Dermal Fillers: Everything You Need To Know

15 / 09 / 2018

Dermal Fillers: Everything You Need To Know

Anti-ageing injectables – including dermal fillers – are some of the most popular aesthetic treatments available. More and more celebrities (especially on TV reality shows such as Love Island) are sharing their cosmetic enhancements. As a result, it’s encouraging more people to boost their natural beauty. If you’re not quite ready for drastic plastic surgery, ‘tweakments’ like dermal fillers are an ideal option. So, read on to find out more about how to look younger without going under the knife.

What are dermal fillers?

Many people still confuse these with anti-wrinkle injections. While it’s true that such injections work very well together with dermal fillers, they are completely different treatments. Dermal fillers (sometimes known as facial fillers) are versatile injectable anti-ageing treatments. Performed correctly, they can improve a wide range of facial ageing concerns.

Dermal Fillers replace lost volume and lift and plump skin, giving a refreshed, more youthful appearance. They smooth lines, enhance definition and recreate youthful contours, especially on the lower half of the face. So, they’re a great way to counter loose and sagging skin.

Facial fillers are not muscle relaxants. They work by mimicking the effect of hyaluronic acid. This is a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies but decreases as we age. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture and is vital for skin hydration. Hydrated skin literally indicates healthy skin. It looks plump, firm, smooth and glowing. In contrast, dehydrated skin looks dull, dry and droopy.

As we age, we also produce less collagen and elastin. This is our skin’s ‘scaffolding’, without which it wrinkles, sags and slackens. Dermal fillers help to counter this, by smoothing away lines and creating ‘lift’.Anti-wrinkle injections, however, work very differently. As their name suggests, they reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles by paralysing certain facial muscles. This prevents the treated muscles from contracting, so lines and wrinkles look much less prominent. This process also helps to prevent future wrinkles from forming. These injections are most commonly administered in the forehead and around the eyes. Together with dermal fillers, they are an effective way to achieve complete facial rejuvenation.

What can dermal fillers help to fix?

Dermal filler injections are suitable for many different areas, including:

• Nasolabial folds or laughter lines. These are the deep creases that run diagonally from the nose to the outside of the mouth.
• Thin lips.
• So-called “smokers’ lines”. These are vertical lines above the upper lip, caused by puckering or pouting.
• Marionette lines. These are vertical lines that extend from the outer corners of the mouth down to the jawline.
• Under the eye area, to treat dark circles or fill out hollows.
• Sunken cheek areas, to enhance shape and fullness.
• Camouflage scarring.
• Plump out jowls and other skin folds.
• Reshape a crooked nose or smooth out bumps. This procedure is also known as non-surgical rhinoplasty.

Lip enhancements

Injectable dermal fillers can also be used to create fuller, luscious lips. Celebrities, such as Angelina Jolie and the Kardashian clan, have fuelled the popularity of a plump, shapely pout. Lip fillers are now one of the most Googled beauty searches in the UK! Thanks to dermal fillers, it’s never been easier to achieve this sought-after effect. Injectors can transform your lip shape and size with one fast treatment. Whether you’re keen to add volume, reshape, define or correct unevenness, dermal fillers can help. These days, enhancing your lips is a fast procedure that delivers instant results. And the effects last for months.

What happens during treatment?

It might seem obvious, but choose your practitioner wisely. We do not recommend having any kind of injectable treatment at a spa, beauty salon or house party! Make sure you find time to find a reputable practitioner who is properly qualified.

At Lighthouse Dental Practice, we offer a clean, safe and appropriate treatment environment. Only experienced medical staff administer our injectable facial aesthetic treatments. Our dental surgeon Dr Tocca is fully qualified in providing a range of facial aesthetic treatments, including dermal fillers.

Before beginning treatment, we recommend you book a consultation to discuss your treatment objectives. We’ll then recommend the right type (and amount) of dermal filler for you. Always ask to see the product before it’s injected, so you can check its authenticity.

Do dermal fillers hurt?

The short answer is, they shouldn’t. Of course, a lot will depend on your own personal pain threshold. But nobody should be lying there in agony while you are treated. The treatment itself is fairly straightforward, and should only take around 20 to 40 minutes. You may be offered a topical anaesthetic first, to numb the treatment area. If so, you’ll need to factor in more time to allow this to take effect. The dermal filler is then inserted under your skin, via a series of injections using a very fine needle.

The filler itself is a clear, gel-like substance. Your practitioner may gently massage the treated area to help ‘mould’ the filler and position it properly. After treatment, your face may look a little red and feel swollen or tender, but this should improve within 24 hours. After treatment, you should avoid sun exposure, alcohol and strenuous exercise.

Are dermal fillers safe?

Our dermal fillers have been extensively clinically tested, to ensure they are completely safe for use. Choose an experienced practitioner to ensure the procedure will be performed properly. This means you greatly minimise any risk of complications – and achieve the exact results you want.

Keen to find out more about dermal fillers? Call our practice now on 01473 257379 for more information on how to achieve full facial rejuvenation.

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If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.