British Academy Of Restorative Dentistry | BARD

Treatment with dermal fillers provides an easy way to enhance your looks. The result of a single treatment can be seen instantly and lasts around one year for facial treatments and around six to eight months for the lips. With dermal fillers you will achieve a natural looking result that does not affect facial expression. Remember, your face changes over time  and treatments with dermal fillers allow you to control your looks subtly as you age. Unlike Botulinum toxin type A fillers tend to treat the wrinkles/folds rather than prevent them. To help prevent things worsening Botulinum toxin type A treatments are combined with dermal filler treatments. This also has the affect of making the filler treatment last longer.

Treatment is usually charged per syringe rather than per area. Fees can range from £180-250 for one syringe to £545-700 for four syringes. Sometimes lips or cheekbones may be charged separately. Do not always opt for the cheapest. Check which product is being used and who is carrying out the treatments.

Depending on what treatments they are we generally recommend about a 10-day break between having dermal filler treatments and other treatments. Depending on depth of chemical peels, often we recommend a longer interval.

There are a variety of different dermal fillers that have been designed to be used at different levels in the skin, to meet your treatment needs  and maximise your treatment results. Some have an anaesthetic built into them to make the treatment more comfortable. During your consultation your practitioner will discuss which product will suit your needs.

As a general rule, as long as the proposed areas to be treated are different, then you can have both treatments at the same appointment.

If the treatments are to be in the same area, (often wrinkles/folds will require both Botulinum toxin type A treatment and a dermal filler treatment) there is usually a 2-week gap between the two.

During your initial consultation your practitioner will carry out a medical assessment, answer your queries and discuss your expectations from the treatment. After discussion of what you wish to achieve and assessment of your treatment needs, your practitioner will recommend which treatment is most suitable for you, and what type of anaesthetic you may require. Following the consultation, a cooling period is recommended where you can read through the relevant information and sign the consent form in your own time. An appointment for treatment will be booked.

At your next appointment any questions you have will be answered and the treatment explained. Photographs of you will be taken, to demonstrate whether there is any asymmetry before treatment commences. A topical anaesthetic will be applied or a dental anaesthetic will be administered.

The procedure is safe and simple and it generally takes 15-30 minutes to be carried out. Firstly the skin in the desired area will be cleaned and then the dermal filler is injected into the skin in small amounts using a very fine needle. The gel provides natural volume to smooth away the appearance of lines and wrinkles, enhance facial shape, or create fuller lips. You may be given a cold bag to place over the treated area to reduce inflammation. You will be given some post treatment instructions to follow.

A review appointment in approximately 2 weeks will be made. The results will be assessed

Patients who are good candidates for dermal filler treatment are those who want to reduce lines and wrinkles, create more defined or fuller lips, define the contours of their face, or boost their skin’s vitality for a healthier more hydrated skin tone.

Patients who are NOT such good candidates for dermal filler treatments include those who have been diagnosed with skin disease, inflammation or skin related problems, or have infection at the proposed treatment site. Dermal fillers have not been tested in pregnant or breast-feeding women, Individuals with medical conditions that lower the body’s immune response or individuals undergoing therapy that is immunosuppressive may be more prone to infection by a skin injection procedure.

Most fillers are derived from a non-animal source, which means you will be very unlikely to be allergic to the filler. Only dermal fillers derived from animal sources have a risk of allergy. This is something your practitioner will discuss with you during your consultation. If necessary, a patch or allergy test can be performed. Injections will be scheduled several weeks later, after the risk of allergy has been evaluated.

We would recommend only using a non-animal based filler.

In the first few days after injection, the treated area may feel a little firm to touch. This will rapidly improve over a week or two, when your skin will feel normal to touch. A risk does exist with semi-permanent or permanent fillers of particles clumping together and forming a granuloma that may be felt or seen under the skin. This risk is increased if the dermal filler was not injected properly. We advise only having non-permanent fillers.

Remember these treatments are not permanent and will diminish over time. If you cannot wait that long, the filler can be more rapidly diminished (in weeks, rather than months), by injecting a substance called hyaluronidase into the area treated. This substance decreases the viscosity of the original injection, promoting its absorption and dispersion.

If you have previously suffered from cold sores then we would recommend you take a prophylactic dose of acyclovir before, during and after treatment. This may be in the form of tablets or topical cream. Your practitioner will discuss this with you at your consultation appointment.

You are normally advised to avoid using aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs a couple of days before your treatment (unless they are taken for chronic medical conditions). This will reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding at the point of injection.

Reactions to the actual filler are rare, 1 in 2000 cases have been reported. They are normally an infection type reaction, which is self-limiting and will resolve on its own. They usually appear 2-4 weeks after the treatment. Occasionally, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed to resolve the problem sooner. As this could happen we always recommend these treatments be carried out at least 6 weeks before an important event.

Reactions related to the injection are more common. They normally appear instantly or after a few days. These reactions include redness, swelling, pain, itching and bruising or tenderness at the injection site. After treatment to the lips there is usually some swelling. If ice packs are placed over the area on and off that day, this will greatly reduce any swelling.

Every body reacts differently, but on average results can last any where from 6 months up to 12 months. Longevity is dependent on a number of things -  age, the area treated, the amount and type of dermal filler injected, skin quality, lifestyle and overall general health. The range of dermal fillers in today’s market are proven to last up to one year in nose to mouth lines and six to eight months in the lips. After the initial treatment, follow-up sessions are normally recommended around every six to twelve months depending on the individual and the treatment.

Yes, the aesthetic results are immediate ! You will see the results as soon as your appointment is over. There may be some swelling depending on the area treated. The result normally continues to improve over 48 hours.

When injecting into the skin to correct lines and wrinkles a local anaesthetic cream is applied to the area beforehand for about 40 minutes to make the treatment more comfortable. Some of the dermal fillers now have an anaesthetic built into them, which also helps reduce any discomfort.

The lips are a highly sensitive part of the body and usually require a dental-type anaesthetic.

Make sure your practitioner gives you the opportunity of having an anaesthetic.

When used correctly dermal fillers are very safe. They should only be prescribed and administered by fully trained certified practitioners. They have been used in the body for many years in over 10 million people.

An FDA approved dermal filler with plenty of history should be used. There are increasing numbers of fillers entering the aesthetic market every year.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance throughout our body. It is mostly found in the skin and helps hydrate it and provide volume. The body breaks down natural hyaluronic acid in one or two days so is constantly replaced. With age, sun damage, smoking, alcohol and pollution our ability to manufacture it reduces, so the moisturising and plumping effects of hyaluronic acid decrease. Hyaluronic acid is used for aesthetic treatments. It has been used for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement as well as eye surgery for over 15 years.

Dermal Fillers are substances made from natural and synthetic material. They are injected into the skin to soften lines and wrinkles or fill out hollows and restore a more youthful appearance. They can also be used to plump out or shape lips. The main type of dermal fillers available consist of stabilized, non-animal hyaluronic acid soft gel. The gel is tissue-friendly and closely resembles the hyaluronic acid that exists.