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Fillers. When I discuss fillers with my friends the majority of them will say "Oooo noooo way! I don't want fillers, they make you look weird don't they? You end up with a pillow face!"
Book your fillers with an experienced pro who definitely won't make you look like a pillow.
Sadly, the images we see of overly-filled celebrities (think Courtney Cox and Kristin Davis) are down to bad placement and using brands of filler that aren't right for that person's requirements. They may be rich and see the most expensive injectors in LA, but having lots of money and charging the most doesn't always equal good results! The high profile folk who just look great (think Kate Middleton (yes!) and Reese Witherspoon) have probably had a dab of filler, but they go to a good practitioner!
If the palace strongly deny that Kate's had any aesthetic treatments (not that she should have to say either way) they're definitely telling fibs.
To help you understand that not all fillers are pillow givers, we're going to answer all your questions about them, ready? Let's go...
Fillers are anti-ageing injections which contain a gel-like substance, most often hyaluronic acid, which can give the skin a rejuvenated look. When injected into the skin, dermal fillers quite literally ‘fill out’ lines and wrinkles, volumise hollow, sunken areas of the face and define and reshape facial features.
Dermal fillers are used to treat static lines (which remain on the face even when it’s relaxed) and for facial contouring. Treatment areas include:
A before and after of tear trough fillers, which Dr MJ is a master of!
Dynamic lines (which disappear when the face is expressionless), however, are best treated with Botox.
When filler is injected into the skin, it smooths out fine lines and wrinkles and plumps out areas which have lost volume. Essentially, dermal fillers work in place of diminished fat, collagen and elastin.
Hyaluronic acid (the most common filler substance) makes a great injectable as it attracts and holds onto lots of water - this water then helps create the plumping effect underneath the skin.
One of the biggest benefits of fillers is skin rejuvenation - lines and wrinkles can be filled out and the face can be sculpted with a little help from dermal fillers. There’s even a treatment called the liquid facelift which uses fillers to give the face a firmer, youthful look as an alternative to a surgical facelift.
Dermal filler injections can also be used to alter and define facial features like the nose, chin and jawline, as well as for treating acne scars.
The most common types of dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, including the popular brands Juvéderm and Restylane. Hyaluronic acid is often favoured over other filler substances because it can be dissolved (with an enzyme called hyaluronidase) if anything goes wrong with the treatment or if the client doesn’t like the results.
Another plus of hyaluronic acid is that it's a naturally-occurring molecule found in the skin, which means it’s a safe material that’s well-received by the body.
Q. Are all fillers the same?
No. Each brand will be different and your (medically qualified) practitioner will (hopefully) use different fillers depending on the job they want the filler to do. Some fillers are thicker than others, some stickier, some feel harder, some feel softer, some are better for under the eyes, some work better in cheeks, others are right for lips. There isn't a one-filler-fits-all solution, fillers have different jobs.
A before and after of cheek filler from the incredible Dr Jess
Q. Will filler lift my jowls?
Filler doesn't actually lift anything. You get filler to fill, not to lift. Filler remodels and supports, and it can give an 'illusion' of the face being lifted, but it can't actually lift anything. It adds volume and will change the contour of areas of the face and, yes, in the right hands you'll feel as if your jowls have been lifted (filler in the cheeks usually helps with this) even if they haven't technically elevated anywhere.
Q. How much filler should I have?
Depends on where you're having it and what job it's doing! Don't fret about how much to have, It's all about placement, and actually you shouldn't worry about the amount being used. If you're seeing a medically qualified professional, that's what they're trained for. They will know how much to use and where to use it. 1ml could look amazing in the lips done by a pro, or absolutely horrific in the lips done by an inexperienced person!
Q. What's the difference between 1ml and 5ml of filler?
A teaspoon will hold about 5ml of liquid. A small dessert spoon 10ml. So imagine 1ml of liquid in a teaspoon that holds 5ml when full. It's a tiny tiny amount! A sachet of ketchup is about 10ml. So if you have 1ml of filler in your lips, it's actually not a lot of filler.
We just want to know where to buy these gold spoons, don't you? So on trend...
The treatment time will depend on the area being injected and how much filler is needed. But, generally, dermal filler treatments are quick, taking less than 15 minutes. For more intensive filler treatments - like the liquid facelift - the procedure can take about 30 minutes to an hour.
If a numbing cream is used, you’ll have to wait roughly 20 minutes for it to kick in before the treatment begins.
The dermal filler side effects are pretty minimal and usually disappear soon after the treatment - they typically last a few days. They include things like swelling, redness and minor bleeding near the injection points. You might also experience some bruising, but applying an arnica cream to the area can help keep this at bay.
If any of these symptoms persist, contact your practitioner for advice.
There’s no downtime following a filler treatment, so you’ll be able to resume your plans as usual. And any side effects you encounter should clear up within a few days of your treatment.
But, you might want to clear your calendar of important events until any signs of redness, swelling and bruising have disappeared.
Your practitioner will likely apply a topical numbing cream to the target area to help reduce pain as much as possible. Lots of modern fillers also contain lidocaine, which will continue to numb the area with each injection.
Some areas of the face will be more sensitive than others - like the lips and nose - but, talk to your practitioner about pain management options if you’re concerned.
Because there are lots of important arteries in areas of the face which are often treated with fillers, the treatment is medium-risk. But, the risks of dermal fillers are significantly lowered if you choose a medically qualified practitioner for the procedure who has the right training, lots of experience and the appropriate qualifications.
It’s also really important that you chat with your practitioner about your medical history, conditions you might have or any medications you’re taking beforehand to ensure nothing will impact the safety of the treatment.
A beautiful before and after of lip filler from Lucy Foster
A week prior to your treatment, avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E and fish oil supplements as these may increase bleeding and bruising. However, if you are taking any prescribed medicines, including aspirin, do not stop taking them. Instead, chat with your practitioner or GP first.
Avoiding alcohol for at least one day before your treatment is also recommended.
Try not to touch the treated areas immediately after your anti-ageing treatment as this can lead to infection or interfere with the placement of filler. Exercise, alcohol and heat should be avoided for the first couple of days after the treatment and you should wait 1-2 weeks before having any other aesthetic treatments.
You shouldn’t have a filler treatment if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, if you’re allergic to any of the ingredients in the filler, or if your skin is irritated or infected.
Your practitioner will be able to give you further guidance on this.
When hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers are used, results typically last for 6-18 months. But, their exact longevity will vary from person to person as it depends on how quickly each individual metabolises the filler.
For non-hyaluronic acid fillers, results can last for years.
Q. How much do fillers costs?
Impossible to answer without knowing where you want them. Even then we'll have no idea how much you'll need! Expect to pay, on average, £250 for lip fillers.
And there are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about fillers. For more info, check out our dermal filler treatment guide and browse our 8 considerations before getting dermal fillers to make sure you're super prepared!
If you're ready to book in for your consultation for fillers then get yourself over to our search page right here and choose from the hundreds of incredible clinics we have near you!
