Dermal Fillers

How the treatment is delivered

It is a safe and simple procedure when delivered by an appropriately trained practitioner. Precise amounts of hyaluronic gel are injected with a very fine needle into the tissue under the fold. These injections are associated with only a little pain and some dermal fillers such as Juvederm and some Restylane products contain local anaesthesia e.g. 0.3% lidocaine (a local anaesthetic agent used by your dentist). You may well develop slight bruising at the injection sites and require cover make-up although every effort is made to reduce this risk to a minimum. There may be a pinky-red flushing of the skin for an hour or so as a reaction to the needle itself.

The filler injections can be placed incrementally into one side. You can then review the outcome in a mirror to judge the degree of correction achieved – and then can be replicated on the opposite side. You will feel more comfortable if you bring a good friend with you – to affirm any judgements being made between yourself, Mr Colbert (and your friend) about an adequate volume and natural look. You will inevitably be a little nervous so a friend can be a great support for your first time.

Areas which can be treated

Nasolabial folds, frown (glabellar) lines, oral commissures and marionette lines (marionette is the French word for puppet / ventriloquist’s doll; the vertical folds down from the corners of the mouth), tear trough lines, crows feet / laughter lines, radial lip lines, to volumize thin lips, chin wrinkles and cheek augmentation.

Treatment longevity

This kind of treatment is a temporary solution because the gel disappears over time. This has the benefit of allowing the first treatment to be a more subtle trial as is preferred by some clients. The Juvederm and Restylane dermal fillers can last about 6 months and some clients report up to 12 months of satisfactory treatment.

Who cannot have dermal fillers or for whom there are increased risks?

You cannot be breast-feeding or pregnant or under the age of 18 when receiving dermal filler treatment. Those with a history of anaphylaxis, multiple severe allergies or a history of allergy to gram-positive bacterial proteins should not have the injections. Clients who take aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, warfarin and non-steroidal analgesics such as ibuprofen are at increased risk of bruising. Those taking immunosuppressive therapy are at greater risk of infection from any injection and should be considered with caution. Dermal fillers have not been tested on those with a history of excessive scarring – keloid or hypertrophic – or those with pigmentation disorders.

You should ensure you inform the consulting practitioner of your full medical history. People with a history of cold sores may experience a recurrence after the treatment, although this can be minimized by the use of antiviral medicines. I agree to consult with my doctor if I have a history of cold sores or shingles prior to this treatment. Dermal fillers should not be administered directly after laser treatment, chemical peeling or microdermabrasion as the skin surface is not intact and there is a greater risk of infection.

How long does the improvement in dynamic wrinkles last?

This kind of treatment is a temporary solution to unwanted dynamic wrinkles because the injections only last about 3 or 4 months. This has the benefit of allowing the first treatment to be as subtle as a client wishes if there is a preference for having a trial treatment first. You will need 3 to 4 treatments per year to maintain best results and it is common for treatments to be offered in packages of 3 over 9-12 month time periods.

What must I do / not do after the treatment?

You must inform any medical practitioner who may prescribe you medication that you have had the injection treatment for up to 3 months after the treatment. After treatment, you should not exercise vigorously or have a hot bath for 12 hours. It is best to leave the area to settle for 1-2 days before considering any gentle massage to smooth any small collections of the filler into the tissues – this proposed delay is to theoretically minimise any risk of infection via the needle-track.

Can the product be removed?

It dissolves away over time, but if necessary (this would be very unusual) this could be hastened by the injection of an enzyme hyaluronase into the product within the tissues.

A holistic healthy approach?

No-one ‘needs’ cosmetic treatments, however, many thousands of these types of treatments are safely performed each year and it has become established as a reliable and exciting mainstream treatment for improving the visible effects of ageing. Of course, the best long-term holistic approach for healthy youthful skin includes not smoking, protection from sun-radiation, keeping well hydrated, a healthy diet, exercise and plenty of sleep.