Dermal Fillers vs Anti-Wrinkle Injections: which injectables are right for you?
What are ‘Cosmetic Injectables’?
Anti Wrinkle Agents and Dermal Fillers sometimes interchangeably called “injectables”.
These are ‘non-surgical’ methods for treating fine lines and wrinkles or facial skeletal atrophy (lost volume or hollowing of the face in certain areas).
- quick results
- minimal discomfort
- little if any downtime
- eradicating wrinkles that stem from repeated facial expression
- frown lines
- squinting/crow’s feet
Download our Free 20 page Injectables Guide today for everything you want to know about Treatments in Melbourne
How it works
Neurotoxins work by temporarily relaxing the underlying facial muscles that cause wrinkles when they contract. When properly injected, with these muscles relaxed, patients can smile, frown, or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases.
Dermal fillers and injectables have become one of the most popular tools in the fight against aging. Today, there are many different kinds of injectables and dermal fillers, each with the ability to treat various signs of aging like volume loss, overly thin lips, fine lines and wrinkles. Where Botox relaxes facial muscles, injectables and dermal fillers work by adding temporary volume under the skin in order to fill wrinkles and plump the skin.
What are the benefits of using Dermal Fillers?
- Dermal fillers allow great precision in wrinkle correction.
- They do not affect your ability to contract your facial muscles.
- Natural-looking results – you’ll look great and feel younger.
- Fillers are non-permanent and you can try different facial ‘looks’.
- To provide a complete facial revitalisation and enhancement dermal fillers can be used in conjunction with anti-wrinkle treatments or laser facial Rejuvenation.
- You can take years off the look of your face.
- Fillers treat deeper wrinkles that other methods can’t.
- Adverse reactions are rare.
- Fillers can be reversed rapidly with the use of injections that dissolve the filler.
- And, are an easy non-surgical solution that may delay the need for plastic surgery.
Where are Dermal Fillers most commonly used?
- Lips – for volume enhancement and also to treat fine lines around the lips
- Cheeks and nasolabial folds – these aim to reduce the depth of the creases and wrinkles in the area
- Around the eyes – particularly the “tear trough” area
- Nose and chin – subtle reshaping of these areas
- Brow – subtle reshaping and lifting
How do Dermal Filler Injections work?
A smooth injectable gel is injected below the skin’s surface to “fill-in” wrinkles, “plump-up” small areas such as the lips, and “re-volumise” large areas like the cheeks.
Dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are often referred to as a “liquid facelift.”
With fillers, dermal volumisers provide subtle yet noticeable effects to plump up your cheeks or other areas of the face that have lost volume due to ageing or weight changes.
You can read more on this process on the Coco Ruby Dermal Filler page.
What happens during Dermal Filler Injections?
As with our other non-surgical treatments dermal filler treatment can be safely and comfortably performed in the relaxing environment of our treatment room.
The usual procedure for patients looking to lift and liven their face with dermal fillers
- Firstly, you’ll speak with the doctor or nurse about your background and medical history at your initial consultation
- Then, a treatment plan will be devised. In which, how we can use dermal fillers will be set out. The possibly of dermal fills in conjunction with other techniques and tools may be suggested to create the face that you desire.
At your dermal filler appointment:
- Our dermal filler product contains a local anaesthetic that makes the injection more comfortable.
- The area to be injected is marked out
- The dermal fillers are injected, and we apply cold packs immediately afterwards.
- Mineral make-up completes the look and allows you to resume your daily activity.
The procedure takes about 30-60 minutes in total, depending on the size of the area to be treated.
What is the normal recovery downtime after Dermal Injections?
You’ll be able to return to work and wear makeup immediately afterwards, although we recommend you don’t commit yourself to any activities after your first-ever appointment.
Generally, any side effects, such as minor redness and swelling, resolve after 24 hours.
What should I expect after treatment?
Much of the difference you see after your initial dermal filler injection will be due to swelling; you should see the ‘real’ results after about 3 days.
Are Dermal Fillers painful?
Some patients prefer local anaesthesia to numb the area being injected to maximise comfort during treatment.
There can be a slight sting with the injection however the vast majority of patients find the treatment very comfortable.
The small about of pain you feel can be significantly reduced by finding an injector with a gentle touch and choosing an injector that how knows to avoid the many facial nerves.
How long do Dermal Filler Injections last?
Results from dermal fillers vary depending on the filler, the techniques used and the facial area that is being injected.
High muscle use areas (like your mouth edges) generally last around six to 12 months and in low muscle areas (like your cheeks or tear troughs) can last 18 to 24 months.
The more treatments you have, the longer the results will last.
Are there any reasons I should not have Dermal Filler Injections?
Our team will not perform this treatment on pregnant or nursing mothers or if you have diseased skin in the area being filled.
What are the possible side effects of Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers have been used for many years, and clinical trials have shown that it is well tolerated.
All treatments carry the potential of unwanted effects. We generally recommend and use non-permanent fillers which last between 4-18 months.
There may be some mild redness, swelling and discomfort after treatment. Uncommonly, there can be lumpiness and other cosmetic concerns. Infections and other complications are rare.
Reported dermal filler side effects include:
- Redness to the injection site
- Pain
- Firmness
- Swelling
- Lumps and bumps
- Bruising
- Itching
- Discolouration
In most cases, these side effects are temporary and should resolve within a week.
The Injectables – AWIs and Fillers
Anti Wrinkle Injectables (AWIs) and dermal fillers are sometimes discussed interchangeably as “injectables”, which are great non-surgical methods for treating fine lines and wrinkles. These products are well known by the drug companies proprietary names but due to government regulations we can’t use those words here.
These TWO treatments share some similarities: they have the power to create quick and dramatic results, with relatively no pain and no downtime.
Fillers and AWIs, however, are very different in terms of how they work and which types and severity of wrinkles they treat.
ABOUT AWIS – There are several different AWIs available. Among various uses, these products are effective at eradicating wrinkles that stem from repeated facial expression including frown lines and crow’s feet. Using low doses of a purified protein, the AWIs work by temporarily relaxing the underlying facial muscles that cause wrinkles when they contract. When properly injected, with these muscles relaxed, patients can smile, frown, or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases.
ABOUT DERMAL FILLERS – Dermal fillers have become one of the most popular tools in the fight against a sagging and ageing face. Today, there are MANY different kinds of dermal fillers, each with the ability to treat various signs of aging like volume loss, overly thin lips, and fine lines, and wrinkles.
Instead of relaxing facial muscles like AWIs, dermal fillers work by adding temporary volume under the skin in order to fill wrinkles and plump the skin.
What are the benefits of using Dermal Fillers?
- Dermal fillers allow great precision in wrinkle correction
- They do not affect your ability to contract your facial muscles
- Natural-looking results – you’ll look great and feel younger
- Non-permanent and you can try different facial ‘looks’
- To provide a complete facial revitalisation and enhancement Fillers can be used with conjunction anti-wrinkle treatments or laser facial Rejuvenation.
- You can take years off the look of your face
- Treat wrinkles that other methods can’t
- Filler rarely causes adverse reactions
- Injections that dissolve the filler can be used to rapidly reverse results if you are unsatisfied with the outcome.
- Fillers are an easy non-surgical solution that may delay the need for plastic surgery
Common Dermal Filler Areas?
- Lips – for volume enhancement and also to treat fine lines around the lips
- Cheeks and nasolabial folds – these aim to reduce the depth of the creases and wrinkles in the area
- Around the eyes – particularly the “tear trough” area
- Nose and chin – subtle reshaping of these areas
- Brow – subtle reshaping and lifting
How do Dermal Filler Injections work?
A smooth injectable gel is injected below the skin’s surface. This results in “filling-in” wrinkles and “plumping-up” small areas such as the lips. It can also “re-volumise” large areas like the cheeks.
Dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are often referred to as a “liquid facelift.”
With fillers, dermal volumisers provide subtle yet noticeable effects to plump up your cheeks or other areas of the face that have lost volume due to ageing or weight changes.
You can read more on this process on the Coco Ruby Dermal Filler page.
What happens during Dermal Filler Injections?
As with our other non-surgical treatments dermal filler treatment can be safely and comfortably performed in the relaxing environment of our treatment room.
The usual procedure for patients looking to lift and liven their face with dermal fillers is:
- You’ll speak with the doctor or nurse about your background and medical history at your initial consultation
- A treatment plan will be devised, which sets out how we can use dermal fillers (possibly in conjunction with other techniques and tools) to create the face that you want
At your dermal filler appointment:
- The dermal filler product we use contains a local anaesthetic that makes the injection comfortable.
- Injection area will be marked out
- Dermal fillers are injected, and cold packs applied immediately afterwards.
- Finally, Mineral make-up completes the look and allows you to resume your daily activity.
Depending on the size of the area to be treated the procedure takes about 30-60 minutes in total.
What is the normal recovery downtime after Dermal Injections?
You’ll be able to return to work and wear makeup immediately afterwards, although we recommend you don’t commit yourself to any activities after your first-ever appointment.
Generally, any side effects, such as minor redness and swelling, resolve after 24 hours.
What should I expect after treatment?
Much of the difference you see after your initial dermal filler injection will be due to swelling; you should see the ‘real’ results after about 3 days.
Are Dermal Fillers painful?
Patients may prefer local anaesthesia. Numbing the area being injected maximizes comfort during treatment.
There can be a slight sting with the injection however the vast majority of patients find treatment very comfortable.
Find an injector with a gentle touch. They will know how to avoid the nerves in the face, and significantly reduce any potential pain.
How long do Dermal Filler Injections last?
- High muscle use areas (like your mouth edges) generally last around six to 12 months.
- Compared to low muscle areas (like your cheeks or tear troughs) which can last between 18 – 24 months.
- The more treatments you have, the longer the results will last.
It’s important to note that results from dermal fillers vary depending on three things;
- First of all, the type of filler used.
- Secondly, technique used.
- Thirdly the facial area injected.
Are there any reasons I should not have Dermal Filler Injections?
Our team doesn’t perform this treatment on pregnant or nursing mothers. They also don’t perform it on people with skin disease in the treatment area.
What are the possible side effects of Dermal Fillers?
Studies show that most people tolerate dermal fillers fairly well.
However, all treatments carry the potential of unwanted effects. We generally recommend and use non-permanent fillers which generally last between 4-18 months.
Mild redness, swelling and discomfort can be common after treatment, uncommonly, there can be lumpiness and dissatisfaction.
To clarify the above infections and other complications are rare, however reported dermal filler side effects include:
- Redness at the injection site
- Pain
- Firmness
- Swelling
- Lumps and bumps
- Bruising
- Itching
- Discolouration
These side effects are usually temporary and resolve within a week.
Wrinkle Relaxing Injectables Vs Dermal Fillers – Which is better?
Knowing which types of cosmetic injections your face will benefit most from, appearance-wise, is a matter of five things:
(1) your existing facial anatomy and your primary facial appearance concerns
(2) your feature balance vs asymmetry and imbalance
(3) your facial ageing including skin condition and bone atrophy
(4) your personal cultural preferences for volumisation
(5) your understandings of what CAN be done with cosmetic injections versus cosmetic facial surgery (plastic surgery of the face, eyelids, jawline, chin or neck)
During a clinical assessment for injections, you and your Cosmetic Injecting Nurse or Doctor will investigate:
- your medical history and your suitability for injectable treatments
- your facial structure, including areas of the face that you might want to accentuate or adjust
- the best injecting strategies to address what concerns you most about your appearance (e.g, forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, lip lines, a weak chin, thin lips or ‘invisible’ cheekbones)
- which areas and facial injecting strategies you want to start with, first, in terms of your cosmetic injecting budget and the cost of these injecting treatments
- your understandings of the procedure, risks and recovery times (there may be potential bruising)
Be sure you feel 100% comfortable with your cosmetic injector and his or her knowledge of facial anatomy and injecting options; as well as their background and training. If you’re uncomfortable with any aspects of the clinic, cosmetic injector and environment, don’t proceed.
Cosmetic Injecting: It’s an ART and a SCIENCE
- Good cosmetic injecting outcomes require a combined approach of aesthetic taste (your goals) and advanced medical knowledge relating to dermal filler and anti-wrinkle solution uses and injecting strategies.
- But you MUST keep your expectations realistic and understand the risks of dermal filler vs anti-wrinkle injections.
- Often, both dermal filler AND anti-wrinkle injections are the best solution to accomplish what a patient is wanting; but going slowly and not doing too much at once is usually wise.
- Your clinician will need to repeat your treatments over time, especially if you like the results. These are temporary solutions not permanent fillers (avoid permanent fillers at all costs).
Anti-Wrinkles, Dermal Fillers or Both? The Liquid Facelift
It’s important to understand that a highly-experienced Cosmetic Injector uses their extensive aesthetic experience AND their medical knowledge to help you choose:
- which aspects of your face to volumise with fillers vs
- which parts of your face to lift or relax using anti-wrinkle injections vs dermal filler injections
So in this blog, we briefly outline some common uses of cosmetic injections in our Melbourne Clinic for temporary facial enhancements and skin rejuvenation.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections vs Dermal Fillers: Uses
Anti-Wrinkle Solutions relax lines and soften wrinkles
- Can relax certain facial muscles that create ever-deepening lines and wrinkles as you age
- Over time, anti-wrinkle treatments help to reduce these wrinkles (skin indentions or lines)
- Anti-wrinkle injections will reduce dynamic facial expressions. If your clinician places them correctly, your face will look natural and not stiff. Here, the skill of a good injector is paramount to avoid looking ‘overly injected’.
- Anti-wrinkle injections work to reduce the appearance of ageing by softening lines and wrinkles. Some people require textural treatments, as well, such as peels, laser or Dermamalen.
- used in dynamic expressions
They take 2 weeks to show effect on most patients. You may need more than one treatment before you fully see results on some lines. Your clinician will schedule them 3-4 months apart. They do not address skin laxity.
These are some of the areas of the face that clinicians commonly inject with anti-wrinkle injections:
- forehead
- between the brows
- crow’s feet area or eyelid area
- near the lips or mouth
Another use for anti-wrinkle injections is to treat excessive sweating (hyperhydrosis) or reduce a gummy-looking smile.
Dermal Fillers essentially help re-volumise areas of the face that need more projection or gentle shaping to get a better facial balance.
- Clinicians use filler injections to enhance, sculpt and augment facial features. They are facial vulumisers.
- They can sometimes also be used to help soften some lines or scars/skin indentions or to reduce under-eye shadows in the tear trough area (‘eye bags’)
- Dermal Fillers tend to have a facial rejuvenation effect and are an excellent enhancement option to combine with other rejuvenating facial procedures including a Face Lift Surgery, Neck Lift Surgery or skin resurfacing.
- The skeletal structures underlying your skin lose volume as you age, so fillers can re-volumise the face and cheeks or jawline, helping to reduce a drawn look or hallowed look to cheeks, chin, eyes, brow or temples.
- The skill of your injector is also paramount with facial fillers, to create better harmony rather than an ‘over filled’ or ‘over-volumised’ looking result.
Does age matter when you’re getting fillers or wrinkle injections?
- People of all ages over 18 get fillers, although there are debates about the pros and cons of beginning cosmetic injections at an early age.
- However, many people find dermal filler injections can subtly improve their natural facial contours – from brows to nose to cheeks to chins – at a cost that is far less than facial surgery or facial implants, such as chin implants or chin augmentation for a recessed chin.
- Many dermal fillers and muscle relaxers are temporary. So, their effects will eventually wear off after 9-18 months, and a clinician can reverse them if they need to.
Do Men Get Cosmetic Injections? Male Cosmetic Treatments
Women get more filler treatments than do men and have always led the way in facial enhancement procedures and skincare. But our culture is changing rapidly, and men are gaining greater access to – and comfort with – seeking skincare and facial rejuvenation treatments. At our Melbourne Clinic, we notice that more men are starting to seek these treatments out after seeing what it does for their female friends or partners.
Temporary Dermal Fillers – Facial Injections – how long do they last, and why do I need to get top-up treatments?
How often will I need to get cosmetic injections or filler top-ups?
It varies from person to person. Sometimes the type of filler, your body’s responses, your overall health and your pre and post-injection care can have an effect on the duration of your fillers or anti-wrinkle treatments. So we list some average duration ranges of dermal fillers vs anti-wrinkle injections, but remember, these are not exact time frames and a variety of factors can influence result longevity.
Five Biggest Filler Myths – Fibs about Fillers
Fib #1: All Fillers Are The Same (Myth & Misunderstanding)
The clinicians at our office have strict criteria for the products they use. Our clinicians stipulate that the products that they use must be able to break down naturally, they have to be able to reverse their effects, and they can’t be animal products.
Fib #2: Fillers make your face look too full, or give you “cushion face” (Myth & Misunderstanding)
Fib #3: Fillers make your lips look ridiculous (Misunderstanding)
Bad results are often the result of wrong Injectors (inexperienced or over-zealous) or wrong injecting strategies, not the product itself. Once again, this is about the injector, not the product.
Fib #4: Fillers are only for young women wanting a Hollywood look (Myth & Misunderstanding)
Fib #5 Fillers cannot look natural (Myth & Misunderstanding)
In Summary:
Cosmetic Injection re-treatment times
It is optional to continue having dermal filler or anti-wrinkle injections, and time frames between treatments varies from patient to patient.
- You will probably get a top-up around 3-6 months later, as well as 6-18 months later. A lot depends on how your body adapts to fillers.
- It is feasible to anticipate your health (inflammation), nutritional intake, hydration, post-injection care plan and your substance use habits may also have an impact on how long your fillers last.
- But it also depends on where the filler is injected and what type it is.
You need to know these things before you start. But DO please read our treatment pages and our other blog articles on cosmetic injectables and skincare for more information. A good tip blog if you’ve never had filler or wrinkle injections before is: “First Timer Tips for Getting Injectables” and “First Anti Wrinkle Injections Patient Experience” and it is a good idea to read up on the “Fake Injectors and Fake Injectables: Medical Dangers from Counterfeit Products” and “Facial Fillers – Top 5 Injection Danger Zones for Dermal Filler Injections”
Dermal fillers are mainly temporary because they are eventually absorbed by the body. Many types of temporary dermal fillers are made of similar ingredients that are naturally occurring in the human body.
- Generally, effects of dermal filler injectables can last up to about six months or longer.
- Lip fillers may gradually reduce and many patients top up their lip fillers at the 5 to 7-month mark.
- Some dermal fillers may last as long as 9, 12 or even 18 months for some patients.
Others may need more frequent ‘top-up’ sessions. Or perhaps you decide to further enhance your cheeks, chin or lips over time (but beware going overboard and ending up with TOO much filler, especially too much lip filler).
- You MIGHT be red, swollen or even bruised for a few days or weeks after your treatment. You might even have this problem regardless of claims that injection treatments have no downtime.
- Most swelling and bruising after having dermal filler or lip augmentation injections passes in a few days or a few weeks, so be sure you leave enough time between your injections and a big event.
- Ask our Melbourne Injectors what THEY do to minimise your risks and improve longevity – as not ALL injectors are alike (ours have advanced training and decades of experience and expertise).
Another use of Dermal Fillers is the SKIN BOOSTING INJECTION session to stimulate cellular function and skin rejuvenation. Ask us about Skin Booster sessions by calling (03) 8849 1400.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections Relax the Muscles that lead to wrinkles.
But a skilled injector avoids the ‘expressionless facial appearance’ and gives you a natural result.
Anti-wrinkle injections provide you with smoother and younger-looking skin around your eyes, nose and forehead.
- Anti-wrinkle injections can take up to 2 weeks to begin working.
- Some people may require multiple treatments. They’re typically 3-4 (up to 6) months apart. And they reduce lines as well as soften wrinkles. The more ingrained or deep the wrinkles are, the more treatments you’ll need to see a smoothing of the lines. You may need skin resurfacing, as well.
- Sometimes, over time, you can get by with more infrequent top-ups and still have smoother skin in those areas that used to have strong lines or wrinkles; but your skin will still age, and the theory of ‘turning back the clock’ is both temporary and requires maintenance treatments.
- However, most people are very happy with what these injectable treatments can accomplish, and it allows some to avoid the downtime or costs of facial surgery for a period of time.
You can achieve fuller lips and reduce the amount of visible lines around your mouth using Fillers; whilst muscle-relaxant solutions (using quality brand products) can remove years from your facial appearance.
Why not visit with our talented Injecting Clinicians such as Sandra Wallace RN and Jessie Anderson (RN). For natural-looking results by highly experienced Cosmetic Injectors, phone (03) 8849 1400 and book a consultation for your top-up injections or for your first time “liquid facelift” injecting sessions.
Cosmetic Injections: There are many benefits to facial injectables and more and more men and women are looking to smooth and plump with the use of injections.
Read more about how injectables are being used to help refine and rejuvenate faces of people of many different ages.
If you’re wanting to reshape your lips or add volume to your cheeks, lips, jawline or temples, you’ll want to read on to learn some KEY preparation steps to take BEFORE your cosmetic injecting session or before your next ‘top up’ filler appointment.
Another of our blogs gives tips to get the most from your injectables session (what to do AFTER your injection session).
If you’re ready to get started, send an enquiry form or phone our team to schedule an appointment and assessment: (03) 8849 1400.
