Dermal fillers: What are they?

With so many aesthetic treatments available today, there are a plethora of options for all you ladies (and gentlemen) out there to meet all your skin enhancing needs. But before you do, it is important to know what exactly you are getting yourself into. Here, we introduce you to dermal fillers, the different types, and just what are they?

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are a type of injectable implant used for anti-ageing facial enhancement or rejuvenation, and are usually administered through a needle or cannula. Not to be confused with Botox, which temporarily alters muscle contractions to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, dermal fillers help smoothen them. For more information on botox, click here.

As we age, our bodies lose collagen and their natural moisture-retention abilities, leading to saggy, hollow skin and fine lines. Other factors besides ageing include environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) exposure. All these are the result of older looking skin and face.

This is where dermal fillers come in for two main purposes: anti-ageing and facial contouring.

With anti-ageing, dermal fillers help volumise the face to treat sagging and wrinkles due to the above reasons. In facial contouring, these fillers can sculpt our face to enhance its features and fill up sunken and hollow areas to restore that youthful, vibrant look!

Types of dermal fillers

Dermal fillers can be categorised into hyaluronic acid fillers, the most common type, and non-hyaluronic acid or collagen-stimulating fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in our body to retain moisture, while collagen is a protein responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity or structure.

Dermal filler brands

Here are some Health Science Authority (HSA) approved brands in Singapore, namely: Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero, Saypha (formerly known as Princess), Ellanse, Revanesse, and Stylage.

Here at Zoe Medical, we use filler products from the brands Restylane and Juvederm.

Let us now dive deeper into both brands!

Restylane

Restylane is a range of hyaluronic acid dermal filler by pharmaceutical company Galderma and includes Restylane Lyft, Restylane Defyne and many more. They work by injecting targeted areas with hyaluronic acid to tackle specific visible signs of ageing, such as deep wrinkles, and help add volume to the face.

Restylane Lyft is another variation of Restylane filler that Zoe Medical carries that is more firm as it is designed to lift folds and replace facial volume loss as a result of bone loss and collagen degradation.

Restylane treatments require minimal downtime and some swelling, redness, and numbness are to be expected at the injected site. What’s more, Restylane consists of numbing agent, Lidocaine, which will help reduce discomfort during the treatment! The numbing effect will wear off after a few hours.

Juvederm

Juvederm is another well-known hyaluronic acid filler brand by the company Allergan and consists of various products. Our clinic offers Juvederm Voluma, Volift and Volbella. While these three products are tailored to target specific areas, all of them are formulated to achieve the same goal of removing visible facial signs of ageing.

 

Where can I use dermal fillers on?

Dermal fillers can be used to treat various areas such as lips contouring, fill up hollow areas under the eyes, facelift, and fine lines and wrinkles.
More specific treatment areas can be seen in the image below:

How long do dermal fillers last?

Hyaluronic acid-based products are known as temporary fillers and usually last from 6 to 18months. The longevity of the filler also depends on the area of treatment. For instance, a filler administered in areas with more movement tends to last shorter than an area that requires minimal movement.
There is also another group of fillers that are mainly collagen-stimulating, also known as semi-permanent fillers. Ellanse and Sculptra is an example of a semi-permanent filler brand, and these last for about 1-3 years.

How much does a treatment cost?

The price of dermal fillers in Singapore depends on the brand and the amount used – per syringe (1ml).

Restylane: $400 – $800
Juvederm: $800 – $1200

How long is the downtime for dermal fillers?

There is almost no downtime after treatment in most cases, and you may resume your normal activities. However, there are some aftercare to take note of, which includes: avoid applying pressure or massage the injected site within 24 hours of treatment, avoid strenuous exercise within 24 hours of treatment, and to be gentle when washing your face if that is the injected site.

You may also continue to apply makeup over the treated area after 12-24 hours.

Are there side effects of dermal fillers?

As with most injectable treatments, there are some reactions to be expected. After getting a dermal filler treatment, one can expect to see slight bruising, redness, and swelling at the injection sites. However, these effects are temporary and typically resolve within a few hours or sometimes but rarely, up to a week. Makeup can also be used to cover any bruises caused by the treatment after 24 hours.

Enhanced treatment: Fillers and Botox

When it comes to facial enhancement, fillers and botox work hand in hand, complementing each other to achieve the best restoration and rejuvenation results. Both treatments work together to target multiple areas of the face simultaneously, leading to more intense and lasting results.

All in all, dermal fillers are a natural and non-invasive way to achieve facial enhancement and restorative works that are caused by ageing, gravity and other external factors.

Reach out to Zoe Medical to find out more! Whatsapp us here!

Address: #03-07/08 Camden Medical Centre, One Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248649
Telephone: 6836 6035 or 9147 6430
Email: info@zoemedical.sg

All information provided is purely for educational purposes only and does not constitute as medical advice.