When talking about injectable fillers, most people are referring to hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a type of glycosaminoglycan, or sugar, that naturally occurs in the human body in places like connective tissues, joints and the eye. It also dominates the spaces occurring between cells in the skin.
In the cosmetic world, it is manufactured using genetically modified bacteria to generate human-grade hyaluronic acid which can be modified to suit a specific purpose and then injected. It is non-toxic and is gradually broken down by the body. The rate of breakdown of the product is determined by the type of product used and the location and volume in which it is placed.
A great deal of the ageing process in the face can be attributed to the loss of volume and change in the distribution of volume. One of the most common uses for injectable fillers is to compensate for these changes and restore a more youthful appearance. Temples, cheeks, tear troughs, jowls, deep grooves or furrows are all targeted when using filler for this purpose.
Filler is also used to enhance a patients concept of their own ideal beauty. In these circumstances, subtle lip augmentation, camouflaging of tear troughs and reshaping of a chin can have a dynamic effect on appearance by creating a balance between different aspects of a face.
The possibilities are endless in the hands of an experienced practitioner.
Any patient who is fit and well can potentially have injectable fillers. There are, of course, contraindications and as such, a thorough medical history is taken. Conditions such as bleeding problems, connective tissue disorders, and active infections might prevent you from having treatment. Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not proceed with treatment. Suitability for treatment will be assessed during your consultation.
There is no real downtime with fillers and you can return to nearly all normal activities straight away. Heavy exercise, however, should be avoided for 24 hours. Sometimes, treatment with injectable fillers can result in mild bruising and swelling. The severity of this varies from person to person and is dependent on the area treated. When mild, these side effects can last for 24-48 hours but can be easily disguised with makeup.
Making an appointment for the first time for any cosmetic procedure can be daunting. It is hard to know where to start and what to expect. At Canvas Plastic Surgery, we try to make the process as simple as possible.
When you call to make a booking, our experienced staff will ask you some questions to ensure we direct you to the person most appropriate for your care. An appointment can then be made for you. You will be asked to complete an online medical questionnaire to help us get a picture of your general health.
On the day of your appointment, you will have a consultation and facial assessment with Plastic Surgeon Mr Mathew Lee. The aim of this is to give you advice on how best to address your concerns. You will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and discuss possible results. If suitable, your treatment can be performed on the same day.
Numbing creams and ice may be used to help make injections more comfortable. Many fillers, however, contain local anaesthetic to ensure the procedure is as painless as possible.
Following your treatment, you will be given information on aftercare and what to do to look after your result in both the short and long term. You will also be given information on who to contact should there be a problem. All patients are encouraged to attend a followup appointment to evaluate the result after a period of 1-2 weeks.
The hyaluronic acid used in fillers is non-toxic. Unfortunately, if it is injected into the wrong place, there can be very serious consequences. There are reported cases of filler being injected into blood vessels with subsequent skin loss. In rare circumstances, loss of vision or blindness has also been reported. The risks are low in the hands of an experienced injector, but more importantly, an experienced injector will give you advice on what to look out for if something is going wrong and what to do in this situation. All patients should be made aware of these safety precautions prior to having treatment and all patients should have instructions on what to do if there is a problem with treatment.
Dermal fillers attract a great deal of negative attention due to overuse and misuse resulting in artificial and overstuffed appearances. This is entirely the fault of the injector and prescriber of the products and is also completely avoidable. The purpose of your consultation with our clinicians is not just to inject a product for you. It is to perform an assessment of your face and pair that to what you are trying to achieve. You will be given advice on which product to use, and the volume needed to give you a natural but appreciable result. More filler can be added if necessary, however, filler can also be dissolved if the effects are unsatisfactory. There is no reason why you need to settle for a suboptimal result.