Nowadays, most dermal fillers used are made from a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid that is stabilised into a long-lasting injectable gel. Hyaluronic acid is a substance found and created naturally in the skin, that cushions, hydrates, and naturally binds collagen and elastin in the cells, keeping the skin plump and youthful looking. As we age, we produce less natural hyaluronic acid daily, leading to volume loss, reduced hydration, and wrinkle formation.
At Blemish Clinic, we use hyaluronic acid gel-based dermal filler products from brands that have a history of safe and effective use over many years, with evidence based scientific studies to ensure their quality. These include Juvéderm and Belotero.
Products based on hyaluronic acid gels are non-permanent, non-animal, biocompatible, biodegradable, and fully reversible.
Correction of lines, wrinkles, and folds including nasolabial folds (nose-to-mouth lines), marionette lines (mouth-to-chin lines), and peri-oral lines (smokers’ lines). Volume loss in the cheeks, chin, and temples to correct sunken cheeks. Facial contouring of the cheeks, chin, and jawline. Non-surgical rhinoplasty (nose job) to correct dorsal humps and lip enhancement or augmentation (lip filling). Tear troughs, dark circles under the eye. Restoring lost volume in the hands.
Hyaluronic acid or HA is a natural component of our skin, it’s act as a natural moisturiser, lubricant, and provides cushioning because it is highly effective at attracting and binding with water molecules to plump up the skin. Spent or used HA is naturally broken down by the body (using an enzyme called hyaluronidase) and the body makes new HA again on a continuous cycle.
This daily production of HA keeps our skin and joints hydrated, but as we age this production starts to slow down – this is why young children have lovely, plump, cherubic faces, but as we age skin becomes thinner and less hydrated, which affects the collagen and elastic, all because our natural ability to replenish HA is reduced.
At Blemish Clinic, we use dermal filler products that are made from synthetic, non-animal derived hyaluronic acid. Our natural HA is made, used, broken down, and replenished daily, but that would be no good for an injectable product, thus over many decades, scientists have perfected ways to make the HA molecules into gels of different thicknesses, that are stable for much longer before the body can naturally break them down with natural hyaluronidase.
We have years of experience working with different types and brands of dermal fillers, understanding how the different thicknesses (viscosity) or cohesivity (if it stays together as delivered in a line or blob, or spreads out) affects the treatments and results we can achieve. We are also very experienced with using either needles or blunt cannulas to deliver the products safely in different areas of the face.
For example, putting the wrong viscosity of product into the contour of the lip can damage both the shape and the vermillion border, giving an unattractive and unnatural appearance – so called ‘duck lips’. Dermal filler products that work nicely in the lips to create a beautiful shape should not be extremely viscous.
We always aim for natural-looking results from our dermal filler treatments. You will get expert advice on the right dermal filler product for you and the enhancement desired.
We only use quality dermal filler brands who can demonstrate their safety and efficacy with scientific studies and longevity of use. We source all our products from reputable suppliers, ensuring that the storage and handling has been correctly undertaken from manufacture to arrival at our clinic.
Brands of dermal fillers used at the Blemish Clinic include Juvéderm and Belotero.
Dermal fillers can be used for many applications, from filling lines and folds, to replacing lost volume, or rebuilding facial contours, or simply enhancing a facial feature, such as adding to a lip pout by further enhancing lip volume. They can be used across all areas of the face and to improve the appearance of the back of the hands.
At Blemish Clinic, we use dermal fillers for:
Dermal fillers are suitable for all skin types and for both men and women, therefore there are very few reasons why an otherwise healthy individual would not be suitable for treatment.
A full medical history will be taken during your consultation, prior to treatment to establish if there are any underlying medical conditions, medicines, or allergies that may make you unsuitable for treatment with hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers, such as a known sensitivity, allergy, or risk of anaphylaxis. If you have broken skin or an active infection in the area to be treated – fungal, viral, bacterial – then we will need to wait until that has resolved. If you are prone to outbreaks of the herpes simplex virus (cold sores), then our medical practitioner may recommend a course of preventative medication prior to the dermal filler treatment, especially if you are having treatment around the lips and mouth.
You will also be specifically evaluated to determine if dermal fillers are the right treatment for the cosmetic concern you are seeking to reduce. It may be that we recommend an alternative aesthetic treatment if there is an anatomical reason why you would not get the best results from dermal filler treatment. For example, all treatments in the tear trough will be assessed very carefully by your medical practitioner. We can inject a very light filler product under the muscle in this area, however, if you suffer with under eye bags or puffy eyes, you may not be a suitable candidate for this treatment.
If you are pregnant or breast feeding, you will not be suitable for dermal filler treatment.
Everyone’s sensitivity to injection with needles and cannulas is different, but it is important to us that our patients are comfortable, and we aim to reduce pain as much as possible.
To achieve this at Blemish Clinic, we will use a topical anaesthetic or numbing cream applied to the area to be treated for several minutes beforehand to reduce any discomfort from the injections.
Many dermal filler products are viscous or thick gels, this means that when they are injected, they stretch the skin as they go in, this action can feel uncomfortable, however, we have chosen to use brands and filler products that contain a local anaesthetic (3% lidocaine) already inside the syringe with the product. This means that the anaesthetic goes in at the same time as the hyaluronic acid gel, making it much more comfortable.
Hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler products are regarded as much safer to use due to their non-permanent nature, meaning that they can be fully reversed should a complication occur, using a synthetic hyaluronidase prescription product.
After treatment with dermal fillers, you should expect redness, swelling (the treated areas may appear overfilled, but this is just a natural body reaction), bruising, mild pain or tenderness at the injection sites, or temporary numbness, all of which will resolve in a few days.
Swelling may persist longer, especially in the lips, and can take up to 2 weeks before everything settles down.
Injection with dermal fillers, especially around the mouth can cause a flare up of the herpes simplex virus and prompt an outbreak of cold sores. If you are prone to this, then prophylactic treatment can be used as prevention before treatment.
In rare cases, there can be a hypersensitivity reaction or allergic reaction to the hyaluronic acid that can result in a rash (hives) and extensive swelling. Antihistamines can be prescribed to resolve this.
Other rare side effects include the formation of a soft or hard lump (nodule or granuloma); these can be delayed and occur weeks after treatment, but can be treated, or an infection that will require antibiotics. You will be given aftercare advice to avoid common side effects.
Dermal fillers will instantly restore volume to an area, lifting the skin, reducing folds or wrinkles, and will help to contour and define lost points of beauty on the face, such as restoring more defined cheekbones or the jawline. You will need to allow a couple of weeks for all the swelling to resolve and the products to fully integrate to see your full result.
Many dermal filler products have been proven to enhance the natural collagen in the area treated, meaning that over time, maintenance of the area either requires less product or retreatment less frequently. We usually recommend maintenance treatments every 6 months, depending on the area being treated.
Different dermal filler products will last for different lengths of time depending on how they are made – the amount of hyaluronic acid they contain, the thickness of the gel, the shape of the molecules within, and how they are joined together, for example.
Different types or thicknesses of products are also used in different areas and to achieve different outcomes, so, how long they last is variable. On average, you can expect 6-9 months for most dermal filler products, with less for those used primarily hydrate and up to a year for thicker products used to sculpt facial areas down at the level of bone.
Similarly, the longevity of a dermal filler is also impacted by how an individual’s body breaks it down, some people may metabolise the filler quicker than others, those with a naturally high metabolism or athletes, for example, may require more frequent repeat treatments to maintain their desired look.
We believe in being transparent with our prices and want you to be fully aware and comfortable with the cost of your treatment. A full list of our prices can be found here. We will always agree a final price with you though before treatment commences.
Dermal fillers come in different thicknesses and have many different uses in the face when it comes to facial rejuvenation and cosmetic enhancement with an injectable gel. Their main uses include filling deep lines and hollows, facial contouring, rehydrating skin, replacing lost volume, and augmenting lips.
A smooth gel made from a stabilised and cross-linked hyaluronic acid is injected into the dermal layers of the skin where it replenishes the hyaluronic acid that has been absorbed into your body over time, helping you achieve a more youthful appearance.
Results are tailored to achieve the desired outcome discussed during your consultation, you will usually see an immediate improvement in the depth of lines, the contouring, or volume in the area treated. A full result is seen after 2 weeks once all swelling has resolved, and the product has settled in place.
Treatment times vary depending on the size and number of areas being treated but expect it to take 45-60 minutes.
We can use a numbing cream in the area being treated so there is little discomfort from the insertion of a needle at the time of treatment. Many of the dermal filler products we use also contain the local anaesthetic lidocaine within the syringe to provide anaesthesia as the gel is injected.
Side effects from dermal fillers are minimal but may include redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection sites that can last 2-3 days. You can resume normal activities immediately after treatment.
