Dermal Fillers Sydney North Shore
Dermal fillers are commonly used in plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine – due to Australian law we will refer to them on this website simply as fillers but commercially they are often known by their product names.
Fillers are all different types of a synthetic product containing normal constituents of skin. The most common type of filler is based on hyaluronic acid which is naturally occurring in the skin.
Hyaluronic acid gel can help to fill, nourish and attract water to your skin cells, giving a collagen boost and creating a more luminous glow.
Using hyaluronic acid filler can improve the contours of the face , enhance our natural features and restore volume lost during the natural aging process. In the face the addition of facial volume can reverse the signs of aging by reducing:
- Peri-oral lines (lines around the lips)
- Nasolabial lines
- eye bags
- acne or facial scars or depressions
- depression of the temples
They can also be used to add volume to:
- The cheeks – to enhance cheek definition and produce a pleasing S curve to the cheek. Treatment in this area may also reduces the nasolabial lines and support the junction between the tear trough and cheek
- The lips – to create more volume, shape, definition and hydration. Filler also be used to help achieve lip symmetry, feminise, accentuate your cupids bow and neutralize a down-turned mouth associated with ageing.
- Lower mid face, to address hollowing underneath the cheekbone
- Jaw line – to reduce jowls and define the jaw line in women, and to create a squared chiselled appearance in men
- Chin – to improve nose and chin relationship, improve facial jowls, and improve the facial profile.
- Earlobes to improve wrinkles and allow earings to sit cushioned
- Temples to improve temporal hollowing
- Foreheads to smoothen natural contours of the bone
- Hands to improve texture, rejuvenation and decrease photodamaged
For all the above reasons, in cosmetic plastic surgery, fillers are a great adjunct for facial rejuvenation. They can be used alone but often in concert with anti-wrinkle injections, skin care and facial treatments can produce a dramatic improvement in facial appearance without surgery. We also often employ them with surgery to enhance and further improve results achieved from face and neck lifts.
The Skill in Filler Injections: Why Come to a Plastic Surgery Practice?
- The skill in administering filler injections for facial rejuvenation is based on a precise understanding of the underlying anatomy and selection of the most appropriate dermal fillers.
- At Mode, filler injections are performed by our experienced practice nurse Karyn under the supervision of Dr Aggarwal. Karyn has years of experience in cosmetic dermal filler injections, alongside having received training from industry leaders – we are fortunate to have her skill, knowledge and experience at Mode.
- Furthermore the art of filler injection is in subtlety. We firmly believe in the ‘less is more’ approach as excessive filler material can create unwanted appearances as these can look ‘done’ and unnatural.
- At Mode, we have several choices of dermal fillers, all of which are TGA approved and are of a premium grade with various different properties.
- At mode, we will only suggest filler treatment if it’s the right thing for you – for instance if your wrinkles or facial appearance are the result of loose skin, you may require a different treatment or surgical procedure (such as a face or necklift), in which case spending time and money on filler injections may not be worthwhile.
Procedure Information
- An initial consultation with our practice nurse is conducted to determine if you have any contraindications to the treatment (where it may not be safe for you to have filler injections), and to determine the location and total volume of the injections.
- The injections are performed by our practice nurse, under the supervision of Dr Aggarwal.
- Most injections are performed the same day except in patients:
- Who are taking blood thinning medications, or other over the counter agents that thin the blood.
- Who have an infection, cold sores, or other wounds at or near the site of potential injection.
- Who desire other treatments such as Hydrafacial or antiwrinkle treatments – these may have to be staged.
- The injections are performed at our main Gordon practice.
- After an initial consultation and assessment by our practice nurse, a treatment plan is made.
- Clinical photographs are taken before and after treatment.
- The injections are conducted in our procedure room in absolute privacy.
- Ice is placed over the area to be treated, in some particular facial areas numbing cream will be applied for 20 – 30mins. The areas are marked out using a white marker as to where the filler will be placed. The filler can be placed using a needle or cannula depending on the location and desired outcome.
- With any fillers we recommend you plan your treatment two weeks prior to any social engagement due to the risk of bruising. Also two weeks prior to international flights due to swelling and inflammation.
- After treatment, you can return to work immediately. Some bruising and discomfort may occur during injection, and you apply an ice pack to the area to reduce this post-treatment. You will be given aftercare guidelines and how to care for your newly injected area.
The initial consultation and injections take approximately 1 hour.
- Effects begin immediately. There may be some bruising and swelling which will subside over the following week (it may worsen in the first 2- 2 days); and therefore it can take a week or so to determine final outcome from the filler injection.
- In general we will ask patients to return at the 2 week mark, to review the effects.
Procedure FAQs
- Please visit our price list for further information.
- Costs are directly related to your facial concerns and desired outcomes.
- If you dont like your fillers they are reversible, with the dissolving agent called Hyalase. An enzyme this is injected into the filler area, which accelerates the breakdown of hyalauronic acid filler.
In general the cost per mL of filler is often more at a plastic surgery clinic. This is because:
- the injections are being performed by our experienced plastic surgery nurse under the supervision of Dr Aggarwal. You are paying for the skill and expertise of the injector and in general you get what you pay for.
- We will only ever use products from the largest manufacturers of fillers. This is generally Galderma, or Allergan, Vevacy, or Merz. We do not source cheap filler material, or permanent fillers. These reputable filler products are expensive, because they have proven track record with respect to safety.
- We only ever inject in the safest environment:
- Dr Aggarwal is available on site and readily available for advice, support, or his technical ability. This is often not the case in cheaper clinics or cosmetic surgeries.
- The procedure is performed in our purpose built procedure rooms with good natural lighting and aseptic conditions.
- We are results driven – we do not perform injections on a commission basis and do not need to fill a quota to see results.
- We use appropriate preparation with ice packs or anaesthetic cream reducing your discomfort.
- We have knowledge of underlying facial anatomy and therefore argue less risk of inadvertent injection of a critical blood vessel. There has been one case of blindness due to fillers in Sydney (not in a plastic surgery clinic).
- If a critical event were to occur, we have an evidence based protocol to perform a reversal of treatment. We stock hyalase on site, to dissolve filler material if required in an emergency or for cosmetic reasons. This can make the difference between a safe and catastrophic outcome. Again, not all sites may not adhere to these protocols or stock dissolver as it is an expensive medication.
- We would encourage you to seek injectables only where they are performed safely, and by an expert practitioner equip to handle any situation that may occur.
Risks & Complications
Filler injections are not recommended for:
- Patients who are on blood thinning medications
- Patients taking over the counter supplements than thin the blood such as Fish Oil, Gingko, Ginseng, Turmeric, and Aspirin or Nurofen based medicines.
- Patients who have previously had a reaction to or significant complications from filler injections.
- An active facial infection or taking oral antibiotics
- Patients with clotting disorders or autoimmune disorders
- Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
- Patients who have a know reaction to lignocaine (or lidocaine) a local anesthetic agent or to mannitol
- Caution with patients with anaphylaxis to bee stings
General risks of filler injections include
- Bruising
- Discomfort
- Tenderness
- Swelling and redness
Less common risk
- Infection – the skin is prepped before injection, however there is a small risk of infection.
- Insufficient effect – the desired result is less than what you desired. This may require additional volumes of filler material as not all areas can be treated with a single syringe of filler.
- Lumps – from uneven filler material placement however most of these can be massaged away. A period of time is set aside for all swelling to resolve first.
Rare specific risks of dermal filler injections include
- Asymmetry – filler can improve or accentuate asymmetries. Furthermore it can create an asymmetry not present prior to injection.
- Delayed inflammatory nodules – can be up to 6 – 12 months after injection. Sometimes they can respond to antibiotics or steroid injections but can be difficult to treat.
- Tyndall effect – if filler is placed too superficially it can create a bluish tinge to the area
- Blockage of a blood vessel with filler
- The entire face is rich with blood vessels. All of these blood vessels have connections to one another.
- Accidental injection of a blood vessel especially an artery with filler can result in stopping the blood flow to an area of the face.
- With no blood flow the skin cells cannot get oxygen and may cause cell death which could leave a permanent scar.
- Although very rare the most significant complication is blindness (till date this has occurred in 1 patient in a Sydney clinic from injection of a filler material in the nasal bridge and there have been around 100 reported cases in the world)
- Critical problems, if they occur with hyaluronic acid filler, can be dissolved immediately with hyalase.
Why Choose Us
Highly Skilled
Highly skilled Fellowship Trained Plastic surgeon – know you are in the safest of hands with a Plastic Surgeon who is experienced, highly respected, and appointed at premier Sydney hospitals- including the SAN, RPA, POWH and RHW.
Safety
If sedation or general anaesthetic is required, it is delivered by an accredited anaesthetist
Accommodation
Have your surgery at premier, accredited Sydney private hospitals
Upfront Costs
We provide written quotes, so there are no surprises.
Patient Centered Care
We make you our top priority. Need to ask a question, worried about dressings or something else post op? We will always be at your beck and call.
Reviews
Our patients love us! Feel free to read our reviews online on independent websites, or you can speak to some of our existing patients who will gladly speak about their plastic surgery journey.
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Mode Plastic Surgery, 924 Pacific Highway, Gordon NSW 2072
Consulting time
Multiple options throughout the week
Address
85 Burdett St, Hornsby NSW 2077
Consulting time
Alternate Tuesday afternoons
Address
Level 2, Clinic D, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, 119-143 Missenden Rd, Camperdown NSW 2050.
Consulting time
Alternate Thursdays
Address
Level 1, 6 Ryde Road, Hunters Hill NSW 2110.
Consulting time
Once a month Thursday morning.
Address
Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Suite 10, Level 7, Barker St, Randwick Hill NSW 2031
Consulting time
Once a month Friday morning.
Phone:
info@modeplasticsurgery.com.au
Suite 13, 924 Pacific Highway
Gordon NSW 2072, Australia
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