 What is a Dermal Filler?
"What is a dermal filler?", "How does it work?", "Is it Dangerous?", "How
long does the procedure take?", "Does the procedure hurt?", "Will it
take affect right away?", "How long will one injection last?"
A Dermal Filler is usually composed of a gel
containing hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is naturally found within our
joints - synovial fluid, which helps in cushioning our joints. There
are different products on the market and they vary in volume and
consistency.
A dermal filler, as the name suggests, helps in softening facial lines and it is also used for lip definition or volumization. There are also other fillers which helps in rehydration and rejuvenation of the skin. Dermal Fillers can also be used for reshaping certain features on the face, such as correcting the nasal bridge or treatment of some acne scars. Please have a look at the photo album Click here .
The most important thing to remember
is that, in the event of minor bruising, please allow for 2-3 days of
down time. Unlike anti-wrinkle injections, dermal filler injections
require more time and detailing. Most client will experience some
degree of swelling and bruising. There are several factors that may
cause bruising:
- age
- smoking
- alcohol
- use of anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, nurofen, voltaren, mobic, celebrex etc)
- use of anti-coagulants (warfarin, heparin, clexane or clopidogrel)
(WARNING: DO NOT STOP these medications)
- use of vitamins (Vitamin E, fish oil, evening primose oil and Iron supplement)
- Green tea, Garlic, Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, St John's Wort
Dr Leslie Baumann (M.D. Prof of Dermatology -University of Miami Florida) recommends these medications or supplements should be avoided for at least 10 days prior to cosmetic procedures. Please note that you MUST NOT STOP your anti-coagulants - YOU should speak to Dr Louisa for more information.
During the consultation, Dr Louisa
will discuss ways to reduce swelling and bruising. You will be
given written post treatment care plan to take home. The bruising can
be covered up with a good mineral concealer and make up. Dr Louisa
recommends Jane Iredale® Mineral make-up range.
In order to minimize discomfort, Dr
Louisa will use local anaesthetic: either topical creams or nerve
blocks, to numb the area. Should a nerve block be used (similar to
going to the dentist), you may experience numbing of the mouth area for
up to 4 hours after the treatment. Please be careful not to eat
anything too HOT or too HARD to avoid thermal injury.
You will notice the effects straight
away. The effects will improve with time as the HA gel particles
attract water and making it longer lasting. Dr Louisa will give
you written post treatment instructions and tips on improving the life
of the product. Depending on the treatment area, usually, the dermal
filler may last up to 6-9 months.
There are many techniques used with dermal fillers and these range from fanning, ferning and bridging. Most recently, Dr Louisa has started using the cannula technique. This technique only requires a single entry point to the skin. By using a long blunted cannula (feeder/tube - with no sharp ends, apart from a very small opening on one side of the tiny tube), Dr Louisa is able to gain access to a larger area without having to use a sharp needle. With this technique, clients are most satisfied with very minimal bruising. This technique also helps in reducing the development of nodules and lumps.
For more information, please visit the following sites:
Dr Louisa uses for following dermal fillers:
JU or JUP from Allergan (HA)
R from Merz
(calcium hydroxylapatite CaHA suspended in aqueous gel)
Re or Pe from Q-Med (HA)
(Due to TGA regulations, naming of specific products is not permitted)
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