Dermal Fillers for Wrinkles and Lip Enhancement

What are dermal fillers? 


Dermal fillers are used to fill or replace the lost volume in static wrinkles, lines and folds. Unlike anti-wrinkle injections, they do not affect facial muscle contraction. Generally, dermal fillers are used in the treatment of wrinkles, lines, and folds that appear at rest, rather than those that appear during facial expression. Wrinkles due to facial expression are best treated with anti-wrinkle injections.
Dermal fillers can also be used to enhance, define, or enlarge lips, and to shape the face by injection into cheeks, chins, and noses .
Certain types of dermal fillers available at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute cannot be named due to TGA restrictions. They are mostly temporary or semi-permanent fillers lasting from 4 to 18 months, and some are composed of substances that are normally present in the skin.
 

What is the best dermal filler for me? 

 
The Victorian Cosmetic Institute offers a wide variety of dermal fillers, each suited to different applications. We will advise you on which dermal filler is best for you at the time of consultation. We use a combination of temporary fillers lasting from 4 to 18 months. We do not advocate the use of permanent fillers as we believe that there is an increased risk of serious complications with these fillers including infection, granuloma formation (lump formation that can occur even years after administration) requiring surgical removal.
Due to TGA regulations, the exact name of some of the dermal fillers used cannot be mentioned. Instead they will be termed;
Filler type C
Filler type JU
Filler type JU +
Filler type R
Filler type P
Radiesse
 
Dermal fillers, type R and type P,  are made from a clear gel composed of a natural substance that is normally found in skin. They are usually injected into deeper lines or folds around the mouth, and are commonly used for lip and facial shaping (e.g for cheek enhancement, nose shaping, chin shaping,  and around the eye socket to fill out any hollowness there). Naso-labial lines and jowls are also particularly suited to this filler. Although, most suited to deeper lines/folds, filler type R and P can be used to fill fine lines also. This filler generally last for about 6 months.
 
Allergan has also released a new dermal filler, filler type JU and JU+. It is an excellent filler especially for lips, as it tends to swell less than other fillers and last for around 9 months or longer (usually a few months longer than filler type R in the lips). It creates natural and soft lips and can be easily used to define and/or enlarge lips. There is usually less swelling than filler type R and P also.
 
Furthermore, there is a substance called hyaluronidase that can very quickly reverse filler type R/P and JU/JU+, should there be any misplacement of product, undesirable effect, or lumps.
  

For fine lines, including vertical upper lip lines, lines around the mouth and eyes, we can use a very fine white-coloured dermal filler (filler type C) that is injected very superficially. This dermal filler is made of a substance that is naturally found in skin. This generally does not last as long as the deeper dermal fillers. This fine dermal filler is derived from bovine sources and often requires a test patch in the forearm, starting at least one month prior to treatment in the face, to ensure that there are no allergies to the product. Approximately 3% of the population is allergic to filler type C.
 
Radiesse is a new filler that is based on calcium microspheres that usually lasts for around 18 months. It is particularly suited to facial volumising in areas such as the cheeks, nasolabial lines, and mouth corners. It can be used for chin and cheek enhancement, and even to shape noses (for those who don't want to undergo surgery). It is not suited to lips, or fine lines. Instead it is more suited to enhancing volume in larger skin folds, or areas of fat loss.
 
The advantage of filler type R/P  and JU/JU+ over Radiesse is that for patients who have not had any fillers before, type R/P and JU/JU+ fillers can be used to show you how it would look, and if you don't like it, it will only last approximately 6 months. Furthermore, they can be dissolved quickly with hyaluronidase (as mentioned above). The main advantage of Radiesse over filler type R and JU/JU+  is that it is much more cost effective. 1.3mL Radiesse is equal to 2mL of filler type R/P or J and lasts for 3 times as long.
 
 

Case Study 1

This before and after case study is one of our doctors. She had her naso-labial lines (the lines from the corners of the mouth to the nose) filled with filler type JU+  0.8mL. The after picture was taken approximately 2 weeks after the treatment.


Case Study - Dermal Fillers


Case Study 2

This lady was concerned with the wrinkles around her mouth. A total of 2 mL filler type R  was injected into the wrinkles around the mouth, including some into the corners of the mouth to help turn the corners up.





What are the most common areas that dermal fillers are used? 

 
Dermal fillers are most commonly used in the lips, jowls, marionette lines, cheeks, chins, naso-labial folds (the fold from the nose to the corners of the mouth), and in permanent frown lines.
 
Other less commonly treated areas with dermal fillers in include nose reshaping for those who do not want to undergo surgery, and also just under the eyebrows to give an eyebrow lift. Radiesse is an excellent filler for the nose, as it can last for a long period of time here. Filler type R or J can be used in the nose for people who would like to 'test' dermal fillers in the nose, as they do not last as long and can be reversed with hyaluronidase (unlike other fillers).
 
One of the most popular reasons for dermal filler use is lip enhancement. Dermal fillers can be used to outline the border of the lips to enhance the definition of lips or in the body of the lips to enhance lip size and pout. Filler type JU/JU+ is an excellent filler that is particularly suited to the lips due to its soft and malleable nature. It tends to last slightly longer than other equivalent fillers in the lips also. It tends to create less of a 'trout pout' or 'duck' look than other fillers in the lips.

Naso-labial lines, or the lines that go from the corners of the mouth to the corners of the nose are usually filled with type R/P,  JU/JU+, or Radiesse. Type R/P and JU/JU+ tend to last a shorter time in this area (around 6 months) and are reversible, whereas Radiesse tends to last longer. Although more expensive, Radiesse tends to create more volumising of the fold, and lasts longer. 

What does treatment with dermal fillers involve? 

 
Treatment usually involves the application of local anaesthetic cream to the treated area or a nerve block prior to injection. The dermal filler is then comfortably injected into the treated area to fill out the line, wrinkle or fold.
 
There is usually some transient redness after the injections. Swelling is also present after the procedure, especially with any lip enhancement procedure. Swelling is usually only a problem when performing lip enhancement, and this can last for up to 2 weeks. Swelling of wrinkles post-treatment tends to temporarily enhance the effect of the dermal filler, and it often takes 3 days to see the actual real improvement without swelling. Bruising can also occur, and if it does, it can take a week to heal. Make-up/lip stick can be worn (if applicable) soon after treatment should there be a need.
 
If you have a history of cold sores and the treatment area is around the mouth, then you should notify your treating doctor. You may be instructed to take anti-viral medications prior to treatment if this is the case. 

 
 

Are dermal fillers safe? 

 
Yes, there are few risks associated with the use of dermal fillers and few long-term side effects with the (temporary) fillers used at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute. Most fillers comprise of substances that are naturally present in the body. Dermal fillers have been used safely for cosmetic reasons for over 20 years.
 
Our opinion of permanent fillers is that their safety profile is not as high as temporary fillers. Permanent fillers have previously been fraught with complications such as severe infections and lump formation that requires surgical excision. No permanent fillers are used at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute.

How much do dermal fillers cost?

The cost of dermal fillers depends on the amount injected and the number of syringes injected per session.
 
Note: A 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% discount are offered on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th syringes respectively (for 6 or more syringes, the discount is 50% thereafter) if performed in one sitting.
Table: cost of multiple syringes (done in one session)
Syringe no. 
Filler JU   
Filler JU+ 
Filler R 0.5mL 
Filler R 1.0mL 
Filler P 0.5mL 
Filler P 1.0mL 
Radiesse 0.3mL     
Radiesse 1.3mL 
 1
660 
690 
385
660 
440 
690 
660
1650 
 2 (20% off)
528
552
308 
528 
352 
552 
528 
1320 
 3 (30% off)
462
483 
269.50 
462 
308 
483 
462 
1155 
 4 (40% off)
396
414 
231 
396 
264 
414 
396 
990 
 5 (50% off)  
330
345
192.50 
330 
220 
345 
330 
825 
 
Syringe no. 
Filler C
0.5mL 
Filler C
1.0mL     
1 
352 
632.50 
2 (20% off)
281.60
506 
3 (30% off) 
246.40 
442.75 
4 (40% off) 
211.20 
379.50 
5 (50% off) 
176 
316.25 
 (prices inclusive of GST) 
 
As a guide, lip enhancement usually requires 1 to 3 syringes of filler type R or JU, and correcting folds/lines around the mouth, and cheek enhancement usually require 2 to 4 syringes of product. The entire face can also be treated to perform a 'non-surgical facelift' (cheek enhancement, jowls, tear troughs, brows, chin, nose, and naso-labial lines are all filled) and this usually requires 4 or more syringes.
Fine upper lip lines can be treated with filler type C. 0.5mL to 1.0mL is usually required for the upper lip alone.  The forearm skin test required for filler type CB is $70 per test and this must be performed at 2 and 4 weeks prior to treatment in the face.
 
Radiesse treatments for the cheeks/chin/nasolabial lines/cheek hollows usually require 1 to 2  X 1.3 mL syringes per area. Noses usually only require 1 X 0.3mL of Radiesse on average. Although Radiesse is more expense per mL, this is compensated for by its longevity in the body and its ability to volumise efficiently per mL of filler.
 
  

Can dermal fillers be combined with anti-wrinkle injections?

Yes. Despite having different actions, they are commonly used together. In fact, anti-wrinkle injections often prolong the effect of dermal fillers. Anti-wrinkle injections relax the underlying muscle that causes expression lines, and dermal fillers provide volume to fill in static lines. 

 

Why choose The Victorian Cosmetic Institute as your provider of dermal fillers?


Our dermal filler injectors have many years of specialist experience in the use of dermal fillers. We allow you ample time to communicate your aesthetic goals to us, and use our expertise to help you achieve your desired outcome. Furthermore, we offer a large range of dermal fillers and we will be able to best advise you on what dermal filler suits you best.
The first step is simply contacting us for your initial dermal filler consultation, where we will discuss with you what is a realistic and achievable outcome, and what to expect from your treatment.

Making that first phone call about any cosmetic procedure can be a confronting task - many of our patients have preferred filling out our online enquiry form. We can then contact you with an understanding of the results you are hopeful of achieving and ensure the treatment is appropriate.

It's as easy as clicking either of the buttons below and completing the provided form.
Otherwise, you can phone us directly on (03) 8850 0655 (Templestowe) or (03) 9707 0888 (Berwick).

 





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