Wrinkle & Line Removal - Dermal Fillers

What is lip enhancement?

Lip enhancement or augmentation is a cosmetic treatment to give you fuller and more attractive lips. It is usually performed by injecting the lips with a substance known as a filler.

What do fillers contain?

Modern fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in the body. Collagen or fat may also be used, but hyaluronic acid fillers have proven to be safer, last longer and have better results. Besides the filler, the injection may also contain lidocaine, an anaesthetic to improve comfort.

What can I expect from treatment?

Your doctor will discuss your reasons for undergoing the procedure and how realistic your expectations are before deciding whether this procedure is right for you.

How is the procedure performed?

Lip augmentation is usually performed as an office procedure. If fat is used, it will be harvested from another part of your body and a period of monitoring is necessary following the procedure. Fine needles are used to inject the filler at precise areas in the lips and around the mouth to improve shape, structure and volume. Following treatment, ice is gently applied over the area to reduce any pain or swelling. After a period of healing, your lips will have a natural feel and you may then use lipstick and other lip products as you normally would.

Do I need more than one session?

Injections are given over different appointments until the desired result is achieved.

How long do the results last?

Treatment results usually last 6 months following which repeat injections may be necessary to maintain the results.

Does the procedure have any risks?

The procedure may occasionally be associated with temporary side effects that include bleeding, bruising, redness and tenderness. Allergy is unlikely as hyaluronic acid is naturally found in your body.

What is cheek shaping and enhancement?

A beautiful face is often complemented by full cheeks and a high cheekbone. Flat cheeks can make your face look thin and aged. Cheek shaping and enhancement is a procedure that augments or reshapes your cheeks with a dermal filler in a relatively safe, quick, and painless manner.

Who will benefit from this procedure?

Any patient with low-profile cheekbones can benefit from a cheek enhancement procedure.

What are the types of dermal fillers used?

The different types of dermal fillers used include:

• Hyaluronic acid fillers: Hyaluronic acid fillers work by adding volume and fullness to the skin. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, therefore hyaluronic acid fillers are absorbed quicker than other products. The results of hyaluronic acid fillers are reversible. Hyaluronic acid fillers are often the best option for beginners who are not sure how they would look after the procedure.
• Calcium hydroxyapatite fillers: Calcium hydroxyapatite fillers are used for volume and contour definition. Calcium hydroxyapatite is the major constituent of the bone. Once injected, it provides immediate volume and provides strength and texture to the cheeks. Calcium hydroxyapatite, acts as a platform for collagen to grow, and is eventually absorbed by the body. The results often last over a year in many patients.
• Poly-L-lactic acid fillers: Poly-L-lactic acid fillers work by gradually replacing collagen. Collagen is a natural protein that provides structural support and texture to the skin. A series of 3-4 injections is usually required over a period of time. The series of injections may vary from patient to patient. The results are slow but long lasting.

How is the procedure performed?

After giving local anaesthesia, the physician injects the filler into the desired areas. The procedure may take 15 to 20 minutes. There is no down-time and patients may go back to their work or daily routine after the procedure. The results of the injection will depend on the product used. Repeat treatments may be recommended to sustain the new look.

What are the side effects or risks associated with the procedure?

There are no serious complications documented from cheek enhancement. Mild redness or swelling can occur at the injection site following the procedure; this is temporary and usually goes away in a few days.

What are nasolabial lines?

Nasolabial lines or folds, commonly known as “smile or laugh lines” are the deep lines or the indented skin between the corner of the nose and corner of the mouth.

Why do nasolabial lines develop?

The cause of nasolabial folds includes:

• Age
• Excessive exposure to the sun
• Hereditary factors

With age and excessive exposure to sunlight, the loss of skin elasticity and firmness is related to the breakdown of collagen (protein responsible for skin tightness). This causes the skin to become loose, appear saggy, and to form folds.

How are nasolabial lines treated?

The treatment options for nasolabial folds vary from non-invasive procedures such as fillers to surgical procedures such as face lift.

How are fillers used to treat nasolabial lines?

Injectable fillers or soft tissue fillers are injected into specific areas of the face to correct any textural irregularities by plumping and smoothing out the skin depression. These fillers work by restoring facial volume and filling out wrinkled or uneven areas of the face, thereby bringing an immediate vibrant and youthful appearance to one’s face without surgery. The results depend on the type of filler products employed.

What is facelift surgery?

Facelift, also known as meloplasty or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that tightens and removes drooping facial skin. It may also involve the removal and repositioning of excessive fat present beneath the skin. This surgical tightening of the facial muscles improves the tone of the skin and softens nasolabial lines.

Face lifts are more commonly performed in the age group between 40-65 years, but people who are younger or older may opt for this surgery as well. The results of a facelift usually last for 5-12 years.

What are Marionette lines?

Marionette lines are wrinkle lines or skin creases that run from the corner of the mouth towards the chin. When these lines are pronounced, they give an unhappy expression to the face.

What causes Marionette lines?

• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Age-related sagging of the facial muscles
• Smoking
• Genetics

What is the best treatment for Marionette lines?

The most common, safest, and cost-effective treatment for nasolabial lines is the use of dermal fillers.

What are smoker’s lines?

They are vertical lines that occur around the mouth. These lines are more pronounced and appear sooner in smokers, but with age most people will notice these lines appearing around the mouth.

What causes smoker’s lines?

• Smoking.
• Age related loss of skin elasticity and tissue volume.

What is the best treatment option for smoker’s lines?

The best treatment option is dermal fillers using which you can get instant results that typically last a long time.

How does ageing affect the appearance of the hands?

Besides the face, the hands are the most commonly exposed part of the human body. Frequent sun exposure can cause damage to the skin of the hands. Ageing can result in loss of fat from under the skin causing the veins, tendons, and bones to be more prominent.

What is the best treatment for ageing hands?

Dermal fillers work very well to replace the volume loss that occurs with the depletion of fat from under the skin. New high density dermal fillers stay in place for a very long time giving a youthful look and feel to the hands.