Dermal Fillers

What are dermal fillers?

At Sculpt, we use premium dermal fillers composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) gel. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally produced in our bodies and skin that holds water. It is essential, for example, to create volume in the skin or lubrication in the joints. Modern HA fillers are designed to have different molecular properties to be utilised for a range of different purposes. For example, a soft filler used to fill out a wrinkle in the skin is very different to a filler that would be used to restore bony structure in the jawline.

Will I look puffy or fake?

Our aesthetic injectors at Sculpt are highly-trained doctors and registered nurses who are experts in facial ageing and rejuvenation. Our aim is to restore lost volume due to ageing, enhance youthful and attractive facial contours, and to balance facial harmony. In the right hands, dermal fillers can be used to feminise or masculinise a face, soften wrinkles and folds, restore volume in the hands, improve acne scarring, and for a range of other indications.

Is it painful?

Dermal filler is placed under the skin either by injection with a fine needle, or with gentle fanning, using a cannula. In most cases, the procedure is minimally painful or not painful at all. Areas that are more sensitive (for example, the lips) can be numbed prior with either topical numbing or nerve blocking injections by the clinician.

What are the possible side effects?

Depending on the area treated, there may be some mild swelling for a few days after treatment. Lips commonly swell after injections, but swelling in other areas is generally very mild or not noticeable at all. Similarly, there may be some bruising after injections, also more commonly seen in lips. You may experience some tenderness over areas treated, which would be expected to settle in a few days. It’s possible to have some lumpiness or asymmetry after treatment. This generally resolves after a couple of weeks when swelling completely subsides, but can be touched up or dissolved if persistent. Infection and allergic reaction are rare.  Blockage of blood vessels is a rare, but potentially serious complication of dermal filler injection, which is reported to occur in approximately 1 in 6000 treatments, and requires urgent review and dissolving.

How long will my results last?

It depends. Most fillers are marketed to last for between 12 and 18 months. Some areas of the face will break down filler quicker than others and some people will break down filler quicker than others. More recently, science is showing that filler tends to last much longer than we think, with MRI studies showing it to persist in some people greater than 10 years.

Will I look deflated once my filler dissolves?

Hyaluronic acid filler dissolves slowly and gradually. It won't stretch the skin or give a deflated appearance, once dissolved. Your skin will return to how it looked before treatment.

What is the aftercare?

After dermal filler treatment, avoid make-up until the following day and use clean hands when touching the face. Avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours to not worsen any swelling. Avoid placing any firm pressure on the face for 2 weeks (e.g. massage). Drinking alcohol can worsen bruising and inflammation and should ideally be avoided for 24 hours. Reduced air pressure on long-haul flights can worsen swelling, and treatments should ideally not be performed within a week of air travel.