabial folds)
• between the eyebrows (the glabella lines)
• Lips (adding volume and shape)
• Cheeks

How long does a dermal filler treatment last?

One of the great advantages of dermal filler treatment is that the effects are long lasting but not permanent. Dermal filler products 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 6-12 months after your initial treatment. Our staff will guide you on the appropriate time for your follow-up appointment.

Duration also depends on many factors, such as the individual’s skin type, skin condition lifestyle and age. After the initial treatment, follow-up sessions are normally recommended around every 6 to 12 months depending on the individual and the treatment. A treatment of the lips lasts about 6 months.

Can everybody use dermal fillers?

Most people can benefit from dermal filler treatment. If you wish to;

• reduce lines and wrinkles
• create more defined or fuller lips,
• define the contours of your face, such as chin or cheek,
• boost your skin’s vitality, for a healthier more hydrated skin tone (e.g.
  face, hands, neck or décolletage)

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 pre-treatment consultation, you should thoroughly discuss your medical history with the doctor at Face Clinic London.

Are there any risks with dermal fillers?

More than 10 million treatments have been performed since the launch of the original dermal filler in 1996. Product related reactions are very rare. There are however occasional injection related reactions which 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.

After lip enhancement, lips may swell for up to a week, but this typically reduces after two to three days.

Pre-treatment

Some medications and herbal supplements will increase the risk of bruising. To maximise your results and minimise the bruising risk, you should avoid blood-thinning medications such as Aspirin and Nurofen, as well as alcohol, for four days prior to your visit. Skip your vitamin and herb supplements for a week beforehand, especially fish oils, and oral vitamin A, C and E as these all thin the blood. Ginseng and Ginko increase circulation so it makes sense to avoid those too!

If you take warfarin or heparin you must not adjust your dosage without speaking to your healthcare provider.

Can dermal fillers can cause cold sores?

The cold sore virus (also known as herpes virus) can remain dormant in your body for years but erupt as a result of tissue injury. It is possible to have an outbreak of cold sores after cosmetic injectables but as we use a brand new sterile needle with every client this is just your own body triggering the outbreak.

If you have had a cold sore in the past ask your GP for L-lysine tablets. Take daily for three days prior to and after treatment to avoid an outbreak. If cold sores reactive (rare), ask your GP for Famvir (three tablets taken together in one single dose will treat the outbreak).

Consultation

At your initial consultation at Australian Skin Clinics your practitioner will discuss your treatment expectations, what you wish to achieve and assess your treatment needs. The practitioner will then make their recommendations and advise you of the cost .

If  you are happy to proceed, your practitioner will help you complete a medical history form and you will need to sign a consent form before treatment can progress.

Treatment

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 filler products improve the elasticity and texture of skin, restoring and maintaining the skin’s hydro-balance.

The treatment is fast, typically taking about 15-30 minutes. Treatment with dermal fillers does not affect facial expression and the benefits can normally be seen instantly.

Post-treatment

For 24 hours post fillers:

• You may experience tenderness, redness and swelling during the first 24-48 hours, yet these are normal reactions which will resolve over the next two to four days.
• Ice treated area frequently (five to ten minutes every half hour) for up to six hours to hinder bruising and swelling. Arnica pilules or Hirudoid cream (from the clinic or chemist) may reduce bruising.
• Minimise your alcohol, caffeine, vitamin supplement and avoid aspin and nurophen for 24 hours, as these may bruising.
• Take a day off from exercise or exertion and spare your skin from the sun or solarium.

Swelling and bruising can give the appearance of unevenness of the treated area and it is not uncommon to experience more swelling on one side of the face than the other. The filler syringes have volume markers on each so our nurses can ensure they put exactly the same amount each side of your face. If you feel that the finished look is still uneven after 10 days contact the treating clinic to book a review appointment.

You may apply mineral makeup using a clean brush.

Review at 2 weeks

We like to see you again 2 weeks post-treatment. This is part of our quality control process – not only do we want you to be happy with the treatment but we need our team members to be happy with the treatment that they carried out too.