Your Guide To Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers continue to be one of the most popular aesthetic treatments available in the UK. Designed to address a loss of volume, they often accompany anti-wrinkle injections as being one of the most in-demand anti-ageing treatments on the market.

However, because of their popularity, the market has been flooded with a number of different filler brands in the UK – at the moment, there are around 160 different fillers available. This can make it incredibly difficult to decide which treatment would be the best for you.

Types of dermal fillers

There are two main types of dermal fillers – permanent fillers and temporary fillers. As the name suggests, permanent fillers are long-lasting however their results can be wildly unpredictable. This is due to the variety of active ingredients which they contain.

Temporary fillers are primarily made with collagen or hyaluronic acid (which hyaluronic acid being the most popular ingredient). Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar which is found within the skin and can retain moisture levels.

When fillers containing hyaluronic acid are injected under the skin they can provide a lift and added volume, whilst also smoothing out wrinkles. The longetivity of the results can vary depending on the type of filler used, but can range anywhere from 6-18 months.

At Skin Medical we use the Juvéderm range of dermal fillers which are hyaluronic-acid based fillers. They offer subtle and natural-looking results. We offer the full Juvéderm range, including Juvéderm Ultra, Hydrate, Juvéderm 2, Juvéderm 3, Juvéderm 4 and the new Juvéderm Vycross range including Volbella, Volift and Voluma.

Before treatment

The first step to take when you decide to have dermal filler treatment is choosing the right aesthetic practitioner. Non-surgical procedures such as dermal fillers are not regulated within the UK – this means unregulated practitioners can perform treatments. You should always seek treatment from a registered, qualified medical practitioner. To help, we’ve put together a guide on how to choose an aesthetic practitioner.

Before having any treatment you should first of all have a consultation with your practitioner. The consultation gives the practitioner an opportunity to make sure the treatment is suitable for you, go over your medical history and to advise which type of filler would be best to achieve your desired result. It also gives you the chance to ask the practitioner any questions regarding the treatment and to see the environment in which the treatment will take place.

At the consultation you should always asked what type and brand of filler the practitioner is using, and ensure that you are happy with this.

During treatment

When it comes to having the actual treatment, your practitioner will apply a local anaesthetic cream to the area to make the treatment more comfortable. Juvéderm fillers also contain lidocaine, which is a numbing lotion – further increasing the comfort of treatment. The practitioner will then make a series of small injections and gently massage the area to make sure the filler is spread evenly.

The treatment itself takes around 30 minutes, and isn’t painful – especially when carried out by an expert, experienced practitioner. Our medical nurse practitioners have Allergan Masterclass training, meaning you’re in good (qualified) hands.

After treatment

You’ll be able to notice some results immediately following treatment. Depending on the type of filler used, the results will last between 6-18 months (the new Juvéderm Vycross range boasts the longest lasting results of a temporary hyaluronic filler).

Your practitioner will always provide you with aftercare advice. Immediately following treatment you might find that the area is a little bit tender and swollen. This will usually last for around a day. You might also have some slight bruising, depending on the amount of filler used, your skin type and the area in which the filler is injected. This should go down within the first three days.

If you’re interested in finding out more about dermal fillers, and having consultation with one of our medical practitioners, either book online or contact the Manchester City Centre clinic on 0161 839 7663.