Dermal Fillers
Dermal Fillers

Dermal Fillers Melbourne

Whether we like it or not, age advances. Although we cannot stop it, with a better understanding of its process, we can intervene and slow down the visible signs. Dermal fillers are a great way to slow or quietly combat the appearance of an ageing face.

Most of us recognise the visible effects of ageing, which can be heralded by:

  • Wrinkles and lines
  • Deep skin folds and hollows
  • Sagging skin
  • Drooping with a downward smile when at rest
  • Eye bags, puffy lower cheeks
  • Thinning of skin 
  • Brown blotches and redness – no longer cute freckles!

As we age, we undergo many changes, including:

  • Loss of bone
  • Loss of fat, which causes deep skin folds and hollows
  • Movement of fat leads to baggy skin around the eyes, prominent jowls and puffy lower cheeks
  • The muscles that pull the face up weaken, and those that pull down dominate, resulting in a downturned and droopy look
  • The skin’s supportive network breaks down with a loss of collagen and elastin
  • Blood vessels and pigmentation become more prominent

As a strategy for preserving and nurturing skin, it is necessary to deal with the key factors involved in the ageing process.  This is where filler comes into play.

At ENRICH, we use lip enhancement fillers and muscle-relaxant injections to replace volume, hopefully, halt wrinkles in their tracks, and strengthen and improve the skin. A combined approach of several procedures is often the most appropriate way forward for improving the appearance of the face.

What is dermal filler made from?

Our dermal fillers are a naturally-derived substance found in animal and human tissue, and they can be dissolved if any issues arise. In mammals, this substance works as a transportation mechanism, taking nutrients from the blood to the skin. Skin and joints contain high levels of this substance.

The substance found in dermal filler is not derived from any animal, but is synthetic, being what’s known as ‘nature-identical’, meaning it is more or less exactly the same as what your body would make and behaves in the same way. Synthetic fillers also carry a lesser chance of allergic reactions.

You will also find this substance in some of our topical products, such as our ENRICH Radiance Hylauronic B5 Gel or our ENRICH Vit A,B, C Antioxidant serum

Where are dermal fillers used?

The most common areas for dermal filler injections are the lips, chin, cheeks, jowls, next to the mouth (above and sides), nasolabial folds (the folds that appear next to the mouth, also known as laugh lines), and the lines that appear when you frown, particularly on the forehead between the eyebrows.

Dermal filler can also be used for other purposes, but cosmetically, those areas of the face are the most common.

What do dermal filler injections actually do?

Fillers come in a handful of shapes and sizes, with each doing a specific task. Typically a dermal filler, as the name suggests, fills an area of the dermal layers – skin – to add volume to an area of the face.dermal filler injection into skin before after infographic

Why would I have a dermal filler treatment?

Dermal injections can be useful in certain circumstances, for example, to improve the contours of the face, to add volume when age has taken its toll on facial structures, or in lips to gently add size to thin lips.

Plumping out the face creates a more youthful appearance since plumpness, fullness, and volume are the domain of the young and supple. Procedures can soften wrinkles or fine lines and take the depth out of creases.

Treatments are now being used over surgical procedures since they are so effective in so many different ways. Advances in technology have really superseded many surgical procedures, with a great example being the facelift.

One of the beautiful things about filler injections is that they’re not permanent, so as your face changes as you age – and styles and fashions change – you can update your appearance accordingly and use less or more as needed. 

Using dermal filler as a preventative

Dermal filler can be used before things get to the stage where previously, we may have considered more invasive cosmetic procedures. Times have changed, and filler can now act as an anti-ageing treatment on younger, still-supple-but-ageing faces as a preventative to wrinkles.

How long does filler last?

How long your dermal filler treatment lasts will depend entirely on what substance was used, how many injections have been applied and the individual patient. It also makes a difference where the dermal filler injection was applied since high-action areas like the mouth will reabsorb the substance much quicker than, say, the forehead.

Dermal fillers reabsorb typically within six months to nine months because they are synthetic forms of naturally occurring substance that is gradually absorbed by the body. HA dermal fillers are the most widely used fillers here in Australia. 

How long does it take to recover?

You don’t need to take any time off work to get treatment, and you can immediately resume normal activities. There may be some after-effects, like swelling for up to 48 hours, which could last for up to five days. This swelling is minimal.

It is also advised:

  • not to exercise for 48 – 72 hours
  • not touch the injected area for 24 – 48 hours.
  • not apply makeup on the injected area for 24 – 48 hours.
  • drink plenty of water for hydration 

If there seems to be anything unusual, please call our clinic for advice.

Can there be any complications with dermal filler?

Yes, as in any invasive procedure, there is always a risk, and these risks are often very patient-dependent as each person is unique, and their reactions or prior treatments are very specific to them. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of any cosmetic treatment. Any reactionary possibilities should be discussed with your doctor prior to treatment. Dermal fillers are an injectable treatment, so complications can arise, such as 

  • Damage to the skin that results in a wound and possible scarring
  • Infection at the injection site
  • The palpability of the filler under the surface of the skin
  • Skin necrosis (ulceration or loss of skin from disruption of blood flow

At ENRICH Clinic, our aesthetic doctors have been performing injectables for over 15-20 years. Experience is everything.  At ENRICH Clinic, treatments are only given if they are warranted. Rejuvenating the face throughout your skin journey should be part of a solid face-care plan, revised as your skin changes and ages. 

Treatment Areas

Common dermal filler treatment areas

  • Acne scars, especially pitting
  • The cheeks, to add volume or contours
  • Crow’s feet around the eyes
  • Smile lines (nasolabial folds or furrows)
  • Forehead frown lines (between the brows)
  • Mouth-corner lines
  • Lip borders
  • Scarring (burns, wounds, surgery)
  • Vertical lines around the lips, particularly from smoking
  • Facial scarring
  • Horizontal lines across the forehead  
infographic of common areas for dermal filler treatment

Cheek fillers

We can plump up and volumise cheeks, which can start to look sallow and hollow as we lose bone, fat and moisture. Cheek filler is a really popular procedure and cheeks filler often yields positive results. Cheek filler does require repeats every so often.

Tear trough filler 

A small amount of very soft filler under the eyes can work well for those with ” bags” or wrinkled and loose skin under the eyes. This is a very sensitive area of the eye and should only be performed by physicians that have experience in this type of treatment. Our ENRICH doctors have been performing this treatment for a long time and will advise if this filler type is suitable for you and will give you the results you seek. 

Lip dermal filler

Filler injected into the lips tends to be absorbed much quicker than other areas due to the action of our mouths when we talk and eat. A softer filler type is often used for the lips, and a minor amount is used for a natural look. Over-plumping the lips is not something we advise in this sensitive area. 

Our Skin Glow Program 

We have our very own Skin Glow Program using new technology to inject tiny amounts of a special blend of rejuvenating dermal filler all over a specific area of the face (or the whole face) where it rejuvenates cells, leaving you radiant. This is the work of filler, hydrating and stimulating collagen, effectively rejuvenating your skin cells from the dermis up.

We can also do more than just your face – this specialised procedure can be done all over your body – the back of your hands, chest, feet, arms, and back. Dermal fillers are just one prong in a multifaceted approach to curbing the visible signs of ageing, and it doesn’t just apply to adding volume – it stimulates fibroblasts and boosts your skin’s performance.

Bio- remodelling 

If you’re on a quest for a non-surgical treatment to improve the appearance of your skin, you may have heard of Bio-remodelling injections. These injections are also known by their registered product name, but in Australia, the TGA guidelines don’t allow us to advertise them, similar to how we can’t name the registered product names of anti-wrinkle injections.

Bio-remodelling injections offer a non-surgical, non-invasive approach to improving skin texture, elasticity, hydration and overall appearance. Think of Bio-remodelling as a “glow giver”. Rather than totally remodelling or changing the shape of your face, which is what fillers do, this treatment is more of an overall hydration.

Bio-remodelling is a gentle, regenerative treatment, not comparable to dermal fillers or wrinkle-relaxing injections, which add volume/contour to the face or relax facial muscles, respectively.

What treatments can I combine with dermal fillers? 

Anti-wrinkle injections are an obvious partner to dermal fillers. combining these treatments will give you a dual effect and refresh your face within a few days.  Best of all, in most cases, no one will really know what you have had done, just that you look ” refreshed’ and your skin has improved. 

Bio-remodelling can also be an option for a combination. While dermal fillers fill your tricky areas out, bio-remodelling will help with refreshing and hydrating the skin. These treatments need to be completed two weeks apart, 

Lasers – are a great option for combination treatments. whether it’s removing age spots, building collagen or cleaning or removing dead skin, any of the no downtime or downtime lasers can help with and combine well with dermal fillers. Please note that in most cases, laser treatment should be performed prior to dermal fillers. Talk to one of our doctors about what might work for you. 

Treatment plans – we can’t emphasise this enough. Building your own skin treatment plan is key to your skin health. Working out what you would like treated and what needs to be treated is important too. You may have age spots or a suspicious spot that needs to be at the top of the treatment list and then future skincare to follow. Building a treatment plan that can be modified as time goes on and as your skin changes can be very beneficial.  You service your car, go to the dentist regularly, and schedule regular appointments with the hairdresser  – why not look after the biggest organ in your body the same way?  Treatment plans can help you plan your time and budget as well as look after your skin health, which contributes to your overall well-being.  

Choosing the right filler for the job – your cosmetic dermatologist’s job

Your doctor will decide what type and strength of dermal filler is right for you, taking into consideration your bone structure, face shape, skin type, goals and budget.

We are very experienced, highly-trained practitioners performing dermal filler injections. You are in good hands.

Contact us for a personal consultation to discuss your treatment needs with one of our highly-trained, experienced cosmetic doctors.

*Results may vary from person to person

Dermal Fillers FAQ

While most people find the injections very tolerable, they do sting a little, like all injections. We use a topical anaesthetic cream which helps dull the sting a little. Injections are quite fast and we do not anticipate you being in pain during your treatments. We’re here for you the whole time, and will work with you as we do the treatments to ensure you are always comfortable.

If you have a huge aversion to needles, dermal filler injections may not be the best choice. While the benefits can be great, and we’ll work with you as necessary, a fear of needles is a rather significant barrier to any cosmetic injection.

We have other options for you that don’t include any injections, so speak to your practitioner at your consultation, and we’ll find alternatives for you.

Some dermal fillers take up to two weeks for the full effects to appear, since there is some swelling and shifting as the product settles in your skin.

You can drive yourself to and from your appointments. We do not use medications or anaesthetic (except a topical cream to dull the injection sensation) because it’s not required. There is no downtime necessary since any swelling is minor and quick to dissipate.

You will find the injection sites are a little red and possibly swollen for a day or two as the product settles, but you don’t need to do anything differently except take your normal good care of yourself.

Our clients each have different goals for their appearance. We’ll discuss your goals with you fully before we apply any treatments so we understand what your needs and wants are. In this sense, if you are looking for full, luscious lips and don’t care that people will notice, then it shall be yours.

If you’re looking for a more natural look where you slightly boost lip volume or even out the top and bottom lips, nobody will notice. But, you’ll know, and that’s what counts. We can do subtle or not-so-subtle lip treatments based on your preferences and desires.

One of the best parts about modern filler is that we can reverse the impact immediately or afterwards by using a special enzyme injection that dissolves the filler. If you don’t like your new look, you can pop back into the clinic, and we’ll modify or undo it for you.

Generally, we only use the enzyme for slight mods, since fillers aren’t cheap and we’re very judicious with how we inject the product. We aim for the best effect with as little product as possible, and our expert cosmetic doctors are very good at what they do.

Each area of the face treated has an individual duration of effect, since we use parts of our faces differently. For example, a nose augmentation using filler lasts for about 18 months, which is in stark contrast to the lips, which will last 3-6 months. The differences are due to the movement associated with our faces, so areas that move a lot absorb the filler quicker.

With some types of filler, there are higher risks of adverse reactions than others. We most often use a low-risk filler that is, molecularly speaking, the same as what already exists within the skin, making poor reactions rare. Your body accepts the molecule as one of its own and incorporates it. The molecule is then naturally absorbed into your body over time.

Some fillers are developed from different substances and have their individual risk profile. We don’t often use these other, longer-lasting fillers since we love the low-risk molecule that slots into your body systems without causing trouble.

If we are using longer-lasting filler, we’ll fully inform you of any risks before treatments.

You’ll have initial redness and potentially some swelling at the injection site post-treatment. The injections cause a small amount of inflammation, but this subsides quickly. It won’t hurt, but you’ll feel fullness in the treated areas.

While adverse reactions are rare, they can occur, and you should call our 24-hour clinic helpline if you see anything out of the ordinary or think something is wrong. Signs something is wrong would include anything other than the slight swelling and redness, for example, if it gets hot, redder or you feel pain or other sensations that seem unusual. We’ll quickly address the situation and get you sorted.

We often use anti-wrinkle injections alongside dermal filler, since they are complementary to one another in terms of an anti-ageing strategy. We use anti-wrinkle injections to relax specific muscles to prevent the worsening or initial formation of wrinkles.

We often use facial treatments such as microdermabrasion or laser treatments with fillers to boost collagen production and improve the complexion. Each of you has individual needs, so we assess this at your appointment.

We use filler all across the face to achieve various goals, depending on what your concerns are. The typical areas we address include:

  • Under-eye bags
  • Non-surgical nose augmentation
  • Softening wrinkles
  • Filling out deep grooves and frown lines
  • Brow lift
  • Filling out cheeks
  • Filling out thin or uneven lips
  • Naso-labial folds (side of nose to side of mouth – laugh lines)

The duck lips phenomenon isn’t what we’re aiming for when we do lip fillers. Balance and harmony are the goals. Lips that are far larger than your natural lips don’t tend to look very good because they don’t offer balance to facial features and become very prominent. We prefer to keep you looking as natural as possible, though ‘natural’ doesn’t mean conservative necessarily.

Creating a beautiful look with lip filler is a true art form in which our experienced cosmetic doctors excel. Giving you Hollywood lips may be your goal, and we’ll discuss that with you at your appointment. Sending you home very happy with your lips is our goal. We’ll never send you out looking silly. Promise!

The filler we tend to use is a naturally-occurring (but synthetically developed) molecule found in the connective tissue of mammals. The great beauty of this product is that it absorbs a thousand times its weight in water, providing plump and volume, while also offering deep hydration. If you are dehydrated, your filler will also dehydrate, so keeping your fluid levels normal will mean your filler can stay juicy and keep working its magic.

You can care for your face normally after injections. You should always protect your skin from the sun by using a high-SPF sunscreen religiously to avoid skin damage. Your doctor will advise you of any specific issues to take care with based on your skin type and the treatments you have undergone.

Some fillers last longer than others, with some being semi-permanent, staying in the skin until they require adjusting or removal. We use dermal fillers that can gradually be absorbed by the body because is made up of a molecule already found in the skin that helps with hydration and plumping. We get excellent results with our fillers.

You don’t necessarily want a filler that lasts a long time since fashions change and our face naturally ages. Being adaptable to future changes and to your skin’s evolving needs is important in your ongoing anti-ageing and face-care plan.

It is against the law in Australia to advertise prescription medicines. Since only doctors are allowed to prescribe dermal fillers, you must have a consultation first to ensure it is safe for you to have fillers and that they are appropriate for your situation.

For this reason, we never name names. We have the best brands and the best cosmetic doctors, so once you’re in the appointment, we can talk about our full range with you.

Anyone over age 18 can have dermal filler injections; however, when you ‘should’ start is individual. We can recommend a long-term anti-ageing plan for you based on your needs once we’ve had a consultation with you. We can also adjust the plan as we walk with you on your journey through life, with  both the expected and unexpected changes that will occur to your face and body.

There is no right or wrong time to start cosmetic procedures, so the best first step is to have a consultation and see what we recommend. The sooner you have the consultation, the sooner you’ll know what is and isn’t necessary based on where you’re at.

Specific concerns can appear at any point, for example, a between-brow frown line can start in your teens and by your twenties, be firmly entrenched. We can treat this immediately with fillers. If you’re looking to improve the appearance of under-eye bags, then a couple of quick injections may achieve your goal.

If you want to repeatedly treat many areas of the face to reduce the visible signs of ageing, we can get you started when you’re ready. There are many options, and none is right or wrong, just better for you and your face.

Please Note:

*With all surgeries or procedures, there are risks. Consult your physician (GP) before undertaking any surgical or cosmetic procedure. Please read the consent forms carefully and be informed about every aspect of your treatment. Surgeries such as liposuction have a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period to give patients adequate time to be sure of their surgery choice. Results may also vary from person to person due to many factors, including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise. Before and after photos are only relevant to the patient in the photo and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience. Ask questions. Our team of dermatologists, doctors and nurses are here to help you with any of your queries. This page is not advice and is intended to be informational only. We endeavour to keep all our information up to date; however, this site is intended as a guide and not a definitive information portal or in any way constitutes medical advice.

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