The idea of having invasive cosmetic surgery can be quite scary to most people. Going under general anaesthetic carries its own risks before the surgeon has even made an incision. So it’s no wonder that more and more people are choosing to improve their looks and boost their confidence and self esteem through the use of non-surgical beauty procedures like dermal fillers.

At one point the only option for dealing with facial wrinkles was an invasive face lift. These take several weeks to heal before you can see the results and find out if it was all worth it. They’re also permanent, so once you commit to a surgical face lift there’s no going back. There had to be an easier, less invasive way... and so dermal fillers were discovered!

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are skin-friendly solutions which are injected into the skin in order to plump it up and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers are also used to create facial contours, create volume and revitalise the skin.

Dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that exists within our bodies. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule which is present in almost all living organisms. It binds to water and acts as a shock absorber and lubricant to moveable parts of the body i.e. joints, and also helps to transport nutrients and balance the amount of water in the skin.

The hyaluronic acid used in dermal fillers is a stabilised, non-animal form which closely resembles the natural acid found in the body. It is carried into the body via a soft, injectable, tissue-friendly gel.

How do dermal fillers work?

Dermal fillers boost the skin’s supply of hyaluronic acid, which revitalises and adds volume to the skin. This instantly diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and gives the skin a softer, more youthful look.

The results of dermal filler treatment can be seen straight away after just one treatment, and will last for around 6 to 9 months. Once the effects begin to wear off you can either have the treatment redone or just leave things to nature, it’s your choice! Dermal fillers are not permanent in any way, so as your face changes and ages over time you can control your looks subtly by creating contours and diminishing pesky wrinkles!