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What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are injectable products designed to restore lost volume and smooth out lines and wrinkles caused by ageing.
They are very popular because dermal fillers are incredibly diverse. They can be used to augment the cheeks, enhance the lips, diminish fine lines and wrinkles such as smoker's lines and nasolabial folds (nose to mouth lines), re-shape the nose (non-surgical nose-job), correct hollow tear troughs (the area under the eye) and rejuvenate facial skin, backs of the hands, neck or décolletage.
At Queensway we only use filler products made from hyaluronic acid. They are temporary which means that while they are long-lasting (they can last anywhere between six and 24 months), they are not permanent. The nature of hyaluronic acid gives it a high safety profile because it is a naturally occurring substance already found in the body, which makes it highly biocompatible and means that any reactions to it are rare.
What does treatment with dermal fillers involve?
At a separate visit, you will need to have a thorough medical consultation where we will take pre-treatment photos and make sure you fully understand the treatment and are suitable for it. You will be required to give written consent for your treatment.
We usually use local anaesthetic cream to increase comfort during the treatment.
Depending on the area being treated we may use a needle or a cannula to place the product under the skin.
Some patients may experience a mild stinging or burning sensation as the product is injected, but any discomfort should be minimal due to the anaesthetic.
Are dermal fillers safe and is there any recovery time?
Unlike botulinum toxin, dermal fillers are not prescription only medicines. They are classified as "medical devices" and the UK currently lacks any kind of regulation surrounding who is injecting them. There are countless fillers on the market and not all of them have adequate clinical trials to support their use.
The potential side effects of fillers are far greater than those from Botox®so it is very important to know not only which product you are having but also who is injecting it. We would recommend only going to a qualified medical practitioner who is experienced in injecting.
At QSC we use products from the Restylane, Belotero, Teosyal and Juvederm range. These are FDA approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers and the products have clinical trials and data to support their safety and efficacy.
In the right hands dermal fillers are very safe and effective. In general HA fillers have very low complication rates. Common side effects can include redness, swelling and bruising at the injection site for a few days after treatment. More severe adverse reactions can include granulomas (nodules), necrosis and excessive swelling, but these are rare.
HA fillers can be reversed using an enzyme called "hyaluronidase" which effectively "dissolves" the product. This gives extra peace of mind.
Dermal filler treatments
Cheek enhancement
As we age, the fat tissue in our cheeks displace and slide downwards causing a droopy, jowly appearance and creating deep folds, which can make us look sad. The cheeks can be non-surgically enhanced using dermal fillers. Cheek enhancement is one of the most popular uses for dermal fillers, however the key to natural looking results is to not over-fill them avoiding the unsightly "pillow face" look.
Tear trough treatment
The eyes are one of the first areas to show the signs of premature ageing. Under eye hollows, known as "tear troughs" or "eye bags" can make you look tired and older than your years. This treatment is not suitable for everyone as those with puffiness (oedema) or prolapsed fat on the lower eyelids may need blepharoplasty surgery. For the right candidates, tear trough treatment can be transformative, diminishing the aging dark shadows and naturally replacing the lost volume that is making the under eye area look hollow.
The non-surgical nose job
Non-surgical nose shaping is an exciting use for dermal fillers that allows us to re-contour and shape the nose without surgery. The treatment can have a huge impact on a patient's appearance and is a great alternative to surgical rhinoplasty for the right candidates. It can be used to correct prominent bumps on the bridge of the nose as well as to refine its profile, making it appear straighter. We also have techniques to lift the tip of the nose if it is downturned.
Chin augmentation
A small or receding chin can make people feel self-conscious about their appearance. Dermal fillers can be used to balance the facial profile by lifting, contouring and adding more definition to the chin.
Lip enhancement
Lip enhancement is becoming more and more popular not only with those whose lips have become thinner with age but also with younger patients who want a lip augmentation. Dermal fillers can be used not only to add shape and volume to the body of the lip but also to address the signs of ageing in the whole lip area such as "lipstick bleed lines" or "smoker's lines". Done subtly, lip augmentation is a very effective procedure. We aim to achieve subtle, natural looking results and avoid a "trout pout".
Eyebrow and temple reshaping
In combination with botulinum toxin, we can lift the tail of the brow and rejuvenate this tricky area.
We can also restore hollow temples, a key area which ages significantly.
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