Dermal Fillers

We start to see the signs of ageing at 30 and then from 40+ it speeds up. We lose collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in our skin. Hormones play a part in this and lowering levels of oestrogen as women approach menopause speeds up the process in women compared to men.

The fat pads under the skins surface go from being full and plump to diminishing with spaces forming between the pads and they start to slip forwards and downwards giving rise to hollowing under the eyes and hollowing in the midface and jowls, nasolabial folds and drooping mouth with thin, ill-defined lips and upturning of the chin. The overall effect of fat pad descent and sagging skin is to make us look tired, drawn, and sad. This can even be accentuated if weight is lost.

It is possible to replace this volume-loss and rejuvenate facial appearance by injecting “fillers”. Wrinkles may be softened; eyebrow shape refined; youthful looking cheek pads restored; tired eyes ‘boosted’ to look younger and fresher; lips plumped and lipstick areas redefined; jaw line redefined; jowls softened; downturned mouth corners lifted.

Lips: lips can be augmented, their shape further defined and asymmetries corrected using filler.
Cheek and midface: filler can be used to restore lost midface and cheek volume, this will give support to the eyes and support skin from sagging downwards.
Nose: filler can be used to hide a dorsal hump, provide a raised nasal tip or to straighten.
Nasolabial folds we aim to soften the valley and crease that often forms from the nose to the mouth corner
Marionettes: these lines run from the corners of the mouth to the jaw and can produce a sad looking appearance, we can provide support and soften these lines with filler giving a happier appearance.
Chin: chin reshaping to smoothen and or strengthen the chin profile
Jaw: using filler to produce a more defined jawline or to disguise jowls
Neck lines: filler may be used to soften the appearance of horizontal neck lines
Tear troughs: specialised low viscosity filler can be used to lift the hollowing, and create a smoother under eye
Temples: filler can be used to fill sunken temples to provide a smoother transition from the cheek bone and support for the eyebrow corner.
Upper lip lines: smoker’s lines can be softened.
Wrinkles and Lines: lines can be smoothed.

What happens during the treatment?

You will firstly have a consultation with your doctor to assess suitability and devise a treatment plan which may include other treatments as well as dermal filler. On the day of treatment following obtaining informed consent and taking photographs numbing cream may be applied depending on which area is being treated.

The skin is cleansed with a skin disinfectant. Markings are made on the skin of planes and injection points. Either a needle or a cannula will be used depending on the area being treated and the depth of the tissue plane. The injection procedure will take varying amounts of time depending on the area being treated and the amount of filler being introduced.

Botulinum toxin acts as a temporary muscle paralyser to stop wrinkles caused by muscles contracting, while filler is injected to add volume and fullness. Both these treatments are complementary to each other as Botulinum toxin helps prevent more wrinkles forming and filler smoothes out existing wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are gradually broken down and absorbed by the body. The rate of breakdown of filler depends on the dermal filler and its technology and on your own metabolism. Generally dermal filler lasts from 12 to 18 months, but the thicker filler used for chin, cheek and jaw can last 24 months or more.

Dermal fillers are gels injected beneath the skin’s surface to smooth wrinkles and add volume and contour. Dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA). This is a natural substance in the skin that helps the skin retain moisture and softness and adds volume. HA is biologically inert, integrates well into tissues and is very good at mimicking fat and skin. It is very safe, rarely causes allergic reactions and the filler is gradually broken down and reabsorbed safely into the body.