Dermal Fillers Treatment

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are an effective, non-surgical solution for enhancing facial contours, reducing wrinkles and restoring volume loss due to ageing. These injectable treatments rejuvenate the skin to provide a more youthful and refreshed appearance.

Dermal fillers can contain hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring component in the skin) or collagen-stimulating substances (e.g., PLLA). The procedure is quick with minimal downtime. Whether smoothing fine lines or enhancing one’s features, fillers offer a customisable approach to providing natural-looking results tailored to an individual’s unique needs.

How do dermal fillers work?

At Lumine Dermatology & Laser Clinic, we offer FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers and collagen-stimulating fillers.

Dr Evelyn is a firm proponent of natural results, and usually, only 1-2 syringes of fillers are injected at each session. Fillers do not need to be injected too often and should be combined with other skin tightening procedures such as HIFU, radiofrequency microneedling, or lasers to address all layers of the skin. This avoids overfilled syndrome and distortion of certain facial features, such as overfilled lips.

• Hyaluronic acid fillers: these cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are gel-like substances injected at strategic points in the face to restore loss volume or improve facial proportions/contours. These fillers mimic the natural HA found in the skin, with special features that allow them to adapt to dynamic facial movements, ensuring a natural result. HA fillers are naturally degraded in our body after about 9 to 12 months.
• Collagen-stimulating fillers: collagen-stimulating fillers used in Lumine Dermatology & Laser Clinic include poly-L lactic acid (a biocompatible substance) for the treatment of acne scars, sagging skin, and improving skin quality. Poly-L lactic acid is biostimulatory, stimulating tissue regeneration and remodelling, leading to improvements in skin texture, tone, and firmness over time.

Another collagen-stimulating filler is polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres suspended in a water-based carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel carrier to restore lost facial volume and contouring. These fillers trigger a biological response in the skin, leading to the formation of new collagen fibres over time. As collagen levels increase, the skin becomes thicker, firmer, and more youthful-looking.

Collagen-stimulating fillers can last for two years compared to hyaluronic acid fillers. However, should a complication arise, they cannot be dissolved with hyalase (an enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid fillers), so it is important to look for an experienced practitioner who prioritises safety.

Benefits of dermal fillers

• Reduces appearance of wrinkles
• Restores facial volume
• Improves facial proportions
• Natural-looking results
• Quick, minimally invasive procedure
• Immediate and long-lasting results

What happens during the procedure?

At Lumine Dermatology & Laser Clinic, a dermal filler procedure typically involves the following steps:

• Consultation: before the procedure, our dermatologist, Dr Evelyn, will discuss your aesthetic goals, medical history, and any concerns. She will assess your facial anatomy and recommend the most appropriate filler and treatment plan for your needs.
• Preparation: on the day of the procedure, the treatment area will be cleansed and sanitised to reduce the risk of infection. A topical numbing cream or local anaesthetic may be used to minimise discomfort.
• Injection: once the treatment area is prepared, a fine-gauge needle or blunt-tipped cannula is used to inject the filler into the targeted areas of the face. The injections are typically administered in small amounts and strategically placed to achieve the desired results.
• Assessment: throughout the procedure, Dr Evelyn will assess the results and make any necessary adjustments to ensure symmetry and balance. You will be asked to make facial expressions or provide feedback to ensure that the filler is being injected in the correct locations.
• Post-treatment care: after the injections are complete, the treatment area may be gently massaged to distribute the filler evenly and minimise the risk of lumps or bumps. Dr Evelyn will also provide instructions for post-treatment care, such as avoiding strenuous exercise, alcohol, makeup over the injection sites, and certain medications that may increase the risk of bruising.
• Follow-up: depending on the type of filler used and your individual response to treatment, you may be scheduled for a follow-up appointment to assess the results and determine if any touch-up treatments are needed. Follow-up appointments also provide an opportunity to address any concerns or questions you may have about the treatment.

What conditions can dermal fillers treat?

Dermal fillers can be used to treat the following:

• Wrinkles and fine lines: dermal fillers are effective at smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines on the face, including nasolabial folds (smile lines), marionette lines, vertical lip lines (smoker's lines), and forehead lines. By adding volume beneath the skin, fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and create a smoother complexion.
• Volume loss: as we age, the face tends to lose volume, especially in the deep fat pads, leading to hollowed cheeks, sunken forehead and temples, under-eye hollows, a retruded chin, and a saggy jawline. Restoring lost volume in the deep layers restores a natural and rejuvenated look with the added benefit of longer-lasting results.
• Facial contouring: dermal fillers can be used to contour and sculpt the face, improving facial proportions such as the cheeks, chin, and jawline. By adding volume and definition, fillers create a more balanced and harmonious facial appearance.
• Acne scars and depressed traumatic or surgical scars: some types of dermal fillers, such as those made from hyaluronic acid (HA) or poly-L lactic acid (PLLA), can be used to fill in depressed scars and improve skin texture, smoothing out the face and reducing scar visibility.

How many dermal filler sessions are required?

Dr Evelyn believes in natural results and prioritising safety. As such, we often utilise a combination of needle and cannula injections to target the skin at multiple layers, e.g., needle injections on the periosteum to restore bony resorption and cannula techniques to restore deep fat pad volume loss. Often, 1-2 syringes are needed at each session to achieve a satisfactory result. Patients are often reviewed two weeks later to see if fine-tuning is required.

Dermal fillers are best combined with other treatments such as HIFU, radiofrequency microneedling, lasers, and polynucleotide injections to improve the skin envelope, boost skin health and tighten the SMAS layer, thus holistically addressing skin ageing in all layers in the face. Six months to 1 year down the road, we do not need to repeat the filler injections in the same area if the filler is still there. Instead, we can focus on other areas of the face that have yet to be addressed by fillers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the downtime of dermal fillers?

Although dermal filler injections are non-invasive, the recovery time depends on the type and amount of filler you have. You can go about your usual activities soon after the procedure. However, do take note that some of the following post-procedure side effects are common:

• Bruising, swelling, and tenderness on the injection sites
• Bumps at the injection sites
• ⁠Lumpiness at the injection sites

These side effects usually resolve within two weeks. To speed up the process, we can use the pulsed dye laser (Vbeam) on red and purple bruises.

Are dermal fillers painful?

Individuals may experience some slight discomfort or pain during the procedure. However, topical numbing cream or local anaesthesia may be administered to make the process more comfortable. After the procedure, you may occasionally experience some swelling and bruising on the injection site.

How long do dermal fillers last?

Dermal fillers can last months to years, depending on the type of filler and the location of injections.

How much do dermal fillers cost?

• Hyaluronic acid filler: From $850/syringe
• Collagen-stimulating filler: From $800-1500 (depending on the volume of PLLA used)