Dermal Fillers

Our skin is made up of three layers namely, the epidermis or the outermost layer, the dermis is the second layer and the hypodermis which is the deepest layer. As we age, the supportive components of our skin such as elastic fibres, collagen fibres, and hyaluronic acid, a substance that maintains the skin texture, get destroyed slowly. As a result our skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic and starts to sag. Wrinkles (fold or crease in the skin) begin to develop in the areas such as the forehead, and around the eyes and lips. The lips get thinner and lose their original beauty especially in the V-shaped area of the upper lip known as Cupid's bow.

Dermal filler injections are used to rejuvenate your aging skin and smooth away facial wrinkles and folds. Dermal fillers are used for lip enhancement and facial contouring. They are also indicated for restoring skin volume, smoothening nasolabial folds (the folds running from the sides of the bottom of the nose to the outer corners of the mouth) and to treat fine lines, crow's feet (little lines on the side of the eyes), frown lines, acne scars and forehead creases.
Lip enhancement can enhance the contour, definition and shape of your lips with Juvederm or dermal filler treatment. This is a treatment useful for those women who have thin lips and who have lost the shape because of ageing. Treatment usually lasts about 30 minutes and is performed under local anaesthesia. The lip area is injected using a fine disposable sterile needle with a juvederm or dermal filler in order to provide the plumpness or fullness.

Lip enhancement provides fast results and usually lasts for up to 6 months. Immediately after lip enhancement treatment, you may experience temporary bruising and swelling in the lip area. To decrease the risk of bleeding at the injection site, you may be recommended not to take other medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) a week before the injection session. Following the injection, an ice pack may be applied to the treated area in order to prevent swelling.

Facial contouring is done to enhance the appearance of facial lines, wrinkles and folds. Facial contouring with Juvederm softens the facial lines and wrinkles and helps restore the volume and fullness to the skin. The area to be treated will be marked and then the dermal filler will be injected. The results of the treatment are immediate, giving you a more youthful appearance.

After the procedure, some patients may experience pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, bruising, or itching, lumps and bumps and discoloration. All of these adverse effects are usually mild and temporary, lasting less than seven days. There may also be a risk of infection, as seen with all skin injection procedures.

In the first 24 hours following the injection, your doctor may recommend that you  avoid excessive sun or heat exposure, any strenuous exercise, and alcoholic beverages in order to decrease the risk of developing temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the injection sites.