Dermal Fillers
What is new to Injectable Gels?
Allergan, have introduced a new, next-generation, natural dermal filler which due to its smooth gel formulation delivers a refreshed facial appearance and a natural look and feel that last 6-12 months.
This next-generation injectable gel is made from a naturally occurring complex sugar and provides a natural and rejuvenated appearance by ‘filling-in’ or ‘plumping-up’ facial wrinkles and folds. This dermal filler can also be injected into the lips to provide natural looking fullness and definition.
What is a dermal filler?
As the body ages, skin loses its elasticity and volume. Dermal fillers are injectable products that are placed below the skin’s surface to fill and therefore diminish the depth of facial folds and wrinkles or to provide additional volume to areas such as the lips.
What is hyaluronic acid (HA)?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring complex sugar that retains water and is found naturally within the tissues of living animals, including human skin. In recent years, HA has been injected into the skin to restore volume and correct the appearance of facial wrinkles and folds. And because HA is already found in the body, it is readily accepted and naturally metabolised.
What is cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA)?
In its natural form (single chain sugar) HA is metabolised by the body within days. Cross-linking refers to the process by which individual chains of HA are “bound” together (or cross-linked) to form a soft solid or ‘gel’ that has a significantly longer duration of effect within the body.
The longevity and smoothness of this next generation filler is reliant on the cross-linking and manufacturing process. This new injectable gel is manufactured using proprietary HYLACROSSTM technology which delivers a high degree of cross-linking and a smooth formulation.
What does this treatment involve?
This next-generation dermal filler is administered through a few injections by a trained medical professional. Your doctor may decide to administer a topical (cream) or local anaesthetic to help numb the area being treated. Its technologically advanced smooth formulation provides a natural look and feel that lasts for six to twelve months and the majority of patients resume normal activity immediately after treatment (minimal down-time).
Is there just one type of treatment?
This next-generation injectable gel dermal filler family offers two formulations to provide physicians with the flexibility to tailor each treatment to the particular needs of each patient.
- First formulation used for contouring and volumising facial wrinkles and folds and can also be used to create definition and pouting of the lips.
- A second and more robust formulation is used for volumising and correcting deeper folds and wrinkles. It can also be used to increase the volume of the lips.
How long does the treatment last?
This new injectable gel’s technologically advanced smooth formulation offers results with a natural look and feel that last for six to twelve months.
Is it well tolerated?
In clinical trials both injectable gel formulations were found to be efficacious and well tolerated. The side effects reported were generally temporary injection site related effects, the majority of which should last 3 days or less. Patients may experience injection site redness, pain, firmness/hardness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching or discolouration.
HA was first discovered in the 1930’s and is a naturally occurring complex sugar that retains water and is found naturally within the tissues of living animals, including human skin. HA has been used clinically for more than 20 years and has been labelled the best tolerated filler agent available for cosmetic use today. HA dermal fillers have been clinically studied for many years and have been shown to be both a versatile and well tolerated treatment.
This next-generation injectable gel has been available in Europe since 2000, was approved for use in the U.S in June 2006 and was also listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) in 2006.
Are there any side effects?
The HYLACROSSTM technology, advanced smooth formulation offers minimal disruption to the majority of patients’ daily routine, and the majority of patients resume their normal activities immediately after the procedure.
Minimal discomfort may be experienced following treatment. The side effects that may be experienced following this next generation injectable gel treatment are generally temporary injection site related effects, the majority of which should last 3 days or less. Patients may experience injection site redness, pain, firmness/hardness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching or discolouration.
What’s the difference between Anti-Wrinkle treatment and Dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers that work by lifting the wrinkle or fold, and creating volume. Injectable fillers do not relax muscles as with Anti-wrinkle treatment, but instead they are placed beneath the wrinkle and/or fold to ‘fill-in’ or ‘plump-up’ the depression. In addition to the treatment of wrinkles dermal fillers can also be used to create volume and definition of the lips.
How and why do wrinkles form?
Many facial wrinkles occur when we use our muscles to form facial expressions. The wrinkles formed during facial expression are called dynamic wrinkles. When we are young our skin springs back to its initial position at rest but as we get older these wrinkles remain on the skin. The wrinkles and folds present at rest are called static wrinkles. This process occurs because natural substances such as collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid that provide the skin with structure and volume decrease with age. This, together with environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress contribute to the creation of wrinkles and folds.
Anti-wrinkle treatments work by temporarily relaxing the active facial muscles that cause facial expression lines and/or wrinkles. Once the muscle is relaxed you are unable to continue to make the undesirable facial expressions.
How do lips change with age?
Natural substances such as collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid that provide the skin with structure and volume, decrease with age. This, together with environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress all contribute to how our skin ages. The lips in particular have an extremely thin outer layer, which becomes progressively thinner as the body ages. Over time the corners of the mouth can begin to droop (mouth frown), the v-shaped area of the upper lip known as Cupid’s Bow begins to flatten out and the lips lose their youthful
fullness. Vertical lip lines can also begin to appear, causing lipstick to bleed.
How can we enhance your lips?
Enhances lip contour and definition by treating the border of the upper and/or lower lip, Lip volume can also be enhanced when the dermal filler is used in the lip body. The results should last for at least 6 months.
Both anti-wrinkle treatment and Dermal fillers can be used together or in isolation in the treatment of facial wrinkles. The best treatment for you will depend on the area being treated and the severity of the wrinkle, both of which vary from individual to individual.
