A Brief Guide to Dermal Fillers
Fillers in Dubai | 2 April 2020
The most popular dermal fillers used today are made of a material using hyaluronic acid based products, such as those in the Juvéderm range manufactured by Allergan. These hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are non-permanent, meaning that they are reabsorbed into the body over time. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that is found in body tissues, and it has been used safely in general medical applications for several decades.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal Fillers is the name given to products which can be injected into the skin to rejuvenate areas which have over time lost volume, however they can also be used to add volume to areas that we want to accentuate, typically the lips and cheeks. Commonly Dermal Fillers are composed of a substance called Hyaluronic Cross-Linked Acid (HA), which is something the skin naturally produces. (There are also other Dermal Filler products that use other products such as polylactic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite, but this post concentrates on HA)
How do they work?
Over time, our body reduces the amount of Hyaluronic acid it produces, which is associated with skin ageing. Hyaluronic Acid comes pre-packed syringes in a gel form, which is injected into the skin. This gives an instant plumping effect, however the Hyaluronic Acid also attracts approximately 500 times its own weight in water, which gives a secondary plumping effect and also gives the skin a really lovely rejuvenated and rehydrated appearance.
What areas can they be used to treat?
Dermal Fillers can be used to treat almost any problem area on the face, hands, neck and décolletage. Typically though they tend to be used for: nose to mouth lines, marionette lines (from the corner of the mouth to the chin), cheek enhancement, lip enhancement, smoker’s lines on the top lip or any fine line or wrinkles.
What are the benefits?
Dermal Fillers really do have anti-ageing properties, anecdotally people have said that even when the product has worn off the area that was treated never truly goes back to the way it was. This is because of the positive effect hyaluronic acid has on collagen and fibroblast production.
What is the difference between Dermal Fillers and Wrinkle Relaxing Injections?
I get asked this question a lot and I think it’s really important for the client to understand. Wrinkle Relaxing Injections consist of a neurotoxin Botulinum Toxin being injected into the muscle, which causes temporary paralysis of the muscle. Whilst the muscle isn’t moving, the skin is able to iron out and lines and wrinkles appear less obvious. The important thing is that word temporary; after 3-4 months the muscle will start moving again, with full movement returning around 6 months later. Hyaluronic Acid-based Dermal Fillers involve a completely natural product being injected into the skin to plump up areas which have lost volume or to areas that you want to accentuate.
Is it safe?
The Hyaluronic Acid used in Dermal Fillers is almost identical to what is created naturally by the body, so you would be extremely unlikely to have an allergic reaction to them. The most common side-effects include bruising, swelling and redness which typically clear up within 7-10 days. Less common side-effects can include migration of the product from the area it was injected, which can be easily fixed by dissolving the product with an enzyme called hyalauronidaise. Very rare side-effects can include granulomas, which are little lumps created by the body as a form of reaction to the Dermal Filler, and necrosis caused by the Dermal Filler being injected into a vein.