Even though most people know these products well by name, current Australian Government regulations prevent us from mentioning their names. We are permitted, however, to forward you printed information on this subject along with brand names if you contact us and personally request it.
Currently, there is a confusing array of approved Dermal Fillers on the market each designed to be injected into facial wrinkles to fill them out. To clear the confusion, let's classify them into two categories according to how long the correction will likely last:
Temporary
Long Term/Permanent
In the Temporary category there are currently four products. One was the original Dermal Filler introduced into Australia in the 1980's and is extracted from beef collagen. For various reasons Dr Mayson does not recommend this product. The remaining three brands of Dermal Fillers all have essentially the same active ingredient which is identical to a principal component of human skin. Dr Mayson believes that these latter Dermal Fillers hold the following advantages:
- they provide superior correction
- they last longer
- they are chemically identical to one of the main dermal components of human skin
- they are of non-animal origin
- pre-treatment allergy testing is not required
- they have a proven safety record
'Permanent' & 'Long Term' Fillers of various brand names are the latest products on the Dermal Filler market. Because of both anecdotal and documented reports of permanent complications with long-lasting fillers (latest report: American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery Vol. 23, No3, 2006) Dr Mayson has never advocated use of these fillers. Although tempting for some patients in terms of convenience, the promise of a single treatment and perceived long-term cost advantages, there have been sufficient reports of permanent adverse outcomes with these fillers for patients to exercise considerable caution in considering their use.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
Dermal Fillers correct wrinkles by creating volume under the wrinkles and filling them out.
WHAT IS IT MADE UP OF?
Our three recommended Dermal Fillers are all made up of polysaccharides (complex sugar chains) and it is chemically identical to the substance found naturally in the skin of humans and many other living creatures. In its natural state in the skin it creates volume and forms an important component of the 'ground substance' - the medium in which the collagen and elastin fibres are found. Reassuringly, the product does not have an animal origin. Although manufactured synthetically it is chemically and structurally identical to its natural counterpart in your skin.
ARE SOME PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO IT?
The products we recommend are free of animal proteins and the risk of allergy is extremely small. Although Dr Mayson has never personally witnessed any form of allergic reaction with these fillers, one of the manufacturing companies, Q-Med, advises that about one in every 10,000 treated patients has experienced localised allergic reactions after one or more injections. These have usually consisted of swelling and firmness at the injection site. These reactions have started either a few days or several weeks after injection and have been generally described as mild to moderate and self-limiting with an average duration of two weeks.
Based on the above, treatment can be performed without any pre-treatment testing for pre-existing allergy.
WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?
- Facial Wrinkles, Furrows & Lines
- Depressed injury or surgical scars
- Acne scars
- Lip Augmentation to add volume and definition and thereby make them fuller and more sensuous.
HOW LONG WILL THE CORRECTION LAST?
This very much depends on the individual and where it is used. Although 3-5 months was the original forecasted duration, most experienced injectors have found that the average duration for many patients is actually much longer and not uncommonly in the order of 6-12 months.
HOW IS IT DONE?
A treatment takes about 20-30 minutes and the correction is immediate. As it contains no local anaesthetic, we recommend a local anaesthetic nerve block or local anaesthetic cream to make your treatment more comfortable. You may have some mild puffiness around the treated areas but this usually settles within 48 hours. Likewise, if you are having your lips injected, you should expect them to be a little swollen for the first 48-72 hours before they settle down to their final corrected volume.
WHEN SHOULD THEY NOT BE INJECTED?
- In the presence of any active skin infection eg active acne
- During pregnancy or lactation.
Don't decide on who should inject your Dermal Filler until you've read the following!
Wrinkle correction by Dermal Fillers is a huge growth industry. As such, more and more doctors and some nurses are entering the field. So before you decide who should inject your Dermal Filler consider the following:
The experience of the treating doctor is paramount: Anyone can inject a filler into the skin but it's knowledge and experience that gives the practitioner the right 'feel' of precisely how deep in the skin the filler needs to be deposited and how much needs to be injected. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor how long he/she has been injecting Dermal Fillers and whether there are any alternative treatments that might be better for you. The wrinkles you are trying to correct may be better suited to a totally different treatment. For example, some upper lip lines will not correct satisfactorily with any type of Dermal Filler and are better suited to Laser Skin Resurfacing which could remove them completely with one treatment.
An increasing number of clinics are employing nurses to inject Dermal Fillers. As the Dermal Filler is classified by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration as an S4 Product, it is illegal for a Registered Nurse to inject it unless the patient has FIRST been consulted on the Dermal Filler by the doctor of the practice.
In addition, Registered Nurses are not permitted by law to administer Local Anaesthetic Blocks. Without a Local Anaesthetic Block, your treatment could prove quite painful. Some nurses apply Emla cream instead but it's never as effective as a nerve block.
Don't be guided purely by price and end up going for the cheapest quote. Experienced doctors may charge slightly more but this is usually a reflection of their skill and experience. And it is skill and experience that sets one result apart from another.
Remember, YOU are the consumer, YOU are spending your hard-earned dollars and you deserve the highest professional standards and the best possible results for your money. Don't accept anything less.
