The leading brands of dermal fillers we use at Spring Grove Clinic feature a synthetic version of hyaluronic acid, which is a carbohydrate that can be found in the connective tissues, eyes and joints of any mammal’s body, including the human body. Hyaluronic acid is an important building block to youthful skin but our natural stores begin to deplete from our 20s onwards.

With dermal fillers, we inject hyaluronic acid directly into areas of your face that have lost volume and may be prone to deep, static lines that are visible even when your face is resting. By adding volume to these lines, we can smooth out the skin – a bit like adding more air to a balloon – and significantly improve the appearance of these lines and wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are approved for use for cosmetic purposes by the FDA and have been the subject of a number of clinical trials. They have an excellent safety record and tend to be associated with a low risk of side effects when administered by an experienced cosmetic medical or dental professional.

Before you decide to go ahead with this treatment, we would always talk you through the potential side effects, from those that are common such as short-term swelling and bruising around the injection sites to far rarer complications.

The dermal fillers we use contain lidocaine or a similar anaesthetic agent to make the treatment as comfortable as possible. If you or we feel that you will need it, we may ask you to come in for your treatment half an hour early so that we can apply a topical anaesthetic cream.

Dermal fillers are ideal for lip enhancement treatments. We only need to use small quantities to help give your lips more volume, add definition to the vermillion line, or build up your Cupid’s bow. Dermal fillers are also fantastic for treating smokers’ lines that bleed into your lips, as well as nose-to-mouth lines and marionette lines that run from the corners of your mouth down to your chin. We use specially formulated dermal fillers for lip treatments to give you a soft, natural-feeling finish.

With dermal fillers, you should see a change to your appearance straightaway. As you may have slight bruising and swelling around the injection sites, it may take a couple of days for these side effects to subside and for you to appreciate how rejuvenated you look, but you should get a good idea at your appointment.

Dermal fillers are temporary, but you should see an improvement to the volume of your skin for up to six to twelve months. After this time, many people choose to have a top-up treatment to maintain the results.