Dermal Fillers

The Cosmetic Use of Dermal Fillers

Facial lines such as crow's feet, glabella lines and lines at the corners of the mouth start to appear in your 30s, then increase and become really visible in your 40s. The deeper, nasiolabial folds (lines running from corner of mouth to outer edge of nostril) start to appear more in the late 40s and become more prominent in your 50s, as do the vertical lines leading to the upper lip (smokers lines). Unfortunately for the sun worshippers amongst us, all this happens much earlier!

What are Dermal Fillers?

They are one of the cornerstones of modern facial rejuvenation techniques. By far one of the most popular non-surgical treatments among individuals who want to combat the signs of ageing. They are injected under the skin to help restore the firmness and smoothness that is associated with youth.

Facial rejuvenation using injection therapy is not a new treatment. In the 1980s doctors were taking fat from patient's bodies and injecting it back into their faces to plump up the skin. Although fat transferral treatments are still used today, patients are moving away from such drastic measures and moving towards alternative treatments, which offer instant results, with less inconvenience to daily routine.

What are they made from?

They are made form various kinds of natural and man-made or synthetic materials. There are a variety of fillers available on the market, both permanent and non-permanent (resorbable). Non-permanent fillers such as hyaluronic acid have emerged as the leading choice among both practitioners and patients. It is this type of filler that you will find available at Kingston Park Dental Practice. It is a clear, sterile, non-permanent, non-animal based gel. We only use products that conform to UK safety standards. Dr Lee Gemmell uses fillers that contain a local anaesthetic for your comfort.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring, found in all living organisms and is therefore highly biocompatible. It plays an important role for both mechanical and transport purposes in the body, giving volume to skin, shape to eyes and elasticity to the joints. The use of hyaluronic acid has been well-documented in areas such as eye surgery and orthopaedics and is the filler substance of choice because of its high safety record.

When can they be used?

They come in a variety of viscosities to treat different indications. Thinner fillers can be used to eradicate lines from around the lips, the nasiolabial lines, glabella lines, smiles lines, crow's feet and forehead wrinkles and are injected more superficially than thicker fillers. Thicker fillers can be used to add volume to hollow cheeks and fill out deep acne or other scars. These are injected deeper into the dermal layer of the skin.

Example case

The client was unhappy with her thin lip proportion and the crease at the corner of her mouth. Dermal Filler was used to plump up the skin under the crease, and also a little was placed just under the lower lip (not into the lip itself), to bring it out slightly, to give the appearance of a fuller lower lip.

Fillers can also be used to enhance the lips

Everyone's lips are unique; there are different sizes, shapes, and configurations that depend on the person's size, age, ethnicity and even eating habits. Luckily there are some common attributes as well.

The lips are one of the face's most prominent and expressive features. They help to visually communicate our emotions, and they have many functions, including helping us eat, articulate speech and kiss. It takes careful attention and observation to evaluate each client's own unique turns, tucks, folds and roundness of the mouth and lips. As a qualified dentist, Dr Lee Gemmell uses her knowledge of anatomy, combined with a thorough consultation to understand your concerns, and help achieve the result you want.

Lip Fashions

Movie star Gloria Swanson's cupids bow set the trend in the 1920s. Since then, this most sensual feature of the face has enjoyed continued popularity and attention. Lips may change radically in shape and colour, but they never go out of fashion.

At Kingston Park Dental Practice, Dr Lee Gemmell believes today's lips should match today's women. Natural, healthy and good-looking. Harmonizing with the face and improving overall looks. Excess volume is out. Well-defined lines are in! Just a small amount of dermal filler is often all that is needed.

Example case

The client was unhappy with her uneven Cupids bow, and thinning lip proportions.

Filler was used to give a little volume to the upper and lower lip, correcting the asymmetry in peak heights of the Cupids bow, and giving a natural pout without over filling the lips.

To give the upper lip a little lift, and more definition, filler was used to reconstruct the loss of volume in the philtrum (area of vertical indentation between the nose and the upper lip).

Moisture

Don't expect lip fillers to turn you into Angelina Jolie. One thing you can expect is pumping up the lips also plumps up the lips! If you have chronically dry lips, having an injection is like a deep-hydrating treat. That's because common fillers, made from hyaluronic acid, helps to keep skin hydrated.

Common Lip Filler Requests

To correct lips starting to thin, down turning at the corners, or lines above the lips
Clients want fuller lips and a pout to match Angelina!
To correct small and uneven lips
Though a much smaller group, some men are not happy with the volume or shape of their lips

How long will Dermal Fillers last?

The compatibility of these products with the dermis means that no pre-treatment skin test is required. They can last between 6 - 8 months, but duration differs from person to person, and from one area to the other. The latest technology from some Dermal Filler brands can also now produce longer lasting results between 9 - 18 months, depending on the area treated.

Top up and follow up treatments will be required to maintain the desired degree of correction. Each treatment course will be charged for individually.

Risks and Side Effects

After treatment some common injection-related reactions might occur, typically resolving spontaneously within 1 - 2 days:

Redness
Swelling - for up to a week, but immediate application of ice usually reduces this affect. Swelling can be more pronounced in the lips, and is part of the normal course of events - it normally resolves within a week, but could take a little longer.
Pain
Bruising
Itching
Tenderness

Rare side effects include:

Low grade allergy that amounts to redness/papules lasting 3 - 4 weeks, which can usually be covered up with light makeup. It can consist of swelling and firmness around the implant site. The risk of allergic reaction is about 1/2000 and can occur at the time of injection, or up to 4 weeks later.
Redness, tenderness and rarely acne-formations. These reactions have either started a few days after the injection or a delay of 2 - 4 weeks. They have been described as mild to moderate and self-limiting, with an average duration of 2 weeks.
Very rarely prolonged firmness, abscess formation or discolouration at the implant site may occur. These reactions can appear weeks to months after treatment, but do resolve with time.
Very rarely the treated area may form a scab. The scab will drop off but may leave a permanent scar.

If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, treatment is not recommended.

Aftercare

For you to achieve maximum benefit from treatment, and to ensure your safety, there are a few instructions for you to follow after treatment:

Immediately after treatment, there may be slight redness, swelling, tenderness and an itching sensation in the treated area. This is a normal result of the injection. The inconvenience is temporary and generally disappears in a few days.
Apply an ice pack to the treated area; this will reduce any initial swelling.
If you are having lip treatment the initial swelling may last longer. It can last for about a week and the lips may look uneven during this time. The results directly after treatment should not be seen as the final result.
Avoid touching the area for 6 hours
Avoid washing the area for 6 hours
Avoid applying makeup to the area for 6 hours
Until the initial swelling and redness have resolved, do not expose the treated area to intense heat (e.g. solarium and sunbathing) or extreme cold.
Avoid laser treatment, chemical peels or similar procedures as they may elicit an inflammatory reaction.
If you suffer from cold sores, there is a risk that the needle punctures could contribute to another eruption of cold sores.
If you are taking aspirin, anticoagulant therapy, or any similar medication, these may increase the bruising and bleeding at the injection site.

If you have any concerns following treatment please do not hesitate to contact the practice on 0191 286 3398 for advice. If out of hours, please call the emergency phone on 0759 615 4619.