Dermal Fillers
Pakenham & Warragul

Facial wrinkles are created when muscles are contracting during facial expressions. When we are sad, happy, angry or surprised, our face contracts.  Excessive contractions result in more prominent, deep wrinkles.

Other factors that may contribute facial wrinkles are lifestyle/smoking, exposure to UV rays, free radicals and dry skin.

Anti wrinkle treatment also known as neuromodulators or wrinkle-relaxing injections is the most popular cosmetic treatment that allows softening of unwanted lines. Its action is to temporarily block the signals from the brain to the muscle, allowing the target muscle to stay relaxed for up to 4 months – gradually regaining strength as the product breaks down through normal metabolic activity.

Anti-wrinkle treatment is most effective in treating frown lines, forehead lines and Crow’s feet.

Also effective for:

• Gummy smiles 
• Facial slimming / excessive clenching 
• Excessive underarm sweating / hyperhidrosis 
• Eyebrow lift 
• Smoker’s lines 
• Dimpled chin 
• Marionette lines 
• Neck bands 
• Anti-wrinkle injections have minimal to no down-time. 

Cosmetic injectables are designed to postpone the aging process, NOT stop it. The normal ageing process will continue even with treatments. If you decide to stop getting treatments, your wrinkles will NOT get worse. It is not unusual, however, for people to think they have more lines than usual as they have been used to seeing a lot smoother and wrinkle-free skin while using treatments compared to when they don’t have treatments.

Is a term used for male clients getting wrinkle injections. For years, there has been a misconception that cosmetic injectables are only for women. Nowadays it is a widely accepted treatment for all genders. Male facial muscles are naturally thicker and stronger which means they will require a higher dosage.

Ageing is a continuous, normal process which can be aggravated by extrinsic factors including lifestyle, sun damage and environmental toxins. Dermal filler is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure with the use of a very fine needle. The active ingredient used is Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally occurring (polysaccharide) substance in the body.

HA dermal filler is a gel injection that is effective in restoring volume, adding youthful contours, smoothing and hydrating the skin. Most popularly used for lips and cheek augmentation, as well as defining jawline, reducing the appearance of wrinkles around the tear troughs, naso-labial folds, corners of the mouth and chin.

Dermal fillers come in different consistencies, from soft and light to a more denser, thick type of gel, lasting from 6 to 18 months depending on the body’s metabolism. This treatment provides an instant rejuvenating result with almost no down-time.

Swelling is one of the common side effects of lip injections. This is only temporary. Some people term this initial swelling as “duck-lips”. This swelling can last up to 3 days. The worst point is usually during the second day. Medication such as anti-histamine may reduce the severity of the swelling. If swelling persists for more than 3 days and is accompanied with severe pain and discomfort, this should not be treated as normal and should be reported to your cosmetic professional for reassessment immediately.

Longevity of treatment is unique to each individual. Lifestyle, metabolic rate, age, medication, medical conditions and physical activities may affect the longevity of your treatment. On average, Anti-wrinkle injections can last up to 4 months while dermal fillers can last up to 9 months.

Minimal discomfort may be experienced during the treatment. When getting filler injections, local anaesthetic may be applied prior to treatment. Some other tools to relieve/minimise discomfort may be available such as ice packs, vibrating stick, music, stress balls etc. It is highly recommended to advise your injector if you have a history of previous fainting episodes when getting injections. The site of needles can be confronting to some patients, it is ideal to make sure you don’t come to your appointment on an empty stomach.

This varies, depending what treatment is getting done. Anti-wrinkle injections usually take no longer than 15 mins to complete while dermal filler takes longer. It is important to allow your injector as much time as possible to not rush the procedure. Cosmetic injectables are medical procedures that need careful assessment, precision and professional handling.

Most non-surgical treatments require minimum downtime.

Anti-wrinkle treatment : Zero

Dermal Fillers : 24-48 hours

Sub-mental fat dissolving : up to 10 day

There are various brands available in the market. The clinic guarantees to use only top-quality brands that have been tested worldwide to deliver safe and effective results. It is illegal in Australia to discuss product brands prior to seeing a professional; as patients have individual needs and we can only determine appropriate products suited for a patient upon thorough assessment. Appropriate product will be suggested during consultation.

Legally 18 years and above

Common side effects straight away after treatments include: Swelling, bruising, redness, lumps, slight tenderness and numbness from local anaesthetic. For dermal filler treatment, some of these side effects may worsen after 24 hours. You may get a slight headache from anti-wrinkle injections that can come and go after the treatment. This could last for a few days until full efficacy of the treatment is achieved. Temporary loss of muscle movement is normal around the area treated with anti-wrinkle medication. If you are experiencing uncommon symptoms or are in doubt contact the clinic immediately.

Very rare risks include:

Ptosis or droopy eyelids after anti-wrinkle injections. This happens when the medication spreads to adjacent muscles that are not meant to be treated. A special eyedrop may be prescribed to help this issue. However generally relieves after 2-6 weeks.

Necrosis or cell death around the area that was treated with dermal fillers. This happens when a blood vessel is being blocked resulting in very small or no oxygen supply to the tissue causing the cell to die. A special dissolving agent may be administered to prevent cell death. Early detection and a no-delaying approach is necessary to achieve a satisfying prognosis.

Nerve damage is another risk reported with the use of dermal fillers. This happens when pressure from the filler or tissue swelling is placed on the nerves surrounding the area. An anti-histamine may be prescribed to minimise swelling and remove pressure from the affected nerve. Dissolving the filler can be an option too.

Permanent blindness is the most dangerous risk associated with dermal fillers with about 100 cases reported worldwide. This happens following a blockage of one of the major arteries that supplies oxygenated blood directly to the eyes. Unfortunately, there is no medication available to reverse blindness when it occurs. Avoiding placing fillers to high risk areas is by far the most effective way of preventing blindness.

Infection is also another dangerous risk following any procedure that deals with needles. This may spread to surrounding areas of the body if not treated straight away. A course of antibiotic and cortisone may be prescribed to stop the spread of bacteria-causing infection. Strict compliance of after care is a must.

Strict compliance of the after care; disclosure of medical issues and medications that may increase chances of developing the risks. Awareness of what to expect after treatment and reporting any unusual symptoms. Getting your treatments only from qualified professionals.

It is safe to get retreatment every 2-4 months however it is important to discuss this with your injector. A treatment plan to follow for appropriate dosing is also important.

You are generally safe to have anti-wrinkle treatment; unless you have the following: Myaesthenia Gravis, Eaton-Lambert Syndrome, Guillian Barre Syndrome, Amyothropic Lateral Sclerosis, Allergy to Botulinum toxin, allergy to albumin, allergy to normal saline, active infection to the area, pregnant and breastfeeding.

You are generally safe to have dermal filler treatment unless you have the following: Active infection, allergy to Hyaluronic acid, allergy to gram positive bacteria proteins, allergy to lignocaine, allergy to bee sting, untreated epilepsy, porphyria, current treatment with Roaccutane, pregnant and breastfeeding. Discussing this with your scripting doctor and cosmetic injector if you are eligible for cosmetic treatments is important to minimise complications.

When having dermal fillers you must not undergo another procedure or surgery including dental procedures in the 2 weeks pre and post treatment. This may increase the risk of infection.

When having anti-wrinkle treatment, you must not recently have had a tetanus injection.

Always discuss allergies with the injector. Consultation is always free.

Dermal filler shows results almost immediately after the treatment however swelling may also accompany results, at first. Anti-wrinkle can take up to 2 weeks to see noticeable difference.

Printed and detailed Pre/Post Care instructions are available at the clinic.

Anti-Wrinkle:

• Do not manipulate the treated area for 3 hours following treatment. Do not receive facial, laser treatment, facial threading, microdermabrasion for 10 days after treatment. 
• Do not lie down for 4 hours after treatment. This will prevent the product from tracking into the orbit of your eyes and causing drooping of the eyelid. 
• Can take up to 7 days for results to be seen. If the desired result is not seen after 2 weeks of your treatment, this may mean your muscle is stronger than expected and you may need additional treatment. Additional treatment incurs additional cost. 
• Do not perform activities involving straining, heavy lifting, vigorous exercise or too much sun exposure for the first 24 hours. This will prevent the product from spreading causing ptosis. 
• Avoid applying make-up straight away after injections, this may cause infection 

Dermal Fillers:

• Avoid significant movement or massaging the area treated unless instructed by the provider. 
• Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours
• Avoid extensive sun or heat for 72 hours 
• Avoid consuming excessive amounts of alcohol or salts to avoid excess swelling 
• If you have swelling,you may apply a cold compress for 15 mins each hour, take panadol for pain 
• Try to sleep face up and slightly elevated if you experience swelling 
• Take Arnica to help the bruising and swelling, starts at least 2 days prior to injections 
• Take antiviral medication for 3 days if you have history of cold sore 
• Avoid make-up for 24 hours

Cosmetic injectables are contraindicated to pregnant and breastfeeding women. We do have a pregnancy facial package that is safe for pregnant women.