How are dermal filler treatments performed?

On average, a dermal filler treatment takes just 25 minutes or so to perform. This includes the use local anaesthetic cream to numb the skin. The effects of the procedure are immediate and will improve further over time.

A lip shaping treatment takes approximately 20 minutes to perform and includes 2 or 4 dental injections to numb the lips FULLY.

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Pre-treatment:

- Patients must refrain from alcohol on the day of treatment and are also asked not to wear any make up on the skin areas treated

- Patients will be given a medical history questionnaire and a consent form to complete before their treatment. Very rarely, patients are not suitable for treatment

Click here for information about patients NOT suitable for dermal filler treatments

- Your face will be then examined. This involves performing a few simple facial expressions so as to demonstrate your areas of concern. A bespoke treatment can then be designed according to your individual needs. Faces and lips are almost never symmetrical to begin with.

- Clinical photographs will be taken as a record of your face before the procedure. These will NEVER be used for any advertising or marketing purposes unless your full, written and verbal consent is given.

- Local anaesthetic cream is applied to the skin at this point and is left for 20 minutes or so. Patients allergic to local anaesthesia CANNOT have dermal filler treatments unfortunately.

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Treatment:

- The area treated will be cleaned with an alcohol wipe.

- The treatment involves tiny injections with a very fine needle into the wrinkles of concern.

- The areas will then be massaged to smooth the filler product evenly.

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Post-treatment

- After your treatment, you may relax for 5 minutes. The areas treated may initially look red, bruised and can be swollen. This is completely NORMAL. The effect will subside over a few days to a week.

- It is also NORMAL to be able to feel the filler under the skin. This will soften over time and will dissolve within approximately 6 months.

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After care instructions:

Patients can expect to resume their normal daily activities immediately after their treatment.

There are, however, a few simple instructions that MUST be followed after a filler treatment to gain the maximum cosmetic effects whist also helping to avoid the few potential side effects:

1) Very occasionally, tiny spots of the filler can be felt under the skin. You will be shown how to massage these areas easily to smooth the filler. You MUST do this with clean hands to prevent the risk of infection.

2) DO NOT use makeup on the areas treated until the redness or swelling has settled.

3) DO NOT participate in sports, exercise or vigorous activity until any redness and brusing has settled

4) DO NOT use a sunbed, sauna or expose yourself to extreme hot or cold until the redness and bruising has settled down. (For lip treatments, ice application is recommended to reduce any swelling)

Failure to follow these SIGNIFICANTLY increases the chance of side effects