Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are injections used to fill out wrinkles and creases in the skin. They are also used in lip augmentation, non-surgical rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), and jawline/chin correction procedures. Fillers are popular with those seeking a swift, non-surgical solution for ageing skin that has lost volume as the collagen that previously helped to shape and support it has disappeared.

During your appointment at the Belfast Skin Clinic you may be offered a local anaesthetic cream or injection. The practitioner injects the filler in a series of small injections and may massage the area. The treatment time can vary from 30 minutes to an hour.

The fillers are made from a variety of materials and the length of time that the effects last will vary depending on the type of filler. We only use the best and safest dermal filler to ensure maximum results.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin’s connective tissue and is the most common filler used for wrinkles. The results typically last about six months to one year.
Calcium hydroxylapatite is a type of filler used to contour the jaw line, restore volume in the cheeks, and treat deeper wrinkles and skin folds. The results last up to one year when used for contouring and three years when used to fill wrinkles.

Lip Filler Augmentation

The lips are one of the most prominent features on our face and for many, achieving fuller, plumper lips helps to restore balance to the facial features we feel age or other factors, may have affected. Whether lips have lost volume and shape through the natural ageing process, or you just want to achieve a fuller, more voluminous smile, there are a number of lip enhancing and rejuvenating treatments which your practitioner will discuss in more detail.

How long is the lip augmentation treatment?

The lip augmentation procedure itself may take up to 30 minutes but patients will see the results immediately and can resume normal activities immediately following treatment.

How long do lip fillers last?

This may vary depending on the individual and how their skin responds to the treatment. The results of lip filler injections last from 6-12 months but touch up treatments can be discussed in the months following initial treatment to maintain the effects.

Cheek Enhancements

Cheeks are a very important feature of the mid face and as we age, the levels of facial subcutaneous fat decrease leading to loss of volume in the cheekbones. This can lead to a hollow effect around the cheekbone and results in many people suggesting they feel tired-looking and lack the facial contour they once had.
This leads to formation of jowls (the sag around the chin area) and nose to mouth lines.

Lack of the natural youthful curves of the face can be restored by fillers which work to restore contour and shape to the face and stimulate a lifting effect. Hyaluronic Acid and RADIESSE^® are recommended fillers for cheek enhancement.

There are various types of dermal filler which can be used for the cheeks. Generally the results of this particular treatment are visible for up to one year but may last longer.

Non-surgical Rhinoplasty

What is non-surgical rhinoplasty?

Until recently, the only solution for anyone looking for a nose reshaping was a surgical rhinoplasty. While a surgical nose job remains the solution for major size and shape reconstruction, most patients’ concerns can be addressed with a non-surgical nose correcting procedure.

Non-surgical rhinoplasty is a non-invasive alternative for nose surgery. It involves injecting dermal filler in precise areas of nose to reshape, rebalance or resize it in harmony with the surrounding area.

Consultation before the procedure is very important as the practitioner will examine the patient and try to understand his/her expectation about the outcome of the procedure as well as discussing the risks and benefits of the procedure. The consultation may include taking pictures from various angles and using them in the discussion of the treatment to tailor a treatment plan to achieve a natural looking, attractive and harmonious balance of facial features.

What is involved and how long will the procedure take?

The average duration of the session is 30 minutes and the patient is conscious throughout the procedure. The dermal filler is injected at various points. Most dermal fillers are premixed with local anaesthetic called lidocaine, this makes the injections more comfortable. Photographs maybe taken during the procedure from different angles that aid both the practitioner and the patient to achieve the ultimate ideal results.

In our clinic we only use licensed dermal filler which is a non-permanent dermal filler with a very safe profile; the results of which will last from 12 to 18 months.

What could be addressed?

Folds of the nose.
A bump or ‘hook’ on the bridge of the nose.
Asymmetrical nose.
Crooked nose.
A flat or a low bridge

What are the advantages of this treatment over surgery?

The average duration of the session is 30 minutes and the patient is conscious throughout the procedure. The dermal filler is injected at various points.

With dermal filler, it is possible to accomplish very specific improvements in nose reshaping that are simply not possible by surgical rhinoplasty.
Results are visible immediately as compared to almost a year for surgical rhinoplasty.
The changes that can be achieved by using dermal fillers are natural-looking.
The patient is conscious during the procedure and can interact with the practitioner.
There is no need for General Anaesthetic.
No downtime is required after the procedure and any minor bruising or redness could be covered by makeup. In any case, these conditions usually go away in three to four days.
The patient is free to go without any stay in the clinic. If required, a follow up treatment may be arranged.

Jawline and Chin Correction

One of the signs of ageing is sagging skin along the jaw line, which results in the appearance of a loose double chin with excess skin visible. The effects of sun damage, age, and gravity all work to put some excess skin along the chin and jaw line which many people wish to address using non-surgical techniques.

In some cases, this can be corrected with dermal filler which works to add volume to areas of loose skin and will lift the neck and jaw enough to produce a significant and dramatic effect.

Chin Enhancement

The chin is an important feature of the face. By enhancing and correcting the volume of the chin, the jaw line can be sharpened; the profile of the face balanced and the amount of excess skin and fat in the neck can be reduced.

The non-surgical, non-invasive chin reshaping involves the use of a dermal filler, injected to reshape and contour the chin to achieve a natural appearance, in a quick, safe and effective out-patient treatment.

This treatment is particularly effective for patients who do not wish to undergo invasive surgery but feel they wish to make small changes to the shape and contour of the chin.

The results may last up to one year depending on the type of filler used.

Downtime, bruising and swelling associated with this procedure is minimal and the procedure is relatively pain free.

Non-Surgical Facelift

As we age, our facial structure evolves and the underlying structure of the muscles and fat which supports our skin, diminishes. In addition to this, our skin also changes with age, losing much of its elasticity and therefore not adapting easily to shifting structures underneath. These factors all combine to create the appearance of sagging skin where laxity of certain key areas causes lines and folds to become more prominent.

What is Non-Surgical Facelift?

A non-surgical face lift is achieved by using a combination of aesthetic treatments to restore facial structures and treat localised facial concerns such as wrinkles, loss of volume, skin laxity, hyperpigmentation and scarring.

This provides a good alternative to the traditional surgical facelift with none of the down time, visible scarring and pain that goes with a surgical procedure. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to facial rejuvenation and different therapies will be used depending on your individual concerns.

A non-surgical face lift can include a combination of treatments to the face. These include skin peels, dermal fillers, muscle freezing injections (such as botulinum A), PDO threadlift and treatments such as IPL laser for photo rejuvenation.

A full assessment will be required with our experts to discuss your expectations and agree a realistic and achievable treatment plan. We recommend that any patient considering this option, book an initial consultation with our Aesthetic Practitioner, who will discuss options with you.

Hand Rejuvenation

What is Hand Rejuvenation

Healthy young skin contains collagen that gives it volume, flexibility and strength. Whilst we are happy to invest in dealing with facial signs of ageing such as wrinkles, lines, pigmentation and sagging- we can neglect other exposed areas such as hands which leads to an incongruent appearance from one part of our body to another. As part of the ageing process and with repeated exposure to sun and environmental irritants, your own natural collagen breaks down. This loss of elasticity and volume results in wrinkles, lines and skin laxity that rob your skin of its youthful appearance.

Hand rejuvenation is a combination of dermal filler treatment and skin treatment. Skin care products increase the turnover of the cells and stimulate the production of new cells.

RADIESSE® is a unique formulation that stimulates collagenases – the production of new collagen – which results in increased volume for natural-looking wrinkle correction that may last a year or more in many patients.

Treatment is simple, quick, comfortable and convenient, with immediately visible results that last up to one year.

Tear Trough Fillers

The tear trough is the area directly under the eyes and above the cheekbones.

As we age, we lose collagen in the skin which means the skin becomes thinner and more translucent, allowing blood vessels to become visible and leading to a dark circled, hollowed appearance under the eyes.

While many people attribute visual changes in this area to the ageing process, there can be additional factors which can have an impact on tear trough anatomy.

Other factors include, genetics, lack of sleep, dehydration, fatigue, anaemia, alcohol and tobacco use.

An initial consultation will be required to determine whether dermal filler would be an appropriate treatment based on the patient’s expectations and requirements.

This highly specialised treatment uses hyaluronic acid to correct natural volume deficiencies in this area of the face. The treatment is often carried out in several stages to ensure a natural and adequate amount of dermal filler is used and this reduces the risk of over-volumizing the area in one treatment.

Tear trough filler is an advanced procedure which requires enhanced practitioner training and high-quality products to reduce the risk of an adverse event.