Dermal fillers are made from a natural complex sugar called Hyaluronic Acid ( hy-al-ur-onic Acid ). Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is found naturally within the tissues of living cells, including human skin . HA assists in skin hydration by attracting and holding water and also combines with collagen and elastin to provide skin structure and elasticity.
In its natural form, HA is a single chain sugar which is naturally metabolised (broken down) by the body within days. It is important that a dermal filler is not metabolised by your body quickly, so that the results last for as long as possible. To achieve this, the HA in dermal filler injectable gels are cross-linked, a process by which individual sugar chains are linked together to form a kind of ‘mesh’ which takes the body much longer to metabolise.
The longevity and smoothness of dermal fillers is hence reliant on the cross-linking and manufacturing process. Dermal fillers that use proprietary HylacrossT technology deliver a high degree of cross-linking and a smooth formulation.
Treatment with dermal fillers that use proprietary HYLACROSS TM technology is a non-surgical procedure by which the injectable gel is administered through a few injections by a trained medical professional. Your doctor may decide to administer a topical (cream) or local anaesthetic to help numb the area being treated. The procedure should cause only minimal disruption to your daily routine and the majority of people resume their normal activities immediately after the procedure. The results you receive from treatment should last for 9 – 12 months, however some of the new Volumising Dermal Fillers that are now available in Australia are lasting up to 24 months. Because the HA in dermal fillers that use proprietary HYLACROSS TM technology is naturally present within the skin and not derived from animals there is no need for an allergy pre-test before treatment. HA dermal fillers have been clinically studied for many years and clinical trials have shown that dermal fillers that use proprietary HYLACROSS TM technology are well tolerated.
Dermal Fillers can be used for minor corrections, deep wrinkles, and volumising. There are different strengths / thicknesses of HA Fillers for each area of the face and procedure.
The injection itself should cause minimal discomfort, and if experienced, side effects are generally temporary injection site related effects including swelling, bruising and redness. Less frequently temporary pain, firmness, lumps, itching and discolouration can also occur at the injection site. The majority of people resume their normal activities immediately following the procedure.