By now you’ve probably heard of Kylie Jenner, half-sister of Hollywood reality TV start Kim Kardashian. Her lips have created quite a stir in the industry, so we decided to talk about dermal filler, the must have aesthetic injectable.
Dermal fillers are a manmade, synthetic substance, made up of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of our own skin that that is responsible for retaining moisture and keeping it smooth. It is found in large amounts throughout our body when we are young but as we get older the body’s production of hyaluronic acid begins to deplete causing our skin to age.
Dermal filler is a safe and popular injectable treatment which can lift and revolumise the skin, restoring facial contours to form a more youthful complexion. They can also smooth lines and wrinkles, firm key facial structures and define their shape, such as the cheeks or lips.
Both dermal filler and wrinkle relaxing treatments can be used complementary to one another.
The aim of lip reshaping and enhancement is often misunderstood. Women are sometimes fearful of being left with lips that are distorted or look like the much mocked ‘trout pout’. We know that the best results that make our clients happy are subtle changes which aim to give you symmetrical and balanced, natural looking lips. A Dermal filler is carefully placed into the lips. The aim is to enhance the natural size and shape of the lips and can add fullness for those wishing to increased volume. The majority of our clients felt that lip fillers would be more painful than they actually felt them to be during treatment but a numbing cream can be applied 20-30 minutes before injecting to ease pain. Also, some products like Juvederm Ultra contain a local anaesthetic to help reduce the sensation of pain whilst injecting.
Prior to treatment you will be seen by a doctor for a face to face consultation to discuss the aims of treatment and possible complications. When you are happy to go ahead with it, your skin will be cleansed and a needle will inject a small amount of dermal filler under the skin.
You will notice results immediately, however after treatment you may experience some redness which is likely to disappear within several hours. Any swelling should settle within a week. Mild bruising is not uncommon and you may find it helpful to apply a cold compress/ice pack after treatment to minimise any bruising and swelling.
Other possible complications will be discussed fully during your consultation.
The treated areas should not be exposed to intense heat on the same day, for example saunas/steam rooms/hot baths. Avoid high intensity exercise immediately following treatment, heavy alcohol consumption on the same day and avoid touching or rubbing the areas injected.
It is not a permanent treatment as the product is absorbed by your body over time. On average, dermal fillers can last anything between 6-18 months depending on the treated area, amount and type of product used.