Dermal Fillers

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With the evolution of new techniques and advanced materials, facial rejuvenation no longer requires extensive surgery and downtime. Dermal fillers are cosmetic injectables used to volumise and contour areas of the face to create a fuller, smoother and more youthful appearance that can last for many months. When it comes to fillers, most patients think immediately of the big lips and prominent cheeks they see in the media or on the street. The reality is that when fillers are done well, the result is a fresher, more rejuvenated you!

How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

Dermal fillers are versatile products that can treat a range of cosmetic concerns and be administered to many different areas of the face. The fillers used by the cosmetic dermatologists who consult at Northside Dermatology and cosmetic nurses are formulated with a synthetic form of a substance that naturally occurs in the body and can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water. When injected under the skin, fillers temporarily restore support, volume and hydration to the face to enhance features or gently soften unwanted lines.

What Can be Achieved With Dermal Fillers?

The overall effects that can be achieved with dermal fillers include:

• Improving a perpetually tired or stressed expression
• Slimming and shaping the face to improve facial proportions
• Softening the contours of the face to complement feminine features
• Creating a more chiselled contour to complement masculine features
• Enhancing attractiveness and youthfulness

Before & After

Before and after photos following 2ml of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers for facial volume and contouring 

Before and after following dermal filler treatment to the cheeks, jawline and chin. Note the overall improvement in the “tired” appearance and facial proportion.

Actual patient of Northside Dermatology. Photos are taken with our standardised clinical photography system and published with patient’s consent. Individual results may vary. A thorough consultation is required prior.

Before and after filler treatment to jowls and lower facial contour.

Actual patient of Northside Dermatology. Photos are taken with our standardised clinical photography system and published with patient’s consent. Individual results may vary. A thorough consultation is required prior.

Before and after filler treatment to temples, cheeks, nasolabial fold and chin.

Actual patient of Northside Dermatology. Photos are taken with our standardised clinical photography system and published with patient’s consent. Individual results may vary. A thorough consultation is required prior.

Before and after images of hyaluronic acid filler and anti wrinkle injections

Before and after images of hyaluronic acid filler treatment for “smoker’s lines”

What Specific Areas Can Be Treated?

Dermal fillers can be used in specific areas to:

• Lift the eyes and eyebrows
• Add volume cheeks for a more lifted and youthful contour
• Reduce hollowness or dark shadows under the eyes (tear troughs)
• Reshape the chin and jawline for a more masculine or feminine appearance
• Create a more rounded, youthful appearance in the temple area
• Enhance naturally thin lips or lips that have lost volume due to ageing
• Define lip borders
• Smooth lines around the lips (smoker’s lines)
• Correct the downturned corner of the lips
• Improve deep creases around the mouth (nasolabial folds or “laugh lines”)

Often, the optimal location in which to place fillers to address your concerns is different than you might expect, and a treatment plan that combines different types of injectables (dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections and/or fat dissolving injections) often yields the best result.

B and A photos 2 weeks after lip filler

What Does Treatment With Dermal Fillers Involve?

In a consultation before your procedure, your clinician will develop a treatment plan tailored to you by carefully examining your facial structure and the dynamics of your facial expressions, and enquiring about your areas of concern (e.g. marionette lines, tear trough), your expectations, your treatment goals (e.g. appearing less tired or less saggy) and your budget.

During the treatment, your clinician will clean your skin and mark the treatment area. Facial structures and important safety landmarks are mapped out to ensure the injections are safely and accurately placed. Your clinician will then slowly administer the filler using a combination of needles and cannulas. The treatment area is kept sterile throughout the procedure. Most patients require little downtime after receiving dermal filler injections.

Are Dermal Filler Injections Painful?

Topical, local and regional anaesthetics are used to minimise pain during the procedure. The filler material contains local anaesthetic to further reduce discomfort. Your clinician injects the product slowly to ensure your safety and comfort are maintained. Most patients tolerate filler injections well, feeling only a mild pinching sensation from the needles and cannulas.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Dermal Fillers?

The most common side effects are mild and related to the injection itself, including redness, swelling, tenderness, small bruises and/or lumps at the injection sites.

Rarer complications can include infection, a reaction to filler material and blockage of a blood vessel. All side effects and potential complications will be discussed in detail prior to your procedure.

How Are the Side Effects Associated with Dermal Fillers Treated?

• Swelling: It’s best to have filler treatment four weeks before an important event to avoid filler-induced swelling. The degree of swelling associated with filler varies, often depending on the depth of injection. Some injection points are more superficial, therefore more likely to induce swelling. Deeper injection points are less likely to cause significant swelling. The swelling generally spontaneously settles. If desired, oral prescription medication can be used to settle it more rapidly.
• Bruising: If bruising occurs and is a concern, you can contact us for complimentary vascular laser treatment which quickly resolves the bruise.
• Lumpiness: This generally resolves within a couple of weeks as the filler material integrates into the tissue. If it persistent, massaging the area can help. Alternatively, a small amount of dissolving enzyme can be injected into the area to dissolve the lump.
• Infection: Infection is rare but may occur. It can be treated by taking oral antibiotics and dissolving the filler material.
• Reaction to Filler Material: This is uncommon as the filler material is similar to a substance that naturally occurs in the skin. When it does occur, the filler can be dissolved with an enzyme injection. Any remaining inflammation can be treated with oral medications and anti-inflammatory injections.
• Arterial Blockage: This is a rare side effect that we take very seriously. If the filler material is injected into a vessel, the affected area will need to be treated with filler-dissolving enzyme immediately. Your clinician monitors the treatment area closely during your procedure for signs of blood compromise. Specific signs to look for are blanching of the skin and pustular changes on the skin. A detailed knowledge of anatomy, safe injection planes and specific injection techniques can help minimise the chance of intra-arterial injection. A proactive approach and skills in complication management are essential in the rare event of this complication.

Are Dermal Fillers Safe?

At Northside Dermatology, only high-quality fillers that are scientifically proven to be safe, effective and reasonably long-lasting are used. Risks are significantly minimised with treatment by an experienced specialist dermatologist. If you wish to reverse the effects of your treatment for any reason, the filler can be dissolved with injections of an enzyme that accelerates the breakdown of the product.

What Should I Do After My Filler Injection?

• Avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours to reduce the chance of swelling
• Avoid excessively heated environments such as saunas or hot yoga
• Avoid sleeping directly on your treatment area (e.g. face down)
• Avoid massage for 48 hours
• Avoid putting makeup over the injection site until the next day
• Depending on the area treated, you may have numbness in your lip from the filler anaesthetic. This can last for a few hours post-injection. Make sure you avoid hot drinks until the numbness wears off.
• Look for any signs of skin blanching or pustules on the skin; notify your dermatologist immediately if you experience these side effects

How Long Does the Product Last?

Dermal filler injections are not permanent treatments. Eventually, the product is broken down and absorbed by the body. Depending on the type of filler used, the area treated and your lifestyle habits, results may last from 9 to 24 months. Your clinician will give you an estimate of how long you can expect to see the benefits of your dermal fillers during your consultation.

Ongoing maintenance treatments will be necessary to continue seeing results. Though fillers cannot prevent the ageing process, they can help delay the onset of folds and wrinkles and allow you to enjoy a refreshed and youthful profile for longer.

Can Anyone Have Dermal Filler Injections?

Many people are candidates for dermal filler injections. Contraindications to dermal filler include:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Previous adverse reaction to the product or local anaesthetic agent
• Active infection at the injection site
• Unrealistic expectations

Who Performs the Dermal Filler Injections at Northside Dermatology?

Dermal filler injections are performed by cosmetic dermatologist Dr Liu and our cosmetic nurse Anadelle.

What Is the Dermatologist’s Philosophy When it Comes to Facial Rejuvenation Filler?

The treatment philosophy is to move away from the emphasis on erasing certain lines and wrinkles to focus on delivering an overall improvement in facial contours and balance. In the hands of a skilled injector, dermal fillers can create natural-looking, age-appropriate results that enhance your features without looking overly “done” or artificial.

How Much Do Dermal Filler Injections Cost?

The cost of dermal filler injections depends on your individual needs and goals, as well as the treatment required to achieve your desired outcome. Your clinician will advise you of the cost of your procedure during your consultation.

The end result achieved through filler injections is dependant on placing the right amount of the right product in the right area in a safe manner. It takes skill and an eye for aesthetics to achieve that. We advise never to choose your injector based on the cost of filler per mL.

Why Us?

Because these treatments are so unique to the individual, it’s essential to choose an injector with considerable experience performing cosmetic injections and advanced knowledge of facial aesthetics. The best results are achieved by injectors who possess an artistic eye and are skilled in facial assessment and complication management. To find out whether dermal fillers are right for you, call us on 03 8582 8688 to schedule a consultation or book an appointment with Dr Liu or our cosmetic nurse online