Dr Xavier's Award Winning Medical Aesthetic Clinic Southampton

Dermal Fillers - Injectable, Immediate Results

Dermal fillers can help to restore our skin to its former youthful, fuller appearance and treat signs of damage and ageing. As the skin ages, over time it loses some of its collagen and fat. These are the materials that prevent your skin from sagging. This means that our skin becomes wrinkled.

Dermal fillers are injected gently, with very fine needles, into the areas of the skin where it needs to be plumped up again and made to look firmer. The treatment can have an enormously positive effect on your appearance and self-esteem.

The fillers are sometimes mixed with a local anaesthetic so that the injections are comfortable and we also always offer free topical anaesthetic cream before your treatment to make it more comfortable. Most patients report no pain and the procedure lasts from 15-30 minute.

Fillers come in different thicknesses. In general, the thicker the filler product, the deeper it will be injected into the dermal layer of the skin. This helps to plump out fine to deep lines and wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are not a new treatment. As early as the late 1800s, doctors would actually take fat from other parts of a patients' body and inject it into their faces. However, today there are various kinds of safe, natural and man-made or synthetic materials used as dermal fillers that have been specially developed over the years for injection into the skin.

Your Questions Answered

Are there different types of fillers?

There are many different brand names of dermal fillers. However, in the UK the most widely used brands of fillers are made from sterilised laboratory-made HYALURONIC ACID, which is a naturally occurring molecule in your body. Your own naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid is found in your skin eyes, tissue etc.

We only use leading and trusted brands that have a good safety profile and that are approved by our doctor. Examples include; The Restylane® range of dermal fillers by dermatology company Galderma (includes; Restylane Refyne®, Restylane Volyme®, Restylane Fynesse®, Restylane Lyft®, Restylane Defyne®, Restylane Kysse®, Restylane Skinboosters Vital and Vital Light®) and Perlane®, Also from Allergan we use Juvederm Ultra® and Voluma®, as well as other established fillers such as Stylage®, Belotero®, Teosyal® .

The best particular option for your particular treatment will be discussed with you at your consultation.

How do dermal fillers work?

Fillers are pure crystal clear hyaluronic acid (HA) gels which, when injected into the skin replenishes our own native HA which we lose through ageing delivering action where it is needed. It boosts the skin's own hydration system and restores youthful volume by supporting the skin's structure and working at a deep dermal level to delay the signs of ageing.

Some products such as Restylane Skinboosters Vital are more specifically formulated for their hydrating boost to the skin.

How long does it take to work?

Results from the treatment can be seen immediately.

How long does the treatment last for?

For facial line smoothing the gels are gradually broken down after 9-12 months. Lip enhancements last for 6-12 months. Most patients who choose to have repeat treatments do so at the time when they feel the effect starting to wear off i.e. anytime between 6 and 12 months.

Are any pre-treatment tests required?

Older collagen-based dermal fillers used to require a skin sensitivity test before treatment. However, we only use hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers that do not require a test. This knowledge is based upon millions of treatments performed worldwide and hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in our bodies – it is based on a water-attracting molecule.

What happens after the treatment wears off?

Your skin will gradually return to what it looked like before the treatment, unless you have a top-up treatment.

How much does the treatment cost?

The cost of the treatment (which is personalised to you) depends on the number of dermal filler syringes used. Each syringe comes as a pre-loaded sterile syringe and once opened it is for your exclusive use. Everyone’s face is different and your expectations are discussed with our doctor or nurse and they will then draw up a unique treatment plan for you. This will be discussed with you during your consultation but for a guide to prices please see our prices page.