Dermal fillers are commonly used in aesthetic dermatology to sculpt the face by adding volume and definition to the face and lifting the skin. Dermal fillers can also be injected into facial lines and wrinkles to smoothen the skin.
Dermal fillers are soft tissue fillers that are injected into the skin. One of the most common type of dermal fillers used is hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers.
Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our skin. Our levels of hyaluronic acid get depleted as we age and with exposure to UV rays from the sun. Hyaluronic acid is important to skin because hyaluronic acid is needed to maintain the skin’s hydration and it forms the supporting structure of the skin. Without hyaluronic acid, our skin will be dehydrated, dull, sagging and wrinkled.
Replenishing the skin and tissues with hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers help to restore lost moisture and collagen levels. Dermal fillers also have the added advantage of replacing lost volume in the face resulting in a sunken look; erasing wrinkles and lifting sagging skin.
Dermal fillers can be differentiated by their material they contain - namely hyaluronic acid or collagen stimulators. Each of them have their specific properties and advantages. Hyaluronic acid based fillers are the most commonly used fillers in Singapore. These fillers typically last for 9 -12 months are excellent choices for adding volume to sculpt the face, erase facial lines and wrinkles and enhance skin hydration. Examples of brands of hyaluronic acid fillers are Juvederm and Restylane. Collagen stimulator are mainly calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse) and poly L-lactic acid (Sculptra) induce collagen formation in the skin and enhances the formation of the scaffold that support the structures of the face and gradually replace volume loss.
Dermal fillers can be used in the under eye area (tear trough area) to reduce hollowing and dark circles under the eyes, resulting in a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. Dermal fillers injected in the tear trough area help reduce hollowing under the eyes simulate the appearance of thicker fat pads beneath your skin.
Nose fillers can be used to enhance the profile of the nose by creating a higher and slimmer nose bridge for a more elegant appearance. Nose fillers also can be used to correct other deformities such as dorsal humps and can also be combined with the Hiko nose threadlift for even better results.
The chin plays an important role in defining our face shape and facial proportions. In patients with short or small chins, the face may look wider and rounder and the facial proportion can be unbalanced. Chin fillers can correct these deformities by adding definition and projection to the chin. Chin fillers can also be combined by jaw botox to create a V shaped or slimmer face.
Our temples form the contours of our upper face and full and round temple gives a more youthful look. As we age, our temples start to loss volume and look sunken and hollow, leading to an older and tired looking appearance. Hollow and sunken temples also cause a skeletal face shape and cause the forehead to look flat and the brows to droop due to the loss of support from the temples. Dermal filler correct these problems by restoring volume in the temples to recreate the natural, convex curvature of our upper faces and gently lift the eyebrows and forehead for a younger and more refreshed look.
The nasolabial folds are the laugh lines that run from our nose to the corners of our mouths. Nasolabial folds become more prominent as we age because of our cheeks sagging downwards and worsening the nasolabial fold. Marionette lines are creases or folds that run from the corners of our mouths to our jaw. Like nasolabial folds, marionette lines also worsen as we age due to sagging of our face and loss of collagen. One way to treat prominent nasolabial folds and marionette lines is with dermal fillers. Dermal fillers help restore volume and support to the face, while softening the nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
Dermal fillers are typically hyaluronic acid based fillers that add volume and definition to the face. Dermal fillers are also used to fill in folds of the face like the nasolabial folds and marionette lines to soften the look of the face. Botox on the other hand, is Botulinum toxin, a protein that is used relax muscles of facial expression and erase wrinkles. Both botox and dermal fillers can be combined for a synergistic anti-aging and facial enhancement effects.
Numbing cream is typically applied to numb the skin before injecting the dermal fillers. The dermal fillers I use also come with lignocaine, a type of local anaesthesia so that the discomfort is minimised. In certain situations, I would also use the cannula, which is an blunt tube to administer the filler instead of the needle.
Pre care dermal filler treatment • No consumption of alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours before the treatment (alcohol may increase the risk of bruising as in thins the blood) • 2 weeks prior to the treatment, avoid medication that thin the blood or are anti-inflammatory. Medications and supplements such as aspirin, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, Omega 3/Fish Oil supplements, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil and Aleve have a blood thinning effect and hence, increasing the likelihood of bruising and swelling after injections. • Schedule your dermal filler appointment at least 2 weeks before a special event such as a wedding or a vacation. • Rescheduling of your appointment should be at least 24 hours in advance in the case of a rash, blemish or cold sore or blemish on the area to be treated. Post care dermal filler treatment • Avoid massaging treated area(s). • Avoid vigorous exercise 24 hours after treatment. • Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol or salts to avoid over swelling.
