Dermal Fillers
What are Dermal Fillers?
As we age, the underlying tissues of the skin begin to break down often leaving laugh lines, smile lines, crow’s feet and other facial creases where excessive muscle movement occurs. Soft tissue fillers (injectable collagen) can help fill in some of these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother appearance. The fillers are injected beneath the skin and plump up creased areas. They are also used to add a fuller look to the lips. Collagen fillers are designed in the laboratory and are identical to human collagen.
What To Expect From Treatment
Injectable fillers are not permanent and injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. Every patient differs in how quickly the collagen is metabolized and effects may last a few weeks to 9 months. A thin needle is threaded under the skin and the collagen is slowly injected as the needle is withdrawn. This is done several times to get the desired effect.
What Are The Side Effects?
Common side effects include redness, bruising and swelling for 1-5 days after treatment. You may notice some minor discomfort, stinging and throbbing immediately after treatment. Rare complications include allergic reaction (1/15 000), infection, abscesses, cysts, skin peeling, lumpiness and scarring.
Who Cannot Be Treated?
Patients with rash or open wounds in area to be treated. Patients who are pregnant, have bleeding disorders, diabetes, autoimmune conditions (ex lupus), form keloids or cystic acne and allergic to local anaesthetic should not be treated.
Does It Hurt?
Most patients require some local anaesthetic. You will probably be advised to apply topical anaesthetic cream 1 hour before the procedure to the area to be treated. For lips and some sensitive areas a local freezing will be injected by needle. You may feel some minor stinging or pressure as the injection is administered.