A more youthful and rested look with no anaesthesia and no need to go under the knife ? A recent survey of more than 800 Canadian women by Leger Marketing found that one in four was open to getting an injectable treatment, and 34 percent considered injectables to be a standard procedure akin to teeth whitening and hair colouring.
How fillers work
Fillers add volume to the face, usually by filling in wrinkles and lines, and sometimes by plumping up areas of the face that have lost fat. Patients requesting dermal filler treatment range in age from their 20s even up to their mid-80s.
The subtle improvement that dermal fillers can provide is a selling point for many. Treatment only takes about 20 minutes to complete, and in some cases, you can see immediate results.
Here’s a cheat sheet on various options:
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers
HA fillers are one of the most sought after fillers at epiclinic Adelaide, these can plump thin lips and hollowed under-eyes; fill facial wrinkles, acne and post-surgery scars; and fill creases such as smile lines (nasolabial folds) and ‘marionette’ lines (which run from the mouth to chin). HA naturally generates in the middle layer of your skin, keeping it elastic and plump.
Although HA fillers are synthetically produced, the substance is nearly identical to the HA we produce naturally. The fillers come in various formulations so doctors can target specific areas. More viscous versions, lift and sculpt the chin, cheekbones, temples and nose and recontour the face.
The Pros: Results are immediate (and if you don’t like what you see, there’s an injectable ‘eraser’ called hyaluronidase). It can last from 12 to 16 months.
The Cons: These fillers don’t last as long for the lips (normally five to six months). Also, there’s a chance you could have a bit of bruising, especially if you have had injections around the mouth.
The cost: About $500 to $800 per syringe (with one to five syringes needed, so the total cost per treatment might range from $500 to $4,000).
Sculptra aesthetic
Initially used to treat gaunt-faced HIV patients, Sculptra is best for patients whose faces are thin and saggy, but who don’t want, or aren’t ready for, a facelift. Sculptra encourages skin to produce its collagen over time. It consists of poly-L-lactic acid’the same material used in dissolvable stitches.
The Pros: Results can last two years or more.
The Cons: You need a minimum of three treatments over several months, and you won’t see a change for three to five months. It’s not reversible.
The cost: $2,000 to $2,500 per treatment.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy (for example, The Selphyl System)
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is less commonly used than the ones mentioned above. Introduced in 2009, it treats wrinkles, crow’s feet, scars, and neck. The doctor draws your blood into a test tube and put it through a centrifuge to separate the fibrin and platelets from the blood cells. They then inject the platelets into your skin to stimulate the growth of cells and collagen.
The Pros: Since it is your own blood, it’s bio-compatible. Results can last a year.
The Cons: It takes two to six weeks to see an improvement, and it takes a few treatments. It’s not reversible.
The cost: About $1,200 per treatment.
