Dermal fillers replace lost volume and enhance the contours of the face. Skilfully injected, these fillers can smooth frown lines, smile lines and scars. As a result, your face has a softer, more youthful appearance.
Instant Smoothing & Enhancing of Contours
As we age, our skin loses volume and this, together with loss of elasticity and deterioration in skin tone and surface texture contributes to the classic triad of the ageing signs of the face.
Address Descent, Deterioration & Deflation
The issue of 'deflation' and to an extent, 'descent' can be addressed by the careful use of dermal fillers. They were originally designed to soften the appearance of scars, but over time have come to be used increasingly for facial rejuvenation in the aesthetic industry.
Filler Types
There are many different fillers available nowadays and they can be categorised in a variety of ways, such as how long they last, type, and the area to be treated.
How long do they last?
Temporary
Hyaluronic Acid (HLA), Non-animal derived
Semi-permanent
Hydroxyapetite. Stimulates collagen formation
Permanent
Silicon
Type
Hyaluronic Acid
Temporary
Hydroxyapetite
Semi-permanent
Collagen
Semi-permanent
Silicon
Only used in encapsulated form for body implants now. Breast, buttock, calf etc
Area to be treated
Deep Volumising
Cheeks, jaw sculpting
Medium
Nasolabial folds, Marionette lines
Superficial Treatments
Air brushing, glabella, peri-oral lines (lip wrinkles)
The most common are the Hyaluronic Acid fillers like Juvederm®, Restylane® , Teoxane™ or Belotero®. These are derived from non–animal sources. Other types can be derived from plant sources or from algae. There are also collagen derived fillers but these are far less common now and have fallen out of favour because of the long term side effects.
From the categories in the table you can see there are a particular group of dermal fillers which stimulate collagen. To an extent, they all do, but some are specifically designed to do just that. These are the Elanesse®, Radiesse® or Sculptra®. These could also be grouped as semi-permanent and the effect they have cannot be reversed.
Deep volumising fillers e.g. Voluma® or Volux™ by Allergan or Belotero Intense® by MERZ are very useful for filling the ‘split’ in the cheek fat pad which can be disproportionately ageing. It doesn’t take much to restore a more ‘youthful’ appearance or, more importantly, a less tired one.
Essential Info
Subtlety is Everything
You should not look like you have had fillers. My aim is to restore what was there before, but to do it in an age appropriate way. Nobody really wants to look like they’re trying too hard to look younger. Moreover, too much filler can actually make you look older.
Artistry & Safety
I sculpt faces, real faces with clay in my spare time. I also study real examples and take a long time in assessment before treating with dermal fillers. I use that ability to combine artistry with safety. There’s no better way.
As with all rejuvenating treatments, the most important thing is to choose an experienced practitioner. Problems with fillers are rare, but when they happen they need to be recognised and dealt with immediately.
Over time the dermal filler is completely reabsorbed by the body and is replaced by water. Because of this replacement by water, the effect wears off gradually. Depending on the type of filler used, the effect will last from 6 to 12 months.
Prices are from £350 for lips, Nasolabial lines and marionette lines, from £250 for fine upper lip wrinkles, and from £350 for cheek filler.
Dermal fillers priced here as sole procedure, ask me about different rates in combined packages.
