DERMAL FILLERS
HA dermal fillers (brand names include Juverderm, Teoxane and Restylane) can be used to help rejuvenate the aging face or to enhance a younger face.
At Perfect Aesthetics, we do a full facial assessment and make a treatment plan tailored to you. Your face is your face! For our younger patients (over 18) who wish to add volume to a certain area – e.g lips we will assess your suitability and treatment plan suitable filler. Depending on the result/look you wish for, the dermal filler will be chosen.
Tear troughs
Dark circles? Tired looking eyes? Dark hollows? We can add very fine filler under your eyes to improve the tired dark circles you may have. This combined with a good skin care regime will improve this area considerably. Not all people are suitable for this treatment so a full consultation is needed. Duration of product: 9-12 months
Lip augmentation
At the consultation we will discuss with your desired outcomes and the filler will be chosen taking this into consideration. For example, some people prefer a stiffer filler to give them a pout; others prefer a slightly softer look. We use a numbing cream and can administer a dental block injection inside the mouth to completely numb the lips. After treatment, you will see instant results unlike BTX. There will be swelling to the area – especially important to note in the lips. The lips will reduce in size by about 30% after swelling has ceased.
Non surgical rhinoplasty / Liquid nose job
Bumps? Humps? Don’t fancy surgery? Look no further! Dr Mei has trained with one of the top ENT surgeons in the country to delicately eradicate the bumps and humps, which may frustrate you. Dermal filler is added in thin strands to either reshape your nose or smoothen it out. Caution advised – only advanced clinicians should perform this! Duration of product: 12-18 months
Mid-face cheek augmentation
This is a very popular treatment in our clinic. We can use cheek sculpting to beautify or rejuvenate the face. In our older patients, adding dermal filler to the cheeks replaces volume naturally lost in the aging process. It can help lift sagging skin and tissues from the lower 1/3 of the face (nose to mouth lines) as well as help in the under eye area. In our younger patients, cheek augmentation sculpts the face producing a more angled chiselled look. Highlighter at the ready! Cheek fillers are thicker fillers so can last between 12-18 months
Fine lines
Depending on the cause some fine lines in the face and can be treated with dermal filler in the dermis. This is done with needle which causes collagen and fibroblast turnover improving the texture and quality of the skin.
Jaw and chin definition
Weak chin? Don’t worry we’ve got you. Chin augmentation is becoming increasing popular, as it is a very effective way to enhance your profile. Dermal filler is added either with needle or cannula to the chin area to define it. We can use dermal fillers to define the jawline, giving you a sculpted side profile using both needle and cannula. We can enhance the jaw angle and define the line of the jaw from chin to angle – not everyone is suitable for this so a full consultation must be held. Duration of product: 12-18 months
What are fillers made from?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) dermal fillers are popular soft tissue filler used for augmentation and rejuvenation.
HA is a naturally occurring molecule in our body. It is responsible for the volume and moisture in our faces because it is able to bind and retain water molecules.
As we grow older we lose volume from our face due to dehydration of the skin, which results in face sagging, and change in shape and contour.
How long does it last?
There are many HA fillers on the market, each with different uses. For example, you wouldn’t inject high viscosity filler (thick) designed to give a lot of volume in the cheeks, into the lips! The lower the viscosity (thinner) of the HA filler the shorter it lasts. These types of fillers usually last between 6-9 months, everyone is different and your metabolism also plays a role. High viscosity fillers are more expensive and last longer ranging from 12-18 months.
Risks of HA Dermal Fillers
As with any cosmetic procedure there are risks of having HA dermal filler. Your injector should talk you through this.
The face has many arteries and veins. They are everywhere! If your injector is not familiar with the anatomy of the face, the risk is higher of injecting into one of these structures!
What happens if an artery is injected? The filler can cause a blockage in the artery, which leads to reduced / no blood flow to the area of tissue. This results in tissue death. The blockage needs to be removed for the blood flow to be regained.
How is this blockage removed? It is removed using hyalase. This is a prescription only medicine (only obtainable by prescription via a medical prescriber) used to dissolve the filler. It can also be used if too much filler is placed to dissolve it.
At Perfect Aesthetics, we have a full medical emergency kit on site; this includes a defibrillator and oxygen masks. More importantly, we are medically trained and know how to use it! Rest assured your safety is our priority.
As it stands in the UK, anyone can inject HA dermal filler. Scary thought?
Not everyone injecting can treat a medical emergency if it were to happen. Scarier thought?
If the injector is not legally allowed to prescribe, then it is very difficult for them to obtain a medical emergency kit as it contains prescription only medicines. This is not the same as first aid kit!