The Ageing Process
Part of the ageing process consist of volumetric loss, especially on the face. This happens because of loss of bone (bone resorption) and loss of fat associated with downward migration, causing loss of support and sagging of the face. This makes us lose prominence on the cheeks, jaw and chin, at the same time as getting hollowing on temples and buccal fat area and accentuation of tear throughs. This makes dark circles under the eyes appear, jowls, nasolabial folds, all coming together to make us look age and tried. Also, lips become thinner and invert, losing its plump appearance.
With the advent of dermal fillers we discovered a way to keep looking youthful for longer! It consist on the injection of a substance in or under the skin which promote a volume enhancement on the injected area and restoring what age has taken from us.
The History of Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers have initially been used in the late 1800s. Back then they started injecting paraffin and subsequently unprepared silicone. Needless to say this didn’t work very well!
In the mid 1900s a revolutionary substance was discovered – Hyaluronic acid. It was started using in Medicine after they identified ways of purifying it, and in the late 70s early 80s it started being injected in joints with great results. At the same time other cosmetic fillers were trialled, the most famous being bovine collagen. This did not last long and caused a lot of allergic reactions, and therefore its use was discontinued with the advent newer options.
It was only in the early 2000s that hyaluronic acid started being used in cosmetics, and it totally revolutionised the cosmetic industry. It proved to be a simple, safe and reliable way to achieve the desired results. Biostimulators such as PLLA and Calcium Hydroxyapatite were also introduced and their use also continued to grow.
Why Choose Essence Healthcare?
Dermal filler treatment can go especially wrong and cause very unnatural results when performed by professionals that are not properly qualified and trained. At Essence Healthcare we pride ourselves for providing natural results and bringing out the best version of yourself, without giving you the overfilled look.
Further to that, on rare occasions patients may have serious complications such as lack of blood supply to a certain area causing necrosis, blindness and other permanent injuries. So it is particularly important to chose your injector wisely.
The types of dermal fillers available in Australia:
There are different types of dermal fillers approved in Australia. The most common ones are:
- Hyaluronic acid fillers (1link to HA dermal fillers)
- Bio stimulating fillers (2link to bio stimulating dermal fillers)
- Calcium Hydroxyapatite fillers
- Poly-L-Lactic acid fillers
Essence healthcare is not your average cosmetic injecting clinic. We are an excellence cosmetic center and only count with expert injectors that have been through expert training with Dr Lucas de Siqueira and have been in the industry for long time. As a consequence, all our injectors have an expert understanding of facial aesthetics and anatomy and are able to achieve optimal results.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (HA)
Hyaluronic Acid fillers have rapidly become the most common fillers since it started being used in cosmetics due to its safety profile, reversibility, lower chance of complications and allergic reactions, amazing results and ease of administration.
It consists of a soft gel like substance that draws water to itself and promote volumetric enhancement and contouring to the desired areas.
is a natural, linear polysaccharide found in connective tissue, synovial fluid and other tissues in all organisms. Being a naturally occurring substance in our tissues mean no antigenic specificity, which in consequence means low potential for allergic or immunogenic reactions. Therefore, no allergy testing is required before use and chances of allergic reactions are extremely low!
HA is highly hydrophilic, meaning it retains water. 1g of HA can bind up to 6 L of water!
Functions include space filling, lubrication and shock absorption and in the skin, HA attracts water to create volume and provide structural support.
Which areas can be treated?
The most common treatment areas/concerns addressed are:
- Lips
- Cheeks
- Chin
- Tear Throughs
- Nose
- Brows
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Downward turned mouth corners
- Temples
- Jaws
HA Fillers Frequently Asked Questions
How soon will I see results?
As soon as the substance is injected, an immediate increase in volume is seen. This means that results are seen straight away!
Nevertheless there is a process of swelling and inflammation which will mean that for the first week or two the results will not be final. Usually in 2 weeks final results can be seen.
How long does it last?
The average results from HA fillers are between 9-15 months.
The duration of natural HA in the skin is about 1 – 2 days. But don’t worry! This is not how long your treatment is going to last!! By cross-linking HA with an agent, this increases its duration by making it more resistant to degradation by heat, mechanical stress & biological enzymes. This results in longer lasting durability and persistent cosmetic results which can sometimes last up to 18 months.
Over time, HA is absorbed by the surrounding tissues in a process called ‘isovolumetric degradation’. As HA degrades, it binds to even more water to take its place. As a result, the same volume is maintained with less HA. This produces natural-appearing volume correction and cosmetic persistence until the entire product is degraded. The main reasons for the fillers not lasting as long include, excessive movement, smoking and unhealthy lifestyle.
How is the treatment performed?
The treatment involves injecting the substance in the skin or under the skin. It can be performed with a needle or with a cannula (which is a long blunt needle).
A series of injections will be performed and small amounts of substance will be deposited in each area giving the best natural results. If using a cannula, it is likely that only 1 or 2 entry points will be performed.
Will it hurt?
The procedure is usually very well tolerated and minimal pain levels are expected. To further ease the discomfort a topical anaesthetic can be applied. If using a cannula, pain levels are usually even lower, and a small amount of local anaesthetic can be deposited on the entry point.
What are the risks/possible complications?
Even though HA dermal fillers are considered very safe, risks are still present, especially when treating specific danger areas such as forehead, nose and temples.
Some normal complications include:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bruising
- Lumpiness
- Asymmetry (we are all asymmetrical, so perfect symmetry is never possible)
Rare complications include:
- Necrosis (tissue death due to lack of blood flow)
- Blindness
- Scarring
- Allergic reactions
What if I don’t like it?
One of the best features of HA dermal fillers is its reversibility. If there is an obstruction of blood vessel, major asymmetry or if you don’t like it, there is a way to dissolve the filler. This consists of the application of a substance called hyaluronidase, an enzyme that causes rapid degradation of HA and therefore make it disappear!
Bio Stimulating Dermal Fillers
Another option for dermal fillers that are not HA are what we call bio stimulating fillers. There are 2 main types:
-
- Calcium Hydroxyapatite fillers
- Poly-L-Lactic acid fillers
These consist of substances that work by inducing the body to produce it’s own natural collagen and tissue growth. For the body to produce collagen it takes time, usually at least 3-4 weeks. So results are not immediate like HA fillers, and often we need to do 2-3 treatment sessions about 4 weeks apart for optimal results.
At the same time due to being a natural collagen production, results are often much more natural.
Which Areas Can Be Treated?
The most common treatment areas/concerns addressed are:
- Cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Temples
- Jaws
- Buttocks
- Thighs
- Arms
- Cellulite
Bio Stimulating Filler Frequently Asked Questions
How soon will I see results?
If injecting Calcium Hydroxyapatite, results can be seen immediately, but it will further volumize with time and best results will be seen in 4-8 weeks.
If injecting PLLA, no immediate results are seen and results will be seen in 6-8 weeks.
As mentioned before, 2-3 treatments may be necessary to achieve best results
There will also be a process of swelling and inflammation which will mean that for the first week or two you may look slightly more swollen than usual. But that result does not last.
How long does it last?
Results of bio stimulating fillers are much more long lasting than of HA fillers.
The average duration is probably around 15-18 months, but sometimes it can last for up to 2+ years!
How is the treatment performed?
The treatment involves injecting the substance in the skin or under the skin. It can be performed with a needle or with a cannula (which is a long blunt needle).
A series of injections will be performed and small amounts of substance will be deposited in each area giving the best natural results. If using a cannula, it is likely that only 1 or 2 entry points will be performed.
Will it hurt?
The procedure is usually very well tolerated and minimal pain levels are expected. To further ease the discomfort a topical anaesthetic can be applied. If using a cannula, pain levels are usually even lower, and a small amount of local anaesthetic can be deposited on the entry point.
What are the risks/possible complications?
Some normal complications include:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bruising
- Lumpiness
- Asymmetry (we are all asymmetrical, so perfect symmetry is never possible)
Rare complications include:
- Nodule formation – nodules are hard lumps that occur and may be visible. These are often hard to treat and may be present for many years.
- Scarring
- Allergic reactions
Why Chose Essence Healthcare?
At Essence Healthcare we provide optimized individual comprehensive facial assessment rather than the usual in and out injectable clinics. We pride ourselves for being and excellence cosmetic clinic which only counts with expert cosmetic injectors that have been in the industry for long time and are well recognized as industry leaders lead by Dr Lucas de Siqueira, a nationally and internationally recognized cosmetic trainer. At Essence you will have time to talk about the procedures, discuss best options available, and count with a variety of services that combined will give you the best possible outcomes.
Because we count with expert injectors, we are one of the few clinics in Melbourne that provide dermal filler application in advanced/complex area, such as noses and forehead. Dr Lucas is an advanced filler trainer and one of the only practitioners that have the knowledge and expertise to provide training for such areas.
Dermal filler treatment can go especially wrong and cause very unnatural results when performed by professionals that are not properly qualified and trained. At Essence Healthcare we pride ourselves for providing natural results and bringing out the best version of yourself, without giving you the overfilled look.
Further to that, on rare occasions patients may have serious complications such as lack of blood supply to a certain area causing necrosis, blindness and other permanent injuries. So it is particularly important to choose your injector wisely.
