Dermal fillers are used to fill out or plump up lines on the face such as those between the nose and the corner of the mouth, the marionette lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin, to increase mid face volume and can also be used to reduce the appearance of crows feet & forehead lines in those that prefer not to have BOTOX® treatment or as an adjunct to BOTOX treatment. It is also very successful in restoring volume to the lips giving a much more natural appearance and softer feel than the older treatments of collagen.
Dermal fillers are metabolised by the body so the effects are not permanent and whilst this means that repeat treatments are necessary to maintain the appearance, it does remove the risk of permanent unwanted effects such as the infamous “trout pout”, when used to give volume to the lips. Repeat treatments may be necessary every 9 – 12 months.
At Bath Facial Aesthetics we offer a range of dermal fillers from Juvederm although our preferred choice of filler is from the Juvederm Vycross range. Please see the scroll down bar on this page to see find out more and see commonly asked questions.
The cost of treatment depends on the amount and type of filler that needs to be used which, in turn, is dependent on the area treated and the depth of the lines. The price list is a useful guide, however Dr Hamling and Dr Antcliff will advise you, during your initial consultation and prior to embarking on treatment, of the most appropriate treatment for you and the cost for this.
Some people experience mild bruising and swelling after the procedure. If this occurs, you can expect it to wear off in a week or two. After the procedure, the treated area will be slightly red, but this will last only a few hours.
The effects of dermal fillers can last for up to 18 months but this will vary from person to person. It depends on your skin, the area you have treated, and the amount and type of filler used. At Bath Facial Aesthetics, we use Juvederm Vycross, a premium hyaluronic acid filler that will last for up to 18 months. Juvederm Vycross achieves a long-lasting natural look and feel, whether it is
used to lift or define certain areas of the face. The results will gradually fade over time until your skin returns to its previous state. You can choose to have ‘touch up’ procedures to maintain the look the dermal fillers help to create.
You can expect to see the results of the procedure immediately. Any swelling should take a few weeks to settle down.
You’ll have probably noticed by scrolling through social media that the results of facial fillers, especially lip fillers, range from very natural to very obvious. At Bath Facial Aesthetics, we achieve highly natural results by adhering to the MD Codes that dermal fillers expert Dr Mauricio de Maio pioneered. The MD Codes are essentially guidelines for predefined sites on the face that produce the most natural results when injected with fillers.
We recommend avoiding anti-inflammatory painkillers before and after the procedure as these can thin the blood and increase the risk of redness, swelling, bleeding and bruising. Ibuprofen and aspirin are the most well-known anti-inflammatory drugs. However, during your consultation it is important that you let us know what medication you’re taking so we can advise on possible contraindications (situations in which you should avoid taking your medication). If your practitioner has applied a local anaesthetic cream, it is normal to feel like the pain is getting worse as the effects of the cream wear off. If you’re in pain, apply a cold compress to the area to help reduce swelling.
We recommend waiting at least a week after dermal fillers before doing any strenuous exercise – this will avoid the risk of infection. We also recommend you avoid yoga, too, because inverted positions such as headstands could increase the risk of bruising and swelling.
Although drinking alcohol won’t affect the long-term results of having dermal fillers, it can increase bruising and swelling. It is best to avoid alcohol for at least two days after the
treatment.
There should be no issue with flying after having dermal fillers. Although there is some concern that the changing air pressure in the plane’s cabin can have some effect, there is no evidence that this is the case. We normally prefer you not to go abroad immediately after fillers in case you need further advice/ treatment.
Avoid sunbathing, sunbeds and intense heat (such as saunas and Turkish baths) for one week after treatment. If you do go out in the sun, wear sunscreen at all times. You should also avoid exposing your skin to extreme cold for one week after treatment.
Don’t touch or rub the treated area for at least six hours after treatment. After that, you can gently clean the area and apply light makeup.
Yes, you can smoke straight after having fillers (including lip fillers). However, smoking is hugely detrimental to your health and although it won’t directly affect the results of the treatment, it will continue to dry out and age your skin. Smoking narrows the blood vessels in the outer layers of your skin. This limits blood flow, meaning your skin doesn’t receive as much oxygen or as many nutrients. In the long term, smoking can cause wrinkling, sagging, discolouration and age spots.
It is best to follow the general advice for cheek fillers. There is no specific aftercare advice for cheeks, other than avoiding wearing makeup for the first six hours after treatment.
It can take up to two weeks for facial fillers to settle into place.
The key ingredient of non-permanent facial fillers is Hyaluronic Acid (HA) – a type of sugar, which occurs naturally in the body and is responsible for maintaining skin volume and elasticity. Normally in the skin HA is broken down within one to two days, and is constantly being replenished; however as we age, this replacement mechanism diminishes and the moisturising and plumping effects of HA decrease. By replacing lost HA, we can regain the skin’s smooth and lifted appearance. The manufacture of Hyaluronic Acid with cross linked chains mean that the injected form of HA does last much longer in the skin than naturally occurring HA. Importantly, HA fillers are fully reversible so can be quickly and easily removed using Hyalase, an enzyme, should there be any need, unlike the older forms of permanent facial fillers such as Collagen.
Bath Facial Aesthetics use mainly uses the Juvéderm® Vycross range of HA facial fillers. This is the number-1 product range on the market, with over 30 years of experience and clinical trials demonstrating excellent safety and efficacy. Juvederm has been used in over 32 million treatments worldwide. It is one of only a small number of fillers that are approved by the FDA in the US and in the UK has the CE mark of approval. These products have a very smooth consistency, which results in less swelling and gives a more natural look and feel. Depending on the area treated, results can last from 12-18 months. The Juvéderm® Vycross range also contains the mild local anaesthetic lidocaine (0.3%), which allows for a gentle injection experience. The Vycross range of facial fillers uses a unique crosslinking technology for longer lasting results and a better lift as it is broken down more slowly by the bodies’ naturally occurring enzyme Hyaluronidase.
The Juvederm Vycross range is a more expensive product to obtain and hence costs more than Juvederm Ultra. The benefits of the Juvaderm Vycross range are as follows:
Areas dermal fillers can treat include:
Dr Hamling and Dr Antcliff are well known for their ‘less is more’ approach to facial enhancement – their aim is to respect the individuality of your face, whilst helping to enhance your features to restore balance and harmony. The desired result is a healthy, refreshed glow – like after a good night’s sleep or a holiday – not to change dramatically the way you look.
With this in mind, Dr Hamling and Dr Antcliff will advise exactly which Juvéderm® product is best to address your key ageing concerns and to achieve optimal results for your individual needs, such as:
The procedure usually takes around 30-45 minutes and results are immediate, long lasting and natural in appearance. Depending on the area treated, you can expect the results to last between 6-18 months.
This will be discussed in your consultation, but generally facial fillers can be used on a wide range of patients as they are primarily used for skin rejuvenation, replacing lost structure and volume in the face, as well as the reduction of lines and wrinkles. However, filler treatments are not suitable if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or undergoing IVF.
The only way to ensure you reduce the risk of side effects from dermal fillers is to choose a highly qualified and experienced practitioner who has a detailed understanding of facial anatomy, the individual characteristics of available fillers, their indications, contraindications, benefits and drawbacks and ways to prevent and avoid potential complications’.
At Bath Facial Aesthetics we use hyaluronic acid fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally inside the human body so a reaction to this substance is extremely rare. Immediately after the treatment there may be a slight redness, swelling, tenderness, a faint bubble-like appearance and an itching sensation in the treated area. These side effects are a normal result of the injection and will generally disappear gradually over a period of one to two weeks.
Most patients won’t experience any pain after having dermal fillers, but some may find they have a little bit of soreness at the site of the injection. An ice pack can treat any pain. Before administering the injections, we will apply topical anaesthetic cream to the area to help keep any pain during the procedure to a minimum. The filler itself contains some local anaesthetic called lidocaine, which is a numbing agent that makes the procedure more comfortable.
If you have a history of cold sores, there is a risk that the insertion of the needle into your skin may activate the cold sore virus. This may cause a new cold sore to break out or a previous cold sore to recur. The risk of dermal fillers causing a cold sore outbreak is very low – less than 1.45%, as reported by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before your treatment, we advise that you take anti-viral medication. If you do have a cold sore outbreak afterward, please contact the clinic or seek medical advice.
As with any medical procedure, there is a risk of unwanted side effects with HA dermal filler treatments. Most side effects are short-lived and often relate to the injection
procedure. Following injection, there may be redness, slight swelling, or bruising around the injection site but these usually only last a few days. Bruising can last up to 7 days. Local infection is a rare complication so it is important not to do any injections if you have any active skin
infections in the area treated. Other rare complications which are usually treatable include:
In rare cases, a scab can form where the treatment was administered, which can result in a scar.
Treatment around the eyes and upper face can also result in: