Dermal Fillers
If you’ve been scouring the internet trying to decide on the best treatment for the signs of ageing, chances are you’ve stumbled across dermal fillers. You’re probably aware of the basics; that these simple injections can be used to correct or enhance facial contours, plump up lips, soften the appearance of wrinkles and improve the tone, texture and hydration of the skin: but what you might not know are the facts surrounding the procedure.
Facts
In order to help educate the public about what exactly they are getting for their money We at Tracey Bell Urge you to ask the following questions to the person who is injecting you, as not all hyaluronic acids are the same and legitimate brands are NOT available for general sale on the internet and should only be administered by trained clinicians.
Each brand has a range of ‘tissue tailored’ products designed for specific results. One size does not fit all.Low prices Whilst this might sound like good news for the consumer, unfortunately it’s far from it.
Questions to ask
- What is this treatment/product?
- How does it work?
- What are the side effects/risks?
- What are the alternatives I might consider?
- What results can I expect?
- What will I look like immediately after?
- How long will the results last?
- How many treatments will I need and in what time frame?
- Are you able to treat complications, should they occur?
- What happens if I am not happy with the result?
- Is it painful? ü How do you minimise pain?
- What aftercare am I expected to perform?
- What will it cost and what are the payment terms?
The continuing rise in the demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures has led to an increase in the number of people administering these types of treatments often with only a few days training on intensive courses, using unlicensed products.
We at Tracey Bell only employ responsible non-surgical cosmetic practitioners. We invest heavily in training and ongoing education in order to expertly deliver safe treatments
Injectors should have Registration and revalidation with regulatory bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the General Medical Council (GMC) and the General Dental Council (GDC)
Assessment
When you meet with a properly qualified, responsible practitioner, they will invest time in consultation and assessment to ensure that you receive the correct treatment for your individual needs. They will also take time to answer any questions that you may have in order to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with your treatment.
Be Safe
Do not proceed with treatment if you do not feel comfortable with the practitioner
Do not proceed with treatment if you do not fully understand the information you are given
Take the necessary time to make your decisions do not be hurried into the treatment
Ask the practitioner to show you the product in its unopened package prior to treatment.
Make a note of the practitioner’s name and product used for future reference
Ask for copies of before and after photographs for your reference
Do not have treatment in your home, at ‘parties’ or exhibitions or in environments that are clearly not clean or appropriate.
Quality of Care
All risks and complications will be discussed with you at consultation and prior to any treatment being agreed. Dermal fillers should be administered by a healthcare professional with specialist training. Side effects include, but are not limited to;
- 1. Redness
- 2. Swelling
- 3. Bruising
- 4. Itching
- 5. Tenderness
The above are temporary and usually resolve within the first few days, swelling is often marked the next morning but settles within hours, bruising can take a week to 10 days to resolve and can sometimes persist for longer
So, are cheap dermal fillers’ worth the risk?
In order to offer ‘cheap fillers’ shoddy practitioners are unlikely to invest in any of the above, as when offering cheap treatments, the cost of provision has to be minimal in order to make a profit.
Cheap (and fake) dermal fillers are freely available online, often from China where there are no manufacturing standards. Dermal fillers can cause serious harm and it is most important only those from licensed manufacturers and suppliers are used.
Of course, in any business, profit is important. The income provided by those seeking treatment has to sustain the service and also be invested in improving standards and quality. However, At Tracey Bell we strongly believe that profit should never come before safety.
COMPLICATIONS
On extremely rare occasions more serious side effects requiring early management can occur.
To minimise risk with dermal fillers, it is very important the practitioner has had specialist training, and is using safe products correctly. Should unwanted effects occur, that practitioner should be able to manage them safely.
Vascular occlusion is the most severe complication associated with hyaluronic acid filler injection. A thorough understanding of the facial Vascular anatomy reduces the risk of vascular occlusion.
Early identification of a vascular occlusion and a prompt intervention can significantly decrease the risk of long term sequelae
Foreign body granuloma is a chronic inflammatory reaction that entraps a foreign body, preventing its migration. This reaction occurs because of the inability of the immune system to enzymatically degrade the foreign body
In conclusion
HA Dermal fillers are the predominantly used dermal fillers worldwide. Luckily, most complications associated with Dermal filler injection are mild and self-limiting.
The rare vascular and infectious complications associated with filler injection can be minimized with a thorough understanding of facial vascular anatomy, proper injection techniques and meticulous skin preparation
Early identification and a prompt intervention can significantly decrease the risk of long-term sequelae.
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