Dermal Fillers (Hyaluronic Acid)

Dermal filler treatment uses injectable gels — most commonly cross-linked hyaluronic acid — to replace lost volume, refine facial contours and soften folds and hollows. As the face ages it loses deep fat and bone support, which flattens the cheeks, deepens the lines from nose to mouth and the marionette lines, and casts shadows under the eyes; filler placed in the right planes restores that support so the face looks refreshed rather than simply 'filled'.…

A session starts with a discussion of your goals and an assessment of facial proportions, after which a topical or local anaesthetic is used and the filler — which itself usually contains lidocaine — is placed with a fine needle or a blunt cannula and moulded by hand. Results are visible immediately, though mild swelling, tenderness and the occasional small bruise are normal for a few days, with the final shape settling over one to two weeks. Hyaluronic…