Dermal fillers are an injectable treatment for both women and men and used to fill or add volume to areas of the skin that have either lost their natural volume or areas which an individual wishes to make more voluptuous.
As skin gets older it gradually loses its hydration, fats, elasticity and collagen. Various areas of the face and body lose volume due to the natural ageing process, the environment, smoking, stress and sun exposure.
What exactly are fillers? They’re substances (natural or synthetic) that are injected under the skin to fill out identified areas – a secret beauty weapon often coined a ‘tweakment’. They can plump lips, cheekbones and soften wrinkles. But like any aesthetics treatment, you should know exactly what you’re signing up for and know fact from fiction.
Here are some of the biggest myths about fillers, so you can make the most informed decision possible if you’re considering a post lockdown ‘tweakment’.
MYTH: Treatment is Painful
Most people ahead of their dermal filler treatment are wanting to know what they are getting themselves in for with the main question being asked ‘does it hurt?’. There might be some slight discomfort whilst the dermal filler is being injected, but this is why it’s best to do your research and find an experienced and accredited practitioner – as they will work with an individual to ensure they feel as calm and comfortable as possible. Also, their wealth of experience and fine-tuned technique will minimise any pain an individual may feel. Many clinics and practitioners will be able to offer anaesthetic cream before treatment if an individual is concerned.
Also, to note, one of the latest advancements in dermal filler is the addition of lidocaine, a pain numbing agent, to the filling product. This enables dermal filler products, just like UTH, to have a uniform consistency of numbing medicine throughout the entire filler, thus meaning as you are undergoing treatment the pain should be minimal to non-existent.
MYTH: Lip Fillers Will Stretch Lips And Make Them Sag
One of the most common uses of dermal filler is to create fuller looking lips in both women and men. A myth surrounding this treatment is that once started, it has to be kept up otherwise an individual would be left with over-stretched and sagging lips.
This is simply untrue and based on a lot of misinformation. Most individuals once they start are keen to keep their lips looking fuller, but if they wanted to stop at any time, they can and would not experience any side effects.
Here’s the explanation why – collagen production is increased by injecting hyaluronic acid (which is a naturally occurring substance in our body) into the skin. If the treatment is not kept up, the body will begin to naturally dissolve the filler and often leaves a slightly thickened and healthy dermis layer.
MYTH: Bruising And Downtime Are Inevitable
When it comes to bruising, it really can come down to if your body naturally bruises easily or not. Most treatments take only twenty minutes, with fairly instant results and if your injector is chosen wisely, as is the product used, you’re likely to reduce your chances of bruising or swelling. But if you do usually bruise like a peach – you need to prepare yourself for the chances of this occurring. Any swelling that occurs can be reduced with a cold compress, arnica can be a good ointment and any bruising will only be short term and should be completely gone within 14 days.
MYTH: Once You Start, You Have To Keep Going
You don’t have to – the choice is yours. If you love your results, then the majority of fillers are not permanent, and you will need to keep returning back to your clinic for timely top ups. After about six months, your body will start to naturally break down the hyaluronic acid, so further appointments are very much needed.
What this does mean is that it’s a total myth that you can’t have a one-off treatment. If you want to try dermal fillers once or twice, you can, as the effects will fade away with no long-term risks or changes to the areas you choose to have treated.
MYTH: Anyone Can Do The Injections
In short, no! It goes without saying that safety is the top priority when undergoing any cosmetic treatment. Looking for an accredited clinician is your first step, second is exploring which treatment will work best for your concerns and thirdly, which product is the best to achieve the results you want. Given this is a cosmetic procedure, individuals need to be satisfied with the results. One way to find a practitioner that has created great results is asking friends or family that you know have had treatment, highly recommend their clinician and you yourself like how their treated areas look.
Even when you find your chosen clinician, the consultation is an important step. You need to be really open about your goals and how you believe this treatment and their skills can help you. You may believe that dermal filler is the right choice, but alternative treatments might also work to achieve the results you desire. Make sure you also ask for before and after pictures or case studies of successful treatments, also ask them to chat through their philosophies, techniques and levels of experience and accreditations.