Dermal fillers are a gel-like consistency that is injected into various areas to provide volume and enhance an area of the face or body. They essentially plump out an area.

Antiwrinkle injections use Botox to temporarily prevent muscles from dynamically contracting, thus preventing lines. Each of these will provide very different results but can be done in conjunction with each other.

Dermal fillers correct fine lines, reduce folds and creasers, minimise loss of volume, enhance lips, sculpt the jawline and in some instances construct a better nose or chin. They are a nonsurgical option for enhancing beauty, however, they are not a plastic surgeon in a syringe.

There are several different brands of dermal fillers in New Zealand. Most of the fillers are work on a particular part of the face, such as the lips or cheeks. They can also vary in terms of how long they will last before the next injection is needed. At Luxe Appearance, we use Restylane from Galderma, Juverderm from Allergan, and Boletero from Merz.

The amount of time between injections varies from person to person. The product also impacts the amount of time between injections. Sometimes you will need to come back in six months to a year depending on the location of the filler. For example, lip fillers on average last between 6-12 months. What you will notice is that you will not need them with as much frequency as you continue to use them.

There can be side effects with dermal fillers and the most common of these is slight bruising, some lumpiness and swelling. These are very common. Fillers, hyaluronic acid and lidocaine, are well-known for their safety. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body.

Less common side effects include redness and itchiness. Very rare side effects are skin discoloration, bacterial infection, viral infection and necrosis of the tissue due to a blockage in or around the blood vessels. Your Appearance Medicine Nurse or Dr should be well aware of these side effects and inform you of these. Luxe Appearance sends out post care instructions which outline side effects and what to do if they occur.

The consult:

When you decide that you want a dermal filler treatment, your first step is to contact Luxe Appearance for no obligation free consultation. As it is a relatively safe procedure, most people are able to go ahead with treatment on the same day. However, before we inject we need to take a thorough overview of the skin and any medical conditions, this is to ensure the safety of both you the client and us. Skin conditions such as active herpes, severe acne, or rosacea may prevent you from having dermal filler on the day. At Luxe Appearance, we check for allergies, any medical conditions, autoimmune diseases, and heart conditions which may change the products we use or the treatment on the day.

The treatment:

Before injection. a numbing gel can be applied to the area, in particular, the lips as they are very vascular. This sits on top of the skin for a numbing period of approximately 15-30 minutes. A thin needle injects the dermal filler into the skin, so there is a small pinch when the needle goes in. In addition, the dermal fillers have lidocaine in them to further minimise any pain experienced with injections. Lidocaine and numbing cream reduce the pain as much as possible. How much it hurts sometimes depends on the individual’s threshold for pain.

The dermal filler is a watery gel. It is injected under the skin. Almost immediately it provides the subtle change in appearance that you desire. Unlike Botox, that typically takes 2-10 days for results. Over time, the body will absorb the gel and it will integrate safely into the tissue. Additionally, the gel provides nutrients and moisture to the skin. These help to smooth out wrinkles. Some patients may experience lumps under the skin after getting dermal fillers. This can be normal and will often go away naturally as the skin absorbs the gel.