Fillers/Fat Injections -
About the Injections
Temporary and permanent skin fillers (Restylane, Perlane and fat injection)
Background to fillers
Fillers can be either permanent or temporary. Collagen is probably the best known of the temporary fillers. This temporary filler is still used but has been mostly replaced by non animal product fillers. The temporary fillers I use are usually Restylane and Perlane. They are made of Hyaluronic acid (a man-made but natural substance of our skin). The permanent fillers can be artificial or from your own tissues. The best of these is fat which can be taken from one area and injected into another. The temporary fillers last from 3-12 months and the fat is usually permanent.
Indications for injections
With age the face and lips both lengthen and thin. As the skin falls grooves appear and creases become more common from the effects of the muscles below the skin. Fillers are an excellent way to treat wrinkles and grooves within the face or to help fill out thinning areas such as the lips, chin and cheek.
Fat Injection techniques
This is a method of increasing fullness or volume by injecting the patients own fat. It is usually used in the breast or face for both cosmetic and reconstructive problems. The fat is removed by liposuction from the thigh or abdomen, specially prepared and re-injected into the area using small needles.
In the breast it has started to be used for breast augmentation and breast asymmetry (differing breast sizes). It is well established in treating defects or depressions following breast cancer removal.
In the face it can be used to enhance lips, deep creases, depressed scars or areas of facial thinning.
The great advantage of the technique is the ability to permanently enhance these areas with the patients own fat. The disadvantage is the unpredictable survival of the fat. Usually about 50% of the injected fat survives and the treatment may need repeating. There are virtually no scars and depending upon the area to be treated it is performed as a day-case under local or general anaesthetic.
Medicines and smoking
All medical history will be sought before any injections. Do not take herbal medicines prior to injections or for 3 days following (arnica etc). Also avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and voltarol-based tablets as all these can cause bruising.
