Dermal fillers

To reduce the risk of infection:

-Avoid make up in the treated area for 24 hours.

-Avoid kissing pets and other humans, especially if you have treated the lips.

-Avoid touching the treatment area for 24 hours

To reduce risk of swelling/ bruising:

-Avoid alcohol, aspirin and ibuprofen in the first 24 hours

-Avoid vigorous exercise and extremes of temperature (hot shower on the face, sauna, steamroom, sunbed) for 2 weeks.

Do not massage the area unless instructed to do so.

Do not use ice or hot bags on the treated area.

Get in contact if you feel something is not quite right.

Every one responds to treatment slightly differently; some people have absolutely no evidence of treatment, and some swell a little. 

When treating the lips, 30% of the initial result will initially be swelling which may take up to 2 weeks to settle. As this is a vascular area, there may be some bruises which should be easily covered with make up the following day.

When treating the rest of the face, the results are instant and swelling/ bruising is usually minimal. Your final results will be seen from 2 weeks. 

Assuming you follow the after care, you are free to resume daily activities.

Please come with no make-up on.

Avoid exercise on the day, before and after your appointment.

Avoid caffeine on the day, before and after your appointment.

Avoid the following in the 48 hours before: ALCOHOL, aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin C and E, gingko biloba, St Johns Wart in the 48 hours before treatment.

Please call to rearrange if you are unwell on the day of your appointment.

Please call to rearrange if you have an infection/ cold sore/ eczema on the treatment area.

Take paracetamol before your appointment if you wish.

There are many factors that determine longevity of fillers: the product factors (product type, thickness, volume of product used); the patient factors (metabolism, exercise, sun exposure) and the treatment area (location on the face, how expressive the site on the face is).

Generally we say the treatment result lasts 6 months in the lips from the first treatment, with successive treatments increasing the longevity. You may need 2-3 sessions spaced a couple of months apart to build the lips and ‘stabilise’ their result. Contrary to popular belief, after 2-3 treatments the lips should not need ‘top ups’ every 6 months.

In other areas of the face, the treatment can be expected to last 12-18 months. The lesser end of the scale being the more mobile areas (around the mouth). The areas of the face that the tissue doesn’t move as much (chin, jaw, cheek) should last longer.

A strong numbing cream is applied to the lips before treatment to reduce sensitivity. Numbing cream is not needed for other areas of the face. In addition, the filler its self has anaesthetic in to help comfort levels.

Dermal filler can be administered via a short needle, or using a microfine cannula.

A cannula is a blunt tipped tube which is inserted beneath the skin with only 1 (or limited) entry points. Its benefits are reduced swelling/ bruising and trauma, and the ability to glide beneath the tissues for better comfort and to avoid blood vessels. A cannula is generally used to restore larger areas of volume loss.

A needle is used when greater definition is required.

For the lips, a strong numbing cream is applied before treatment. The filler is administered with a needle, or combination of needle and cannula together.

Most other areas of the face require combination of needle and cannula.

Dermal filler injections are incredibly popular, with their use ever rising. Dermal filler is very well tolerated by the the body and complications are few in the correct hands. In addition, modern fillers (HA) have the benefit of being reversed with a prescription-only medication known as Hyaluronidase.

One of the main aspects influencing safety in dermal filler treatment is the clinician you chose to have treatment with. They should have sound knowledge of anatomy, chose appropriate products, and be well versed in dealing with complications, including carrying appropriate emergency drugs. All relevant risks will be discussed with you at consultation.

Dermal fillers are injectable gels, made from Hyaluronic Acid (HA) which are derived from purified bacterial origin. HA is a naturally abundant molecule in the human body. It acts like a water magnet to plump and hydrate tissues, and is constantly under a process of renewal by the body. For this reason, injectable HA is generally very well tolerated by the body and integrates to the natural tissues.