Dermal Fillers

The most popular fillers in the UK contain Hyaluronic Acid (HA). They are generally preferred because they are:

• Safe
• It helps to treat a variety of areas
• Little to no risks and recovery period
• Ease of administration

The various HA fillers differ in concentration, formulation and degree of cross-linkage. Such features affect their duration of action and the amount of swelling after the procedure. 

Most HA fillers now contain lidocaine to reduce pain as well as the need for additional anaesthetic.

Radiesse® is a long lasting filler. It is also popular for particular treatments and also gives great structural support. Moreover, it helps your body to produce new collagen.

The filling effect is apparent after the procedure, and the treated area may be red and tender with some swelling. As there is a risk of bruising, this may start to appear following the procedure. However, bruises will be more obvious in the following days.

Certain medications and supplements thin the blood making bruising more likely such as:

• Aspirin
• Vitamin E
• St John’s wort
• Ginkgo
• Evening Primrose oil
• Garlic
• Feverfew 
• Ginseng 

Experts at Cosmedocs advise avoiding these at least 2 weeks before your treatment. 

• Avoid alcohol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, at least 2 days before your treatments.
• You may take Arnica tablets or gel 2 days prior to treatment and continue it afterwards for 2-3 days.
• Ice packs just after the procedure will reduce swelling and constrict blood vessels, reducing any further bruising.
• You may also use warm compression after a couple of days if bruising has developed. This method will help to speed up the healing process.
• Pineapple and papaya, topical and dietary vitamin C will also help the healing process as it helps build collagen around vessels.
• You may also wear light mineral makeup to hide bruising and redness. However, it is not suitable to use makeup right after your treatment.

Most dermal filler treatments usually have no side effects or risks. However, there may be initial swelling, redness and soreness that usually goes away on its own in few days. 

In case of bruising, you can expect it to take up to 14 days to heal. Therefore, we advise planning your dermal fillers treatment before an important event.

Uneven Results

An expert doctor will try to avoid any asymmetry during the procedure. Still, an uneven or unwanted result can be corrected using more face fillers.

Bumps or Lumps:

Another rare side effect of face fillers is lumps or bumps. A firm massage during and after the procedure can smooth out their look. 

If you continue to see these bumps, your doctor may use the dissolving enzyme to break down the fillers.

Below is a list of rare but more severe side effects:

Tissue Necrosis

Injected filler can obstruct the blood supply to skin tissue causing ischaemia which can lead to necrosis. It may occur immediately after injection or hours later. Trained injectors are better able to manage such rare side effects.

Granulomas

These are nodules that may appear months or years after treatment, and they are more common with permanent fillers. They arise when the body reacts to the filler material by flushing it out. Corticosteroid injections or excision are usually preferred to treat granulomas.

Infection

As with any cosmetic treatment, there is always a chance of infection. It is possible to reduce the risk by cleaning and disinfecting the treatment area. 

It is also essential to use sterilised equipment for the procedure.

Furthermore, we also advise taking antibiotics as soon as possible to treat the infection.

Scarring 

Although rare, a scar can form if:

• There has been any infection
•  If a person has a history of hypertrophic or keloidal scarring.

This information will be collected whilst taking a medical history.

Dermal filler treatments may be painful for some people. However, the fillers usually contain an anaesthetic that helps to reduce pain.
Secondly, the use of a topical numbing cream can lessen the pain further.
Besides, different face fillers treatments need different injection techniques as well as time. Hence, they slightly take longer than a Botox treatment.

Hyaluronic acid fillers usually come in 0.5 and 1ml syringes. The volume of dermal fillers needed depends upon the area that needs volume.

Radiesse® or Calcium Hydroxylapatite is available in:

•  0.3
• 0.8
• 1.5ml 

These types of fillers give a semi permanent result where there is a need for more structure. 

After the procedure, the practitioner will massage the area to smooth any visible lumps. You may gently massage the lumps or bumps at home with the tips of your fingers.
Usually, the filler settles down within 2-3 weeks and feels ‘normal’. If you continue to see a bump, then you must see your doctor to address the issue.

It is very rare to be allergic to dermal fillers. An allergic reaction manifests itself as redness, swelling, and itching at the injection site.
You may experience more acute symptoms, such as breathing difficulties, if you have a severe allergic reaction. If this occurs, get medical attention right away.
Anti-histamines and steroids can help to treat such complications and side effects by your doctor.

It is essential not to touch, rub or massage the treated area right after your procedure. Moreover, you must also strictly follow the aftercare guidelines to avoid accidents such as ‘filler migration’. 

There are a few things that you can do to prevent such an event, such as:

• Avoid lying down for 4-6 hours right after your treatment
• Do not indulge in heavy exercise or workouts for the first few days.
• Keep your head elevated when you sleep at night.

It is very unusual to be able to ‘see’ the filler. HA fillers are colourless gel and not visible when injected correctly. It may be possible to see the product as a bluish skin discolouration if your doctor injects the filler too close to the skin. This can be managed with compression and sometimes an injection to break some of the product down.

Once the swelling subsides, the filler takes 2-3 weeks to settle and feel more like the surrounding skin/lips.

Usually, people ‘look better’ without obvious changes to their looks. Still, good practitioners will help restore and refresh your overall appearance. They will also ensure that the enhancements look natural and do not look fake or ‘too much’ to others.

Everyone is different, and so the amount and frequency of dermal fillers treatment also vary. Most HA face fillers used last from 6 to 12 months.
Besides, since face fillers also help promote collagen production, you may not need the treatment too often.
However, some people may break down the product faster than others and may need regular maintenance.

Usually, this is fine if there have been no complications. However, the Dermal Fillers London practitioner will want to know the following:

• When was the last treatment carried out?
• Which product did your doctor use for the previous treatment?
• Why do you desire a different filler?