Dermal Filler Treatment: A Guide To Your First Treatment

Dermal fillers are a popular choice for anyone wanting to alter their appearance without resorting to unnecessary surgery. It’s a non-invasive procedure that adds volume to your skin and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. 

But before deciding if dermal fillers are right for you, it’s a good idea to understand everything about them, from what to do pre-treatment right the way through to aftercare tips and expected results.

We’ve written this easy guide outlining all the facts that you should know about a dermal filler treatment and how they can help your problem areas and increase confidence.

What Are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers can be used on your face and neck to add volume and fill lines and wrinkles. They are an injectable gel-like substance, made primarily of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in your body. 

When injected into loose, sagging or wrinkled skin, dermal fillers help to plump, lift and tighten your skin, leaving you looking refreshed and more youthful.

How Do They Work?

Dermal fillers treat fine lines and wrinkles as well as sagging skin. They work to fill in areas of your skin restoring any lost volume caused by ageing. They have the additional benefit of boosting your skin’s supply of hyaluronic acid, so your revitalised appearance will last longer.

A dermal filler treatment will renew and add volume to your skin, instantly diminishing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. They provide a natural softer look that won’t affect your facial expression or movement. 

Results can be seen immediately but are not permanent and will need to be repeated every 18 months – 2 years.

What They Can Do

Dermal fillers are very versatile to work with and can be used on many areas of your face and neck, including;

• Cheeks – Cheek fillers can be used to help lift and shape your face. We can create a more youthful and balanced appearance that enhances your natural beauty. 
• Lips – Dermal fillers can be used on your lips giving you more volume, reducing the signs of ageing and adjusting the shape of your lips. We can re-shape, re-plump and restore your perfect pout giving you fuller, firmer and more shapely lips. They can also reduce lines around the lip area too.
• Forehead – Dermal fillers can be used to reduce the appearance of static lines visible even when your face is at rest. The hyaluronic acid fills in these lines and diminishes them.
• Chin Or Nose – Dermal fillers are an effective non-surgical option for sculpting or reshaping areas such as your nose, jawline and chin. You can read about facial sculpting in our previous blog
• Neck – If your neck is showing signs of ageing then you can choose to have this area rejuvenated with a dermal filler treatment. The injections can help to restore volume, fill in wrinkles and plump up your skin so turkey neck is a thing of the past!

What Do I Need To Do Pre-Treatment?

Follow this pre-treatment advice to ensure the best result and speedy recovery from your dermal filler treatment appointment.

Do

• Prep Your Skin – Look after your skin before the treatment, keep it in the best condition by moisturising and avoid anything that might damage your pores and cause skin sensitivity. For example picking at spots, sunburn or over-exfoliating.
• Use Suncream – This will help keep your skin protected. You can’t have dermal fillers on sunburnt skin. 
• Stay Hydrated – This will help with soft tissue swelling and minimise bruising. Did you know that studies have also suggested that bromelain, naturally found in pineapple, can also help with this?

Don’t

• Drink Alcohol – You mustn’t drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before your treatment.
• Take Blood Thinners – These include aspirin, ibuprofen and vitamin E as well as certain food supplements such as fish oil, liquorice, garlic, ginger and green tea. You should avoid them for at least one week before your treatment. This will help reduce bruising and reduce recovery time.
• Sit Out In The Sun – Avoid prolonged sun exposure that could damage your skin.

What To Expect During The Treatment

The injection itself only takes a few moments. We inject, massage and evaluate the area being treated. This may feel slightly uncomfortable, but not painful. A skin-numbing cream can be administered before any injections start. 

If needed, an additional filler may be used to make sure that you’re happy with your results and that it meets your expectations. Your procedure may last anywhere between 15-60 minutes, depending on the size, location and quantity of area being treated.

What To Expect After Treatment

The aftercare and recovery of your dermal filler treatment will be minimal because it’s a non-invasive treatment. You might experience slight discomfort immediately afterwards and you might have a little swelling and bruising at the injection site, but this will subside over the first 24-48 hours.

Here are some things that you should do to help with your recovery and reduce any downtime: 

• Use suncream and keep moisturising.
• Apply a cold compress or ice pack to reduce redness, swelling and bruising.
• Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours post-treatment.
• Avoid sun and heat exposure.
• Avoid exercise other than gentle walking.

How To Choose A Good Dermal Filler Clinic

Once you’ve decided that a dermal filler treatment is the right solution for you, then the next step is to find the right clinic.

Once you’ve found a clinic you like, research their medical background. Unfortunately, the aesthetics industry is unregulated, meaning anyone can perform dermal fillers even if they are not medically qualified. Finding a clinic that’s led by a medically trained doctor or nurse can help you to avoid disaster and ensure your dermal fillers are a huge success. 

At Elite Aesthetics, Dr Shirin Lakhani is a practising GP and trained aesthetic physician. She is registered with the GMC and is fully insured, following the GMC Good Medical Practice guidelines ensuring quality service with an honest, ethical approach.

You should ask about their experience and training, any accreditation and affiliations. Also, check out any previous work that they’ve done for past clients. Read their reviews and look for some before and after testimonials.

Once you have narrowed down your search, book a consultation. During your consultation, you can ask any further questions that you might have and also discuss what results you want to achieve in greater detail.

Our consultations are held at our award-winning clinic based in Greenhithe, Kent which is just 20 minutes away by train from St. Pancras London.