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Understanding dermal fillers – Are they something to be scared of?

Understanding dermal fillers – A little knowledge can go a long way to reduce the scare factor.

Okay, more and more people are benefiting from filler in their lips, cheeks, and even chins, and they are talking about it. So why is everyone having filler and yet it seems quite scary. So let’s uncover the facts and reduce the scare factor. To be clear though, the decision to use fillers is extremely personal.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal Fillers are a non-invasive treatment that restores youth and volume to the face. As we age, our skin begins to lose its elasticity and natural hydration at the dermal layer. This, combined with the effects of gravity, can lead to lines, loss of volume in certain areas, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

Fillers are an excellent treatment to restore volume and plumpness to lips, chin, cheeks, jawline, the area under the eyes, and even the nose. In some cases, fillers also improve the appearance of scars.

Dermal fillers are fast and easy. They get them by tiny injections and see the results immediately. Filler injections are quick and simple and provide instant results with a minimal amount of discomfort and downtime.

How does the treatment with dermal filler work?

Dermal fillers are gels that mimic the hyaluronic acid naturally found under the skin. The natural gel is completely safe and encourages the skin to produce more restorative collagen for a youthful appearance.

After a consultation with your appearance medicine nurse or doctor, during which your goals and expectations will be thoroughly discussed, your nurse or doctor will discuss the most suitable treatment plan. Your procedure will then begin.

The treatment

First, a cream is applied. As a result, it numbs the treatment area in about 15 minutes. Some areas, such as the lips, need more numbing than others. The dermal fillers also have a substance called lidocaine in them. Lidocaine is an agent that provides pain relief. Once the injector begins treatment the lidocaine will start to take effect, making it less uncomfortable.

A tiny needle is used to inject the filler into the targeted areas. Your nurse or doctor may apply ice at the same time to minimize bruising. Between treatment areas or sides of your face, your physician may give you the opportunity to examine your face in the mirror. Your input can be used to guide the procedure as it progresses. At the end of the treatment, the nurse or doctor may gently massage the area to help minimise any lumps.

At Luxe Appearance we use only non-permanent dermal fillers. The results can last from six months to two years, depending on the type of filler used in your case.

Understanding Dermal Fillers vs. Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Dermal fillers are often used in combination with anti-wrinkle injections to smooth out lines and wrinkles and rejuvenate the face. Our expert appearance medicine nurses will recommend the best treatment plan to meet your individual needs. Dermal fillers are derived from a natural substance hyaluronic acid, which makes them completely safe for almost everyone.

To clear any confusion up, dermal fillers are not the same as antiwrinkle injections. Both are quite different and act on different mechanisms to have different effects.

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.

We have many options to suit the wants and needs of different people. We assess what you need and what look works for you. 

We hope this answers some of your questions, and if you do have any more questions, please contact our team using the button below.

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