Fillers

Dermal fillers, or wrinkle fillers, are injectable substances which are used to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and also to replace lost volume. They are also sometimes used in reconstructive plastic surgery to fill defects formed after trauma or surgery.

Filler treatment is perhaps the second most popular cosmetic treatment after wrinkle relaxing injections (Botox®) and is commonly used for lip enhancement, shaping and and restoring volume in the cheeks,  and filling out lines and wrinkles on the face.

Already a popular treatment with women across Liverpool and the North West, it is also fast becoming a popular with men.

Traditionally, it has been used to carry out area-specific treatments like lip enhancement, but we have found a more holistic use in combination with other treatments to achieve an overall facial rejuvenation. This is known as the liquid facelift or non-surgical facelift.

 

Fillers are available in different formulations, and can be temporary, semi-permanent and permanent .

Temporary fillers are generally composed of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance produced by the body commonly found in human skin and tissue.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are produced in different forms and different consistencies (ranging from liquid to a firm gel). The different consistencies are suited to use in different areas of the face, and also change the rate that they are absorbed by the body.

For example, a thicker consistency filler (such as Voluma®, Restylane Sub-Q® or Radiesse®) may be used to replace volume lost with age, while a slightly softer filler (such as Juvederm 3®, Restylane® or Belotero Intense®) is used for shaping and enhancing lips and filling deep lines.

Very soft fillers (such as Juvederm Hydrate® or Belotero Soft®) are used for smoothing very fine wrinkles in the surface of the skin.
While any injectable treatment carries certain risks and it is always advisable to have a consultation with a highly trained Consultant Plastic Surgeon before treatment, the great advantage of hyaluronic acid fillers is that they are generally considered safe, and rarely produce allergic reactions. As well as this, they are gradually absorbed by the body over time, meaning that misplaced filler or a poor cosmetic result will gradually resolve itself or can be quickly treated using an enzyme (Hyalase) to dissolve it.

The consensus decision amongst our group of Consultant Plastic Surgeons is that the use of artificial permanent fillers can lead to long term problems which are difficult, if not impossible to treat. Therefore we have decided as a group of professionals not to use these artificial permanent fillers in our practice.

The exception is when a patient’s own fat is used, harvested from one area of the body and transferred to another area to enhance it. This is known as fat transfer, or lipofilling. To read more about this, click here.