Dermal fillers are small injections of gel, typically made up of hyaluronic acid, that fill in wrinkles and add volume to soft tissue. You can have dermal fillers in different parts of your face: around the eye, cheeks, mouth and jawline, as well as lip fillers administered directly into the lip tissue.
How do they work?
Fillers basically restore lost volume to your face and plump areas, so that deep set lines are smoothed. Why is this needed? Well, as we get older our bodies stop producing collagen and elastin, both of which contribute to the youthful look. Experts argue over when we start losing collagen; but the generally agreed age is 25. Which is pretty young, right? Your collagen and elastin levels then decline at a rate of about 2% per year, and your body will have stopped producing it altogether by your late twenties. Fillers have been used for decades to restore lost volume or add lift.
How long do dermal fillers last?
It depends how your body reacts and which hyaluronic acid is used, but most dermal fillers will last between six to 18 months.
Do dermal fillers have side effects?
It’s easy for clients to confuse side effects to reactions, so it’s extremely important to understand what side effects can be expected. Temporary side effects – those that are completely normal after facial injections – can include; swelling, redness and tenderness. It’s completely normal to experience a little bit of discomfort, redness and bruising after the procedure. Reactions generally occur immediately after the needle injection and can include; redness, swelling, pain, itching, bruising and tenderness at the injection location. These reactions are generally mild to moderate and usually disappear shortly after injection and are usually resolved a few days after the injection into the skin.
Do dermal fillers hurt?
There may be a slight discomfort whilst the filler is being injected into the face, but we minimise this by applying an anaesthetic cream before treatment.
Are there different types of dermal fillers?
As we said above, the most common type of facial filler is hyaluronic acid – the natural substance found in many areas of the body including eyeballs, joints and skin, that can hold 1000x its weight in water. Hyaluronic facial fillers helps to maintain shape, even out depressions in the skin and provide hydration. Poly-Caprolactone (PCl) or Ellanse is another popular filler that acts as a collagen stimulator. When injected in strategic places in the face, it triggers the body’s natural response to produce collagen, which provides you with a much longer lasting result.
Is there a difference between Botox and dermal filler?
Yes there is 100% a difference between Botox and fillers. Botox stops the small muscles in your face from making the movements that cause wrinkles, whilst dermal fillers plump from below the wrinkle to smooth them out and promote the youthful look.
