Frequently Asked Questions
Before any type of treatment is administered, you will have a consultation with your cosmetic nurse. They will be able to assess the area of your face you want to enhance and recommend which treatment and product is most appropriate for your desired result. They will also suggest how much dermal filler is recommended to achieve the best result. At this stage, you can ask questions and discuss any concerns you have. To ensure you are a suitable candidate for the procedure, a medical history will be taken, and consent obtained. Also, so that you can see the difference resulting from your procedure, before and after pictures of your face or treatment area will be taken.
Before the filler is injected, the facial area will be cleaned and numbed with a topical numbing cream. Then, after cleaning the area once again, the filler is applied. The filler will be injected with precision and using various techniques to attain symmetry and achieve your desired look.
Everyone will have a different experience. Depending on your pain threshold, you may experience little to mild discomfort. If at any stage the experience becomes too intense, you can ask your injector to take a short break. To take your mind off the procedure and help the professional do their best work, focus on breathing steadily through your nose. After the procedure is complete, the enhanced area will receive another clean and an ice pack will be applied to reduce swelling.
The decision to use fillers is extremely personal. You will have to decide whether the risks and potential complications of dermal fillers are acceptable.
Your Nurse will explain, in detail, any risks prior to your treatment. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure, as well as the potential risks and complications such as:
- Acne-like skin eruptions
- Asymmetry
- Bleeding from the injection site
- Bruising
- Damage to the skin that results in a wound and possible scarring
- Infection at the injection site
- Lumps
- Palpability of the filler under the surface of the skin
- Skin necrosis (ulceration or loss of skin from disruption of blood flow)
- Skin rash with itching
- Skin redness
- Swelling
Severe complications from dermal fillers are uncommon. In very rare cases, the dermal filler can occlude your blood vessels (Vascular Occlusion). This can block blood flow and can be reversed with treatment. Consequences of Vascular Occlusion will vary depending on where the block is. If your skin is affected, you may have skin loss or wounds. If your eye is affected, you may lose your eyesight or go blind. These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent.
It is important that you address all your questions prior to your treatment. Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee that you will be satisfied with your results. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single procedure. Dermal fillers do dissipate over time. To maintain your correction, you will need to consider repeating the injection process at regular intervals.
An easy way to remember the difference between the treatments is to think of ‘filler’ as a procedure that ‘adds’ structure and volume to areas such as the cheeks, chin, and lips by injecting the soft tissues. By contrast, ‘Anti’-Wrinkle Treatments aim to ‘reduce’ wrinkles by relaxing the muscles, which in turn smooths the appearance of the skin.