Dermal Fillers

During the aging process your skin is more likely to wrinkle and sag. Exposure to the sun and decades of chewing, smiling and squinting contribute to the aging of the skin’s surface. Fortunately, if you are concerned about your skin’s appearance, there are some successful cosmetic procedures that help to cover up the effects of aging and help to maintain your skin’s youthful appearance. These are called facial or dermal fillers.

Dermal fillers can be either temporary or long term solutions and are administered through the use of a few small injections on the required areas of the face. There are a range of fillers available in the UK, each of which has a specific purpose e.g. the reduction of wrinkles and the augmentation of the lips.

The list below indicates common dermal fillers that are available

• ArteFill ® or ArteColl ® is an injectable product that provides a permanent solution to the filling of wrinkles and helps to prevent further wrinkling. It is commonly used for nasolabial folds.
• Juvederm ™ is a product made from a hyaluronic acid gel. It does naturally occur in the skin where it contributes to its hydration and volume. Juvederm ™ temporarily corrects facial folds and wrinkles.
• Botox Cosmetic ®: Botox has built up a reputation for helping to reduce the appearance of the undesirable effects of aging which occur in the facial region. It temporarily blocks muscle movement.
• Restylane ®is a gel which is biodegradable gel and is made from hyaluronic acid. It fills soft tissue through the use of small injections and increases the volume of the skin while smoothing out wrinkles around the eye and mouth regions.

Fat is taken from the patient’s body, either from the buttocks, thighs or abdomen and then injected into the skin on the face.

Collagen (Zyplast or Zyderm) is a product which fills soft tissue. It comes from cow skin that has been purified. It is used to fill up lines, scars and wrinkles that are present on the face.

Sculptra ® is a synthetic polylactic acid found in microspheres and it restores facial volume through injections.

Captique ® is used for filling in severe to moderate facial folds and wrinkles situated in the mouth and nose region. It comes from hyaluronic acid.

Hylaform ® fills severe to moderate wrinkles in the mouth and nose region and temporarily smooths the skin’s surface.

Radiesse ® is an injectable dermal filler that is synthetic and is made from calcium hydroxyapatite. It is generally longer lasting than some other products as the body creates collagen that forms around the microspheres which adds bulk to the areas that have been injected.

The Treatment Process

A dermal filler treatment involves a number of tiny injections are directed beneath the surface of the skin at the subdermal-dermal boundary. The amount injected will depend on the size and depth of the wrinkle or skin defect.

Before treatment commences, it is advisable to undergo a skin test. This helps to ensure that the skin doesn’t react unexpectedly. Common side effects of dermal filler treatment are bruising at the site of the injection, numbness, swelling, a reddish appearance, discoloration of the skin and tenderness. Each treatment ranges between 10 and 20 minutes but this will depend on how many areas are to be treated. Once the day’s treatment is over you can generally go back to work but just avoid too much heat or sun exposure for 24 hours.

Risks

It is possible for lumps or nodules to appear in the treated area but you should discuss this risk with your cosmetic surgeon.

Results

Dermal fillers, which are mostly injectables, offer temporary solutions to the appearance of aging skin and skin defects with many treatments lasting normally up to 12 months. Repeat treatment can enhance this length of time.

Dermal filling in the UK is considered to be a non-surgical cosmetic process for altering your appearance and is not regulated to the same degree as cosmetic surgery. Those who practise dermal filling do not need medical qualifications. As it is nothing specifically to do with health, dermal filling treatment cannot be paid for by the NHS so only private practitioners offer the treatment.

These procedures can take place in clinics, hospitals or beauty salons by a range of people who choose to specialise in the procedure. Before starting a dermal filler treatment you should check the qualifications and experience of the person you have chosen to complete the treatment. This is to ensure the job is done to your expectations. You must also discuss any possible side effects with the treatment too.

If you are keen to take on a course of dermal fillers treatment in the UK to improve the appearance of your skin there are a list of skilled and experienced practitioners available at www.anyclinics.co.uk