Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are gels that are injected into the skin to add volume to the soft tissues. Fillers can be used to emphasise contours and improve facial structure. With age, we can be often left looking tired, sad and saggy. Fillers help to restore what nature has taken away by adding lost volume and improving the appearance of lines and wrinkles resulting in a fresh, rested and happy appearance. Dermal fillers are usually used to treat the following areas:

• To correct or enhance facial contours, cheeks, temples, jawline, nose, chin.
• To define, correct or enhance lips
• To soften and correct facial wrinkles or folds
• To restore lost volume in hands to reduce the appearance of veins and tendons
• To improve the tone, texture, and hydration of the skin.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar chain molecule found in all skin and soft tissues throughout the body, identical across species. Dermal fillers are manufactured, usually through fermentation and cross linking with proteins to produce a clear, sterile gel for injection into the skin.

In the UK, there are over 160 brands on the market due in some part to weak regulation. Not all hyaluronic acids are the same, each brand has a range of ‘tissue tailored’ products designed for specific results. One size does not fit all. At this clinic we use only tried and tested brands. If you have a particular brand you prefer, please let us know.

Leading and well-established brands include Restylane.

Preparing for your Treatment

Please fully read the information below and let us know if you have any questions.

Make-up

• Make up will need to be removed prior to treatment, so please come ‘fresh faced’ if possible.

Check medicines and supplements

• Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and a range of dietary supplements including St. John’s Wort, fish oils, Gingko Biloba, Vitamins C and E may all contribute to bruising and are best avoided 24 hours before treatment.

Alcohol

• Don’t drink alcohol the night before, it will increase your risk of bruising.

Healthy skin and feeling well? – Check with the clinic before attending if any of the following apply:

• Cold sore brewing, active or recent and not quite healed.
• Acne break-out
• Feeling unwell- including colds, coughs, sore throats etc.
• New diagnosis or medicines
• New injury for which you are taking pain medicines
• Appointments with the dentist; recent, or planned within 10 days of the treatment
• Travel plans within 10 days of the treatment.

Bring your reading glasses with you

Jewellery

• Leave jewellery at home, especially large earrings, or facial piercings. If you take them off in practice, please bring a purse to safely keep them.

Aftercare Advice

Most people can continue with normal activities with immediate improvement in their appearance. Some will have some redness, pin prick marks, possibly swelling- particularly in the lips. Possibly bruising. Any swelling and bruising may be more apparent the next day.

For one hour *following lip treatment

• Avoid burning your lips – Do not have very hot drinks until the anaesthetic has worn-off

For six hours *following lip treatment – To avoid infection

• Do not reapply make-up
• Keep your hands clean and avoid touching your face
• Avoid using your mobile phone against the treated area
• Don’t let pets lick your face

Until any redness, swelling or bruising has settled

• Avoid extremes of heat or cold or vigorous exercise, until any swelling, bruising or tenderness has settled.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns. Some complications can be delayed and symptoms can present weeks or months later. If you develop symptoms you think may be related to the treatment, please do contact the clinic for a review.

Frequently Asked Questions