Cotswold Cosmetic Clinic

DERMAL FILLERS: e.g. Teosyal, Restylene and Juvederm, these are used to smooth wrinkles and lines instantly and give lips a fuller form. £150 - £360 per syringe.

Injectable fillers have been used in cosmetic medicine for a number of years. The popularity of this practice has soared recently leading to proliferation of different filler products.

Fillers are injected into the deeper layers of the skin to plump out lines and wrinkles. Not all lines and wrinkles are caused in the same way and therefore not all are suitable for treatment with Fillers.

The areas that are most suitable for treatment with fillers are;

• Around the mouth (lipstick or smokers lines and lips)
• The nasolabial lines (those which run from the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth).
• Marionette lines ( below the corners of the mouth)
• Cheeks

Occasionally lines around the eyes or forehead may be suitable for treatment.

There are approximately 50 different fillers on the market at the present time, many are simply copies of each other but the principle difference is whether the material is permanent or non permanent.

Permanent fillers are not used by The Cotswold Cosmetic Clinic, as they have an unacceptable high incidence of unwanted side effects, which cannot be reversed. Also, if the aesthetic result is not what you want you are stuck with it for life.

The two fillers with the lowest incidence of problems, the highest levels of purity, the longest lasting results and the most recent research done on them are collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Here are some of the important facts you need to know regarding treatment:

• You will require a consultation with your doctor prior to treatment to determine if filler treatment is appropriate for you.
• You do not require any preparation prior to treatment unless you want collagen and have never had it before (collagen has a small incidence of allergic reactions and you require a test injection in your forearm 6 weeks before facial treatment to reduce the risk).
• Cold sores may be reactivated by injection around the mouth and you should inform the practitioner if you suffer with cold sores to take preventative medication prior to treatment.
• Nobody likes injections! Local anaesthetic cream can be applied prior to treatment to areas such as nasolabial lines to reduce discomfort.
• For lip treatments, it is recommended to have a local anaesthetic block. There is a small additional charge and the block lasts about 4 hours (similar to the dentist).
• There is a minimal redness and swelling immediately after treatment except in the lip treatments where swelling may last for 2 - 3 days.
• There may be minor bruising but this risk can be reduced by:
  - not taking Aspirin within 5 days of treatment
  - avoiding excessive alcohol intake
  - avoiding strenuous exercise for 2 days
  - informing the practitioner of any medication that you are taking
• Make up can be applied 6 hours after treatment.
• The filler will; normally last 6 - 9 months, (slightly shorter for Collagen) but not every body has the same metabolism and top up treatments are normally recommended to maintain the effect.
• Fillers can occasionally produce lumpiness and unevenness, this can be reduced by gentle massage of the area concerned over the first 24 - 48 hours after treatment. This can vary with the material used, so ask your doctor if in doubt.
• If you are considering treatments prior to a special event allow at least a week to allow swelling and redness to settle completely.