Here’s what you need to know about dermal fillers for younger-looking, lifted skin. BY SIMONE WU
Here’s what you need to know about dermal fillers for younger-looking, lifted skin. BY SIMONE WU
As you age, the pockets of fat in your face that help you look youthful start to lose volume and sag, leaving you with under-eye hollows as well as sunken cheeks and temples.
Dermal fillers, correctly injected into the skin, are said to help restore the youthfulness of these areas, giving more definition to your chin and jawline, plumping up your cheeks, and even your lips, and heightening your nose bridge.
The Different Kinds Available
There are natural and synthetic fillers. According to Dr Ng Hong Yi, medical doctor at Astique The Aesthetic Clinic, “Hyaluronic acid fillers are considered natural fillers and can last six to 12 months in the skin, while poly-L-lactic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite are synthetic fillers that can last one to two years.”
The results for hyaluronic acid fillers are instant. According to Dr Rachel Lim, medical director of Ardmore Aesthetic Clinic, hyaluronic acid acts as a water reservoir in the skin, drawing moisture to dehydrated areas. This leaves your skin smoother and more supple, and plumps up fine lines.
Poly-L-lactic acid is meant to stimulate collagen production, and requires three to five rounds over six months or more to see the full results.
Calcium hydroxylapatite is the heaviest of all dermal fillers and is used to flll moderate to severe creases and deep wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines, explains Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director of The Sloane Clinic. Nasolabial folds, commonly known as “smile lines”, run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Marionette lines are the creases that run from the sides of your mouth to your chin.
Getting Fillers Done
Your doctor first does a consultation and an analysis of your facial contours. He or she also explains the procedure, including any potential risks. Once all your concerns and questions are answered, you are ready to proceed with the procedure, which begins with cleansing your face before a topical numbing cream is applied and left on for 15 to 30 minutes.
Dr Low explains that dermal fillers can be injected into different areas of the face in one sitting to help improve your overall face shape. At The Sloane Clinic, there is a relaxation room with music therapy and a selection of calming beverages to help you unwind.
“After the procedure is done, I counsel patients on the appropriate aftercare and arrange for her to return in two to four weeks for a review,” says Dr Ng.
What You May Have To Pay
The cost of these injectables varies from one clinic to another, and depends on the filler material used, says Dr Ng. Prices can range from $600 to $1,000.
Yes, It Could Hurt
A filler injection feels like a regular injection. But in addition to the prick, you’ll also feel something pushing against your skin.
So how much pain is there? Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Prive Clinic, says the skin is usually more sensitive in areas where nerves and vessels are closer to the surface. These include the marionette lines, the skin around the lips, the under-eye area, tip of the nose, and the apples of the cheeks. Hence the need for numbing cream
Dr Low adds: “Every patient is unique, and some areas that one finds more sensitive can be comfortable to another.”
Suitable For All Skin Types
“Dermal fillers are appropriate for all skin types. If patients are concerned about allergic reactions, we can do a patch test to be sure,” says Dr Soh. Fillers can even be done if you suffer from eczema or rosacea. However, if you are pregnant, you should avoid any aesthetic procedures until after delivery.
Best Time To Do Them
To look your best for an upcoming important event, get your fillers done at least two weeks to a month in advance. This allows temporary side effects like bruising, swelling and lumpiness to subside, says Dr Lim.
Prolonging The Results
You can touch the injected area gently after the procedure but, for at least two weeks, avoid facials as the pressure from massaging will cause the filler to metabolise and dissipate quickly. Dr Lim says that fillers last longer in areas with less muscle activity, such as the chin and cheeks.
Dr Soh advises that if you’ve had fillers done, you should keep your heart rate low for at least two weeks after the procedure. Heavy aerobic activity, which increases the heart rate, can speed up the metabolism of the filler material.
Intense heat from spending time in a sauna or under the sun should also be avoided as heat generated by the body also contributes to the metabolism of fillers. SH
