DERMAL FILLER

WHAT IS DERMAL FILLER?

Dermal Filler is essentially Hyaluronic Acid (HA) which is a naturally occurring sugar molecule produced within our bodies. HA has many benefits such as keeping our skin plump and hydrated due to it’s ability to hold and retain up to 1000 times it’s weight in water.

As we age, much like collagen and elastin, the amount of HA we have starts to decline. This leads to a loss of facial volume and support. Dermal filler is therefore a fantastic treatment for adding structure and support to areas that may need it such as cheeks or lips and for giving your skin a boost of hydration in the areas treated. Dermal fillers can help to enhance your beauty, prevent the signs of ageing and restore/rejuvenate areas where it’s administered.

IS IT SAFE?

Most of the time, yes. However Dermal Fillers, like all medical procedures carry some risk. During your consultation, I will check your medical history, discuss the benefits, any potential adverse reactions and take you through the consent process. Once you and I have all of the information, we can then explore if this treatment is right for you or not. I’ll support you either way. You need to be comfortable with your decision and if clients are ever hesitant or unsure, I will send them away to think it over first.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FILLERS?

All of the fillers I use are made up of Hyaluronic Acid. There are different types or strengths of HA for different areas of the face. Cheek filler for an example, should not be used in the lips or under the eyes. Depending on the area being treated, some fillers will last longer than others and it’s very important to choose the right filler for a particular area to achieve beautiful and natural looking results. I have a range of fillers that I love, trust and are suitable to treat all possible concerns.

WHO CAN BE TREATED WITH DERMAL FILLER?

In general, anyone with a suitable area to treat who is not pregnant, breastfeeding or allergic to any of the constituents of the product. A full medical history is taken at every consultation and prior to any treatment being performed.
Dermal filler may not be suitable for you if you are prone to keloid scarring or have a history or Autoimmune disease. If you have been unwell in any way, had any type of surgery or dental procedure (including a hygienist visit) you will need to wait 4 weeks before your treatment to ensure any inflammatory process in the body has settled. This will reduce the risk of unwanted complications occurring. Please ask if you’re unsure.

WHAT AREAS CAN BE TREATED?

Most areas of the face and sometimes the body can be treated with dermal filler. Areas include the temples, tear troughs (under eye circles), cheeks, nasolabial lines, marionette lines, accordion lines, lips to enhance or restore, jawline, chin augmentation, backs of hands, scar tissue and even earlobes!

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

Side effects can range from bruising through to more serious and permanent complications which are extremely rare. All possible risks involved with the procedure are discussed with you at length during your consultation.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

Dermal fillers typically last anywhere between 8-18 months. This depends on the strength of the product used, the quality of your skin, the amount of product administered along with other factors such as lifestyle and the persons metabolic rate.

For some areas, dermal filler can be used in conjunction with anti-wrinkle Botox® injections, to not only achieve a better result but to also enable the effects of the filler to last longer.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE TREATMENT?

Once the area being treated is at a place where you are happy with it (this may take a few sessions depending on the severity and your goals) to maintain these results, treatments should be done yearly as a rough guide. This can vary from person to person.

ONCE YOU START DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING?

No, not at all. If you decide you don’t want to continue having filler treatments, results will wear off gradually and the treated area will go back to how it was prior. However the treatment would have also stimulated your own collagen so may even be slightly better. Clients often enjoy their filler results so much that they almost always want to continue but if for any reason you don’t want to or can’t there is nothing to worry about.

WILL I LOOK WORSE ONCE IT’S WORN OFF?

No, definitely not. I get asked this question often and the best way to explain it, is that when we have a treatment, we quickly get accustomed to our new refreshed look then when it wears off, it simply goes to back to what it was. This can sometimes make us think we look worse but it’s actually just that the treatment is no longer working.

I WANT TO LOOK NATURAL AND NOT OVERDONE?

I pride myself on achieving natural results. Your face is my reputation! Most of my clients are referred to me via word of mouth which I’m very grateful for. My aim with facial aesthetics is to help you look and feel better. My objective is to achieve this without it being obvious that a treatment has been performed – a “less is more” approach is key to this. The best result is one that has people telling you how well you look, not wondering if you’ve had something done.

DOES IT HURT?

It really depends on the area being treated and of course pain levels differ from person to person. Some clients will feel more discomfort than others however there are certain tools and techniques I can use to help minimise this as much as possible such as topcial anaesthetic (numbing cream), vibration and cooling the area.
Most clients tolerate the treatment well and some areas such as cheeks often don’t require any anaesthetic however lips are a more sensitive area so I like to numb first where possible.

Many dermal fillers also contain local anaesthetic, which makes the treatment even more comfortable.

IS “DOWNTIME” REQUIRED FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH DERMAL FILLER?

Due to topical anaesthesia being applied to the skin and also being present in the filler itself, some numbness will be felt in that area for a couple of hours afterwards. Following treatment, some redness, swelling and/or bruising may be noticeable. While everything possible is done to avoid this, I always recommend that dermal filler treatment be planned with respect to any upcoming engagements. My rule of thumb is to expect bruising and swelling and if it doesn’t happen, that’s fantastic! but if it does then you’re prepared!

Please do not book your filler treatment less than 2-3 weeks
before a big event. Even if you have had a treatment before and haven’t bruised, that is not a guarantee that you won’t bruise this time.

IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR MY DERMAL FILLER APPOINTMENT?

2 weeks prior to your appointment, avoid all blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medication as long as this is ok with your GP – please check if you’re unsure.
Medications and supplements such as Aspirin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Green Tea, St. John’s Wort, Omega 3/Fish Oils, Ibuprofen and Voltaren have a blood thinning effect and can increase the risk of bruising and swelling after injections.

Do not consume alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours prior to treatment (alcohol may thin the blood and increase the risk of bruising)
Do not have treatment if you have been unwell in the 3-4 weeks leading up to your appointment, have had any dental visits, minor surgery or any other procedure. You should avoid where possible the above for 3-4 weeks after your treatment also. This is because if there is an inflammatory process happening in the body, it may increase the risk of complications. This is very rare but it’s worth doing to be extra safe.

Taking bromelain (from a health food shop or by eating fresh pineapple) before and after your treatment may help to reduce swelling and inflammation.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO FOLLOWING THE TREATMENT?

For the rest of the day following treatment it is recommended that:
-Treated areas should not be touched.
-Make up should not be applied for 12-24 hours. You can
purchase a medical foundation from the clinic if you wish to have a foundation that you can use straight away and is suitable for covering bruises.
-Avoid anything that can make bruising more likely (such as alcohol, anti inflammatory medicine, exercise, and extreme heat).
-For 2 weeks post treatment avoid very hot or cold temperatures such as hot yoga, spas, saunas or direct sunlight. Ice can be used to help reduce swelling and bruising but do not keep it in the same spot for very long. Arnica can also be taken orally or Hirudoid cream applied to affected areas.

DO NOT have dermal filler within 2 weeks of an overseas holiday. Complications are very rare but if it were to happen then you need to be around so I can help you.

If you have any further questions regarding Dermal Filler, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

x Camille.