Injectable Treatments
As we age, we lose the volume in our face that makes our skin look plump and youthful, so dermal fillers can be used to ‘fill out’ lines and wrinkles and replace lost volume in the skin caused by ageing. They can also be used as a non-surgical alternative to facial implants to add volume to the cheeks or chin, to correct minor deformities in the nose, to get rid of hollows underneath the eyes and to plump up thin lips.
There are many different types of dermal fillers available which last anywhere between three months and five years. Although dermal fillers, particularly temporary fillers, are now very safe, you should make sure you are seeing a properly qualified practitioner to avoid any complications. Dermal fillers can be injected by any medically trained practitioner who has undergone suitable training, including aesthetic nurses, doctors, dentists, surgeons and dermatologists. Beauty therapists should not inject dermal fillers. Dermal filler treatments are becoming increasingly common in the UK as they offer rejuvenation with out the expense or downtime of invasive surgery. As the use of dermal filler products has grown, so has the choice of different filler substances. There are now many options on the market, so it is important to find the right product for you. Look at some of the dermal filler before and after photos right here!
DERMAL FILLERS
Human collagen based dermal filler: Brands include CosmoDerm, CosmoPlast, Cymetra.
What is it made of: Purified natural substance from human tissue.
How long does it last: Two to six months.
Bottom line: Safe but fades fast; no allergy test required.
Bovine collagen based dermal filler: Brands include Zyderm and Zyplast.
What is it made of: Purified collagen from cows.
How long does it last: Two to six months.
Bottom line: Requires allergy test before treatment; fades fast.
Hyaluronic acid based dermal filler: Brands include Restylane. Juvederm, Hylaform.
What is it made of: Synthetic or animal versions of a natural substance found in the body’s joints.
How long does it last: Depending on the product formulation, from six to 12 months.
Bottom line: More expensive than collagen but lasts longer; safe; rare allergic reactions.
Calcium hydroxy- lapatite microspheres dermal filler: Brand name Radiesse.
What is it made of: Synthetic, biocompatible substance.
How long does it last: 12 to 18 months.
Bottom line: Longer-lasting but not permanent; can cause lumpiness.
Synthetic polylactic acid in microspheres dermal filler: Brand name Sculptra
What is it made of: Synthetic, biocompatible substance.
How long does it last: Two years.
Bottom line: Longer-lasting but not permanent; may cause lumpiness and other problems if injected improperly.
Polymethyl- methacrylate microspheres suspended in bovine collagen dermal filler: Brand name Artefill.
What is it made of: Synthetic, biocompatible substance injected with bovine collagen.
How long does it last: Five years or more.
Bottom line: Considered permanent; requires allergy test; likely to be expensive; may cause lumpiness; problems may be permanent or require surgery to fix.
Allergan
Allergan’s new JUVÉDERM® formulation contains the local anesthetic lidocaine to provide patients with enhanced comfort during treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the nasolabial folds (or “parentheses”) that appear around the nose and mouth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approved the product on 1st February 2010. The JUVÉDERM(R) XC formulation with 0.3% preservative-free lidocaine numbs the treatment area within seconds, potentially reducing the need for an additional anesthetic. JUVÉDERM(R) XC provides the same smooth, long-lasting results as demonstrated with existing formulations of JUVÉDERM(R), and now offers a more comfortable injection experience and potentially less time spent in the physician’s office when compared to the non-lidocaine JUVÉDERM(R) formulation.
BOTULINUM TOXIN
Botox®
Botox® was the first botulinum toxin to gain a cosmetic licence endorsing its use for glabellar lines and wrinkles in the USA. Botox® is used to treat the abnormal head position and neck pain, to treat certain types of eye muscle problems and is also injected into the skin to treat the symptoms of severe underarm sweating. It is most famous as for its use to eradicate frown lines for a short period of time. In the UK Botox was licensed for cosmetic purposes in 2006 under the name Vistabel. This is the UK’s first choice of treatment to remove facial lines and wrinkles, proven to reduce the visible signs of ageing.
Dysport®
Dysport is indicated for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia to reduce the severity of abnormal head position and neck pain. It has been available in the U.K. since the early 1990′s and has licences in 67 countries worldwide including the United Kingdom. It also gained licensing for cosmetic use in the UK in early 2009 and is marketed for this indication under the brand name Azzalure®.
Neurobloc®
Neurobloc® became available in the U.K. in 2001 but the product does not currently have approval for cosmetic use anywhere in the world.
