Youth blesses us with full features — but as we start to age — we lose soft tissue volume and structural support in certain areas of the face, such as the cheeks and temples. When this happens, you’ll notice your skin starting to sag and jowls starting to form, while nasolabial lines or laugh lines deepen. With age, the skin also starts to lose its ability to retain moisture, resulting in a dull and rough complexion. That’s where a good dermal filler treatment is necessary to keep your skin and features looking youthful for longer.
What Are Dermal Fillers, and How Do They Work?
The most commonly used dermal fillers are made up of a hyaluronic acid. These gels are injected into soft tissues under the skin to help restore volume and fill in lines. Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body, and functions to retain moisture to keep your skin hydrated. Similarly, some hyaluronic dermal fillers can be injected into superficial layers of the skin to draw moisture and hydrate the skin from within. Think of it as a long-lasting moisturiser that only needs to be reapplied once in a few months.
Where Can They Be Used?
Dermal fillers in the capable hands of an aesthetic doctor can be injected into a target area to create a more defined nose bridge, chiselled jawline or sharper chin and fuller cheeks that could possibly rival Chrissy Teigen’s. Want Angelina Jolie’s pillowy pout? Artfully injected dermal fillers will give your lips the boost they need. Do you look tired no matter how much sleep you get? A dermal filler treatment for your under eye area will help disguise dark eye circles and make your undereyes look less sunken. Dermal fillers can also be injected into the skin to help fill out fine wrinkles — think smile lines, forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet. Is your complexion looking lacklustre lately? A dermal filler treatment will give your skin the boost of hydration it needs to be bouncy and plump once again.
In short, dermal fillers can be used to rectify volume loss or add lift to facial contours.
What to Expect During Treatment?
An aesthetic doctor will assess your face to determine which areas will benefit from dermal filler treatment, and roughly how many syringes are required. After which, the area will be cleansed and a topical anaesthetic cream will be applied to the area prior to the injection to help with pain management. During the injection, you should feel minor discomfort that is easily tolerated by most patients. The whole procedure is expected to last between 15-30 minutes. Results of a dermal filler injection are visible immediately post-treatment. There is minimal to no downtime after the dermal filler treatment, and makeup can be used to conceal any temporary bruising or redness. Therefore, you’d be able to return to work and your daily activities immediately. However, it is recommended that you refrain from massaging the area, as well as avoid strenuous and high impact activities. A dermal filler treatment is expected to last between 6-18 months, depending on multiple factors, such as the type of filler, the treated area, the individual’s skin, lifestyle habits and age. Typically, a follow-up session with the doctor will be arranged one to two weeks after the initial dermal filler treatment.
Where to Get A Dermal Filler Treatment?
The most important thing is to never have a dermal filler treatment done at a beauty spa or salon. A non-surgical filler treatment is still considered to be a medical procedure that requires proper training, knowledge and technique, so it’s in your best interest to consult a professional aesthetic doctor. A qualified doctor will be best placed to advise and plan a dermal filler treatment that is customized to your needs. Given the complex anatomy and presence of many blood vessels in the face, there is a high risk of serious complications such as necrosis and blindness if the procedure is performed by non-qualified personnel. Improperly injected fillers can also result in other undesirable side-effects such as infection, swelling and visible lumps under the skin. Hence it’s always important to make a consultation first and make sure you’re comfortable with your doctor. Not sure where to start? Check out our trusted panel doctors here.
