Dermal Fillers and Thickeners
Why would I consider dermal fillers and thickeners?
Dermal fillers and thickeners are generally used for two reasons:
- to correct the facial signs of aging
- for lip enlargement
Dermal Fillers
These are temporary and used to decrease the evidence of aging by filling lines or expanding tissues to decrease small lines. Often used in the perioral region (the area around your mouth and lips) and the lip region.
Dermal thickeners
Of longer-term duration than fillers, thickeners are used as their name suggests. These treatments are also used to stimulate and promote your skin's own collagen production. Often used near the naso labial fold (the crease running from your nose to the corner of your mouth), for smile lines on your lower cheek and for fine skin lines on your face.
Who benefits?
Younger and older patients benefit from both dermal fillers and thickeners.
How is it done?
These are office-based treatments and local anaesthetic blocks are typically used especially for lip injection.
Method
- Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers augment the lip and expand the underlying tissues, significantly reducing fine lines in the lip and mouth region. - Dermal Thickeners
Larger lines in the lips can be injected directly, as can lines elsewhere on the face.
The nasolabial grooves can be injected to soften them.
What type of filler is used?
A hyaluronic acid derived from a non-animal source.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring protein that is found in the body in areas such as joints. The exact human amino acid sequence has been determined and bacteria are have been programmed to produce human hyaluronic acid, which is then purified and processed.
Although this hyaluronic acid has the exact amino acid sequence of human hyaluronic acid, it is not derived from another human, nor is it derived from an animal. A similar process is now used to produce human insulin.
Apart from the philosophical advantage of not being animal derived, I have also found hyaluronic acid provides good longevity in treatment terms. Alterations made with this treatment generally last beyond a six month time frame, depending on the area injected.
What can I expect?
Dermal fillers
Give an immediate result as they fill the dermis straight away. Longevity of result is individual, on average results last 6 to 12 months.
Dermal thickeners
The effect of is delayed in onset for approximately 2 months - as the skin takes time to produce its own collagen to thicken up the skin. At this time, a second injection should be undertaken to boost the effect. Onset of results is delayed - however the outcomes achieved are longer lasting. Longevity of result is individual, on average results last 12 to 18 months.
How long does it take to recover?
Office-based injection does not have a recovery time as such. You may experience slight redness and swelling overnight.
What complications can occur?
Although every endeavour is made to avoid complications, sometimes they do occur and it does not necessarily imply an error has occured.
With office-based injection, significant complications are rare.
Bruising can occur. An allergic reaction to hyaluronic acid based products is possible, but rare.
What other procedures are often performed at the same time?
Other office-based injections, such as wrinkle relaxers, are often performed at the same time.
What does it cost and will private insurance help?
Dermal fillers start from approximately $ 350 AUD.
A cost guide can be requested from my office on +61 8 9485 1333, some of the individual cost factors can be estimated with more information. Alternatively, we can be emailed at info@cosmetic-surgery.com.au
Where can I get more information?
If you have specific questions, or wish more information on specific procedures, please don"t hesitate to contact my office for a complimentary appointment with my nurse / patient liaison officer.
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