An injectable dermal filler has become the favorite alternative to a facelift for many women.

A radical treatment that stops short of the surgeons knife - dermal fillers can soften your lines and wrinkles with minimum downtime. 

Dermal fillers are based either on hyaluronic acid or collagen and can also be used to add volume when muscles tone is lost with age.  As a result fillers have become very popular anti aging treatments in recent years.

So - if you're not worried about needles and might consider a dermal filler - here's ten things you need to know:

How do I know they are safe? Hyaluronic acid is well tested in general medicine where it has been widely used in cateract operations among other things. It is estimated that more than thirty million patients around the world have been treated with some form of hyaluronic acid so its track record is good.

How does it work?  Fillers come in a range of consistencies and are injected using very fine needles into or under the skin where the wrinkles and sagging are found. Generally, the thicker fillers will be used for the deepest wrinkles and folds and will be injected more deeply into the tissue of your face.

What are the most common fillers? Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm are the most commonly used hyularonic acid fillers.  There is more experience with these products and they are known to be generally reliable and effective.  Restylane SubQ is the thickest gel filler which is used to replace lost fat in gaunt cheeks and is injected just under the muscle in the cheek. Restylane and Hydrafill are used to fill out medium to fine lines and wrinkles. Perlane is a product for deeper wrinkles and Restylane Lipp is a lip filler for restoring plumpness to thinned lips.

Will it hurt? You may find the procedure relatively painless or mildly uncomfortable depending on your own pain threshold and the type of pain killer used. Treatments around the nose or lip areas are usually more painful. If you don't like needles - it's definitely not for you.

How long does it take? It all depends on the type of filler used and the number of areas treated. Typically it will take around 30 minutes to an hour.

Can I go straight back to work? Recovery time can be from a few hours to a few days. However, most people find that they can return straight back to work after treatment with dermal fillers.

Are there any side effects? Expect mild bruising, redness and swelling which can happen around the site of the injection. Redness and bruising will disappear in around 2 - 3 days possibly lasting longer around the lips where there is little flesh and the skin is tender.

What happens if it goes wrong? Hyaluronic acid based fillers can be removed by the use with an enzyme - hyaluronidase - to correct problems or unwanted results. Hyaluronidase has the effect of dissolving the filler within a couple of days.

What about allergic reactions? These were more likely with the older collagen-based fillers. Hyaluronic acid is more likely to be compatible with your body than bovine collagen, and so there is less risk of an allergic reaction. However, there are newer collagen fillers around now which have a better safety record.  Be careful if you're prone to cold sores or blisters in the treated area as filler injections may cause them to break out again.

How much will it cost? Restylane generally costs in the range $400-600 per session and is one of the more expensive but most effective of the dermal fillers on the market.

Finally - don't forget that dermal fillers will gradually be absorbed by the body and you'll need further treatments to maintain your younger look.

Share This