In the right hands, dermal fillers have endless potential. Here’s why you should be seeking out the best to get the perfect end result.
With a reported 2,000% increase in treatments from 2003 to 2016 alone, fillers now sit second in popularity after Botox as a cosmetic treatment, surpassing laser hair removal, chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
For fans of fillers, this comes as no surprise. With its ability to shape the face, reduce wrinkles and improve the condition of the skin, versatile dermal filler can do things no other treatment can. The new generation of Hyaluranon-based fillers can even smooth and nourish as well as add contour and projection, and in the hands of a talented professional, truly transform.
When discussing fillers, we called on the highly-respected Dr. Sarah Hart for advice about the do’s and don’ts of the popular injectables. As well as running a hugely successful practice in Auckland, she helps her colleagues build on their skill sets through her training roles at NZSCM, Facecoach and Allergan, and she serves as a censor on the NZSCM Executive Board. She is also on the International Advisory Boards for Botox, Juvederm and Belkya, three of the beauty world’s most trusted brands.
What areas can be treated with Dermal Filler?
Dermal fillers can be used all over the face to effectively treat numerous concerns. These include nasolabial folds, the perioral area around the lips, hollows under the eyes, marionette lines and even the hands. They can sculpt and recreate the jawline and chin and address the kind of temporal hollowing that can make us appear tired or sad as our faces age.
A truly customisable treatment, the beauty of fillers is you can have as much or as little as you like. It’s easy to assume that the only people who’ve had their lips done are those with the obviously overfilled ones you notice, but as Dr. Hart says, “the sign of any good tweak is its imperceptibility”. Far more people have had work than you realise – you don’t notice the ones who walk out with natural, super flattering proportions.
Are fillers suitable for everyone?
Several factors need to be taken into account to determine if you’re a candidate for filler and if so, which product is right for you. These include the risk profile, desired longevity, financial constraints, and which area is to be treated. Dr. Hart won’t treat those who are pregnant or breast feeding, and is also cautious about those who may have implants in their face. “I always ask for written permission from the surgeon who did the procedure before attempting filler,” she says, “and if that’s in place it’s usually fine.” Those living with auto-immune disorders also warrant caution as they are often highly susceptible to reactions, but this can be worked around by using first- generation fillers like Juvéderm Ultra Plus that haven’t been as heavily modified as the latest options.
Chose your practitioner wisely
Like any beauty treatment or product offering, when it comes to filler, it’s vital that you do your research. Take the time to pour over ‘before and after’ photos, and opt for a treatment provider who takes the kind of aesthetic approach you aspire to. Dr. Hart stresses the importance of choosing a provider that has a truly “aesthetic eye” when dealing with changes to a patient’s appearance, “and they should always do a full face assessment. If you come in wanting your lips done and your treatment provider only looks at those and nothing else, that’s when it can start to look weird.” She says that reputable doctors are increasingly busy at the moment, and as cheaper options become more and more available “we may start seeing people looking a little unusual. I spent five years honing my craft and am always learning new things, someone who has just learned how to do filler just won’t have that practised eye.”
What are some of the most exciting new options available?
“Juvéderm Volux is a new product that I am really enjoying using for sculpting chins,” says Dr. Hart, “and its arrival was perfect timing. At the moment, jawlines are most definitely the new cheeks when it comes to filler.” She stresses that when overused, it can give too strong a jawline for many women, but when used judiciously, it can sculpt and even lift jowls.
She is also loving Profhilo, which is showing incredible results for the face and the neck. “Necks are such a delicate area
and really need that nourishment, Profhilo is perfect for that.”
How much does it cost, and how long will they last?
Clinics vary, but standard prices for doctors start at around $800 per ml of filler, and nurses from $600 per ml. You most definitely get what you pay for so again, choose your injector wisely. Treatment outcomes are evident instantly and depending on the treatment area, and the product used, results can last between 6 – 18 months.