Structural Fillers

How long does the procedure take?

The preparation usually takes longer than the procedure itself! Once we start injecting, the procedure is usually completed within 5 minutes. Plus you’ll get to add your point of view during the procedure too. You’ll get to see the change as it happens, so you can add your opinion to what your desired results look like.

You should not apply any make-up to your face for the first twelve hours after the injection. Avoid using the sauna and steam room, as well as exposure to UV rays or extreme cold for the first ten days. Apply a high factor sun cream to the injected areas when sunbathing for the first few days.

Most fillers in the hyaluronic acid family will last 6-18 months, although there is often significant individual variation.

Treatment is not recommended in the case of known allergies to hyaluronic acid products, skin infections or whilst pregnant and breastfeeding. It is important that you not only tell the doctor about any pre-existing medical conditions during the treatment consultation, but also that you describe your expectations. Your doctor will help you decide whether this treatment is right for you, and will also determine whether there are any contraindications with regard to the injection in your case.

In some cases painless or painful redness or swelling may occur following injection. This generally subsides within a few hours or days. Occasionally a localised inflammatory reaction may be experienced several weeks after the injection. This can occur with any degradable or nondegradable material.

It’s best to ask your doctor about these occasional side effects and other risks sometimes associated with this type of treatment. The appropriate therapy should be applied according to symptoms.

There is no specific age to start dermal fillers. It depends on when the need arises. We have very young patients in their late twenties at Three Graces who have had dermal fillers for enhancing facial features, such as their lips and cheeks and the usual age group for minimizing signs of aging.

At Three Graces , we have vast experience with different types of dermal fillers. The best filler for you will be decided by the doctor treating you but by and large the hyaluronic acid group of fillers are the safest and most effective.

Many patients who have lost weight have an aged appearance because of loss of volume. A facelift may not be necessary. A liquid facelift with fillers to add volume to cheeks is all you may need.

Fillers used by us are biocompatible and biodegradable. These terms mean that these injectables can be broken down and naturally eliminated by your body's normal cleansing processes.

Although not harmful, bruising can occur with the use of dermal fillers. At the Hillcrest, we do the following to decrease the risk of bruising:

• Topical Arnica cream post treatment
  
• Cold compresses
  
• Meticulous injection technique

Stop all blood thinners 5 days prior to the procedure with recommendations from your cardiologist.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance found in the body that helps to hydrate and add volume to our skin. Natural hyaluronic acid is broken down by the body in one or two days so is constantly replaced. As we age this replacement mechanism diminishes so the moisturising and plumping effects of hyaluronic acid decrease. Hyaluronic acid is used for aesthetic treatments and also has been used by doctors for injection into arthritic joints to aid movement as well as for eye surgery.

• Have any previous history of hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine
  
• Have any tendency to develop hypertrophic scars
  
• Have had immunotherapeutic treatment, inflammatory or infectious complaints (acne or cold sores) at injection sites
  
• Are pregnant or breast feeding
  
• Have had previous aesthetic treatment, particularly the use of permanent products.
  

There is some pain from needle entry with fillers, which is numbed to a great extent by local creams.
However with the latest genre of fillers with local anaesthetic lidocaine added into the syringe such as juvederm and juvederm ultraplus for laugh lines, drooping corners of the mouth, the pain is minimal because numbing takes place with the addition of local anaesthetic lidocaine. Hence the patient experience is very comfortable.

Make this a part of the skin rejuvenation treatments

This digital skin analysis system is a diagnostic tool which helps our clinicians look at all the variables in your skin that contribute to overall ageing. 
The Visia System is a sophisticated camera that takes both visible light, polarized light and ultraviolet photographs. The images are then processed by a computer that contains a database of 10,000 people.

After taking a series of images, the highly detailed system analysis each skin category - spots, wrinkles, pores, porphyrins (bacteria), evenness and UV spots / Sun Damage. This way we can focus your treatment on the area of concern. The analysis will also be compared against 100 other people of your sex, age and skin type.
This information gives you an accurate gauge of the health of your skin, which is interpreted by those around you as a reflection of your health and vitality.

Having a Visia Skin Analysis is a great way to begin a rational skin care program. While the system is not available everywhere, there is no other device that even comes close to providing the same or similar information. I would strongly recommend you take advantage of this complimentary treatment. This technology allows us to form a medical base line of your skin condition before you begin your unique journey with us at Face Today Medi-Clinic.