Wrinkle & Other Skin Filling Injections

A general overview…

Wrinkle Filling Injections or Dermal Fillers are products that are injected into the dermis (the deeper layer of the skin) to improve the skin’s appearance. Dermal Fillers work by filling in defects such as creases, lines, wrinkles and scars. They are injected directly into the skin underneath the defect to fill it in and elevate the skin surface to make it look more even and smoother.

Common areas treated are around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and brow. They are also used to redefine lips that have lost their body or simply to enlarge them or make them fuller.

What is the difference between Dermal Fillers?

The skin is made up of 2 main layers, the Epidermis and the Dermis. The Epidermis is the top layer, which contains the skin cells, and the Dermis is the deeper layer, which is much thicker and contains layers of Collagen and Elastin Fibres. The Collagen and Elastin Fibres lie in a bed of a thick gel called Hyaluronic Acid (or Hyaluronan). Some Dermal Fillers are composed of this Hyaluronan, while other Injectable Fillers are made up of the Collagen Fibres themselves.

More recently other Demal Fillers, made up of synthetic injectable products, have been introduced; some of which are longer lasting or permanent.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the natural “structural” protein present in most organs of the body, including; skin, muscle, tendon, and bone. Collagen gives them support, resilience and strength. The injectable version being used in Dermal Filling is made from cow hides. This product has been processed, altered, purified and sterilized, minimising allergic reactions (to around 3% of the general population). There is no risk of transmission of any infection or disease. Because of the small risk of allergy, test doses are required prior to treatment. More recently, Human Collagen injections have been introduced, greatly reducing the risk of reactions and so test doses are not required.

What is Hyaluronan?

Hyaluronan is the “ground” substance or gel in which the proteins (Collagen and Elastin) lie. Hyaluronan is not a protein (it is made up of long chains of sugar molecules called polysaccharides) and as such allergic reactions are rare and test doses are not required. It can therefore be used in those who are allergic to Collagen. Like Collagen, it can be used to correct fine or heavier lines and for lip corrections.

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