Dermal filler update

Article medically reviewed by Dr. Gavin Chan

Templestowe Lower, Berwick and Beaumaris Clinics

Dr. Gavin Chan, MBBS, General Registration (MED0001175745), founder of the Victorian Cosmetic Institute, began offering cosmetic medical treatments in 2004. Formerly a trainer for cosmetic pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Chan currently concentrates on offering ongoing training to cosmetic doctors at the Victorian Cosmetic Institute. He ensures that all doctors stay updated with the latest procedures and methods in the cosmetic industry. Read More

You may have heard of dermal fillers before, but for those of you who are not familiar with dermal fillers, they are injectable facial treatments to help improve volume in the face, as well as shape the face to more favourable proportions.

We have come a long way in the past decade with dermal fillers. Although the actual fillers themselves have not changed significantly, the techniques in applying dermal fillers have evolved dramatically. Most of the fillers used nowadays are made of a substance which naturally occurs in the skin – this hasn’t changed. However, it is the way we use them and where we inject them now which has improved.

Going back even 7 or 8 years, dermal fillers were used primarily for lip enhancement and for filling the fold between the nose and the mouth, known as the nasolabial fold. Although we still do treat these areas, we have had a paradigm shift in how we think about filler application, and nowadays we tend to use them mostly for improving facial proportions and beauty. This might involve injection of filler into the cheeks for better shape and volume, taking emphasis off the lower face which tends to sag and broaden as we get older. Often, we use the golden ratio, or phi, to make appropriate calculations and to support our subjective assessment of the patient’s face. For more on the golden ratio, see the following video.

Secondly, the way we inject fillers is significantly different to how we used to inject fillers in the past. Previously, fillers were injected almost solely with needles. This had significant risk of causing swelling and bruising, a tell-tale sign of treatment. At the Victorian Cosmetic Institute, we mostly use cannulas instead of needles for dermal fillers. This is like a rounded tip needle, which can be gently passed through the tissues of the face to avoid bruising and swelling. See this video for more information on cannulas.

At the Victorian Cosmetic Institute, we constantly update our techniques to reduce bruising, swelling, and pain, as well as to achieve the optimal results – to make you the youngest and most beautiful version of you.

Have a look at some of the following experiences of people who have been treated at the Victorian Cosmetic Institute.

For more information on dermal fillers, please visit the dermal filler page on our website here.