DERMAL FILLERS
As we age, we lose some of the fat that lies just beneath the skin. The skin itself can lose elasticity causing the skin to sag, and this leads to more fine lines and wrinkles appearing.
Dermal fillers can be used to plump thin lips, enhance cheek contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and reconstruct contour deformities in the face. In some cases, soft tissue fillers will not provide you with the outcome you want, and speaking to a cosmetic plastic surgeon may be warranted.
At Dr Rachel Tunney Aesthetics in Ringwood, we use a variety of Teoxane dermal fillers to achieve the best results for our patients. We offer a free consultation so that you can discuss your goals and concerns with us. We will then recommend the best filler for your individual needs.
You can read more about the fantastic range of dermal fillers we use here.
Most fillers currently used are made of cross-linked hyaluronic acid. The degree of cross-linking determines the consistency of the filler. For certain areas, a thicker, gel-like filler will provide more structural definition, and in others, a thinner, more watery consistency is useful. As hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, there is little reaction to the fillers, and they are naturally broken down over six to 12 months.
After a thorough assessment, appropriate injection sites are marked on the skin, which may be numbed using topical anaesthesia prior to injection. A fine needle will deliver the dermal filler quickly and precisely, and the area will usually be massaged for a few moments after, to ensure good positioning and spread of the filler.
The results are immediate, and full recovery is usual within a few days. As with any cosmetic procedure maintaining overall skin health will enhance the outcome of the dermal fillers and various skincare options can also be discussed during your consultation.
Consultation takes 30 minutes
Treatment, if suitable, takes 30-60 minutes
Minimal downtime
Results seen immediately, but improve over the next 2-4 weeks
Treatment lasts for 6-18 months depending on the product used
Topical anaesthesia may be required
Complications are rare; allergy, bruising, infection, vascular compromise
WHAT TO EXPECT
Before your treatment
After your medical consultation, we will discuss some pre-appointment advice that will help ensure the best possible results for your treatment.
We prefer that you can arrive at your appointment without make-up, as make-up left on the skin can pose an infection risk.
The treatment takes around 30-60 minutes, but it is best to leave plenty of time for your appointment. You are welcome to sit in our comfy waiting room before and after your treatment if you would like.
During your treatment
We begin by thoroughly cleansing your skin and marking the treatment area. We use small needles, gentle techniques and cannulas (blunt flexible needles), so discomfort is minimal. Our dermal filler products all contain a local anaesthetic, so once injected, it will start to numb from the inside. We use topical numbing cream for some of our treatments, which will be applied beforehand.
You should see the outcome of your dermal filler treatment on the day, but it is not uncommon for you to feel some lumpiness or a strange sensation. This will settle over the coming hours/days. We then cleanse the skin again and apply some soothing and moisturising aftercare balm.
After your treatment
Here is some simple aftercare advice to help minimise adverse effects and maximise your outcome:
- Avoid heavy, sweaty exercise, hot showers, saunas, and steam rooms for 24 hours after treatment. This will help reduce the risk of swelling and bruising.
- Keep the treated area clean to help reduce the risk of infection.
- You will be offered a review appointment two weeks after the treatment. This will allow us to assess your progress and answer any questions you may have.
TREATMENT PRICES
At Dr Rachel Tunney Aesthetics we use Allergan Botox for anti-wrinkle treatments, which is a prescription medication. As such, it is essential that you have a complete medical consultation prior to being offered this treatment.
Areas treated include: crow’s feet, frown lines, forehead lines, gummy smile, bunny lines, brow lift, chin dimpling, masseter muscle for jaw slimming and teeth grinding, platysmal bands in the neck.
During your consultation, we will advise which treatment will be most suitable for your concerns.
Barcode lines around the lips
Mouth to chin lines
Nose to mouth lines
Under-eye hollows
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will I end up with a 'trout pout'?
We favour a natural, subtle enhancement for all our treatments. With soft tissue fillers, we start small and build up gradually and this allows us to see how your body adapts to the presence of the filler.
Sometimes it can take two or three treatments to get the look you are happy with. An extensive knowledge of facial anatomy allows us to know exactly where to place the filler to avoid the dreaded ‘trout pout’, and because we always start small, we avoid the risk of overfilling the lips which can make them protrude further.
Do I have to have a consultation before treatment?
Yes, because dermal fillers are medical devices and there are risks involved. We need to ensure that dermal filler treatment is the right treatment for you, and that you understand the risks, benefits and alternatives to the treatment.
A consultation is also helpful in providing you with a comprehensive treatment plan to help you address your concers.
Does the treatment hurt?
All of the filler products we use contain a local anaesthetic called lignocaine. This acts on the tissues to provide some numbing once the filler has been injected.
We also use a cannula for many of our dermal filler treatments, which helps with comfort as well as safety.
To help reduce pain on the skin, we often use a local anaesthetic cream which is applied for 20-30 minutes before the procedure.
Most treatments are well tolerated as the needles are small and our techniques are gentle.
Am I suitable for dermal fillers?
An adult of any race or gender can have dermal filler also long as they are medically and psychologically assessed as suitable.
We will also inform you during your consultation if we feel your concern would bebetter treated with a different modality, such as Morpheus 8 or anti-wrinkle treatment.
In some cases, seeking a surgical opinion is more likely to help you achieve the result you are looking for.
Those who cannot have a filler treatment include:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- History of allergy to hyaluronic acid or lignocaine/lidocaine
- Patients who have hypertrophic or keloid scarring
- Active infection either systemically or over the injection points
What areas do you treat?
We can use dermal fillers to treat the following areas, to enhance your natural features, replace lost volume or correct asymmetry:
- Cheeks
- Chin
- Jaw line
- Jowl area
- Marionette lines (mouth to chin)
- Nasolabial fold (nose to mouth lines)
- Tear trough (under-eye hollows)
- Lips
- Perioral lines (barcode lines around the mouth)
Will I have a lot of swelling and bruising?
It is very normal after any injectable procedure to have some degree of swelling, and we can never guarantee there will be no bruising. However, particular areas swell more than others, e.g. the lips, and some areas or treatments may be more prone to bruising.
We wouldn’t recommend having a soft tissue filler treatment the day or two before a big event, but most of the time, any swelling and bruising will resolve within a few days.
You can help with any swelling and bruising by following the aftercare advice given to you at your treatment.
Can I have lip filler if I get cold sores?
Having soft tissue filler around the lip area can cause a breakout of cold sores, even if you have never had them before (a very small chance of around 1%).
If you have a history of cold sores, you may be recommended to have a course of antiviral medication before your treatment. As we are medical doctors we can prescribe this for you.
If you do end up with cold sores following a lip filler treatment, rest assured that the majority will resolve without any treatment in two to three weeks.