Fillers are materials that are injected into deep lines and wrinkles. Filler agents are typically used for those wrinkles that are too deep to be treated with lasers or botox. They are commonly used to smoothen out smile lines, wrinkles between the eyebrows, sagging cheekbones or to enhance the appearance of upper and lower lips. Fillers can improve acne, chicken pox and other depressed scars. They can also be used to temporarily raise the bridge of nose or to make the chin a little sharper.


What are the available cosmetic fillers?

Over the years, a variety of filler agents have been successfully used. Bovine collagen (Zyderm® and Zyplast®) was the first filler agent approved. However, this is no longer used as there is a perceived risk of contracting Mad Cow disease.

Newer fillers agents such as Restylane, Perlane and Juverderm contain stabilsed hyaluronic acid. The new Juverdem formulation contains a local anaesthetic - Lidocaine, which relieves the pain of injection thus providing a more comfortable experience during the treatment. Results typically last 8 months to a year.


What kind of reactions can occur after cosmetic filler injections?

Reactions to filler agents are rare and generally resolve after a few days. Some common injection-related reactions might occur, such as swelling, redness, pain, itching, discoloration and tenderness at the injection site. Rarely, acne-like formations can also be seen.


What can I do to optimise cosmetic filler results?

Filler agents are ideally combined with Botox injections which are used to treat wrinkles caused by too much muscle tone. Wrinkles such as frown lines, crow’s feet, marionette lines and vertical lip lines are better treated with Botox than a filler agent. Ideally anti-aging skin treatments should include not only filler agents and Botox, but also skin collagen improvement therapies such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Refirme ST Skin Tightening treatments.