Dermaq Aesthetics Institute

Do Dermal Fillers Hurt?

Regardless of your pain tolerance, if you’ve had or are thinking of having cosmetic medical treatment, you’ve probably wondered this yourself. We speak with Dermaq Aesthetic’s Chief Medical Officer to get the facts.

Whatever product is used or area treated, all dermal fillers work on the same principle. A solution containing Hylauronic Acid is injected under your skin.

The filler then binds to water molecules, attracting them and trapping them under your skin to create that plump effect.

Unfortunately, whenever anything pierces the skin, there’s going to be pain. And the pain increases proportionally to the viscosity of the product and the sensitivity of the area.

Anti-wrinkle injections hurt less than filler for example, because the solution isn’t nearly as dense, and tends to be injected in a lower volume.

The things that affect the amount of pain you’re likely to experience are:

Area Injected
Type of Filler Used
Number of Injection Sites
Type and Diameter of Needle Used
Skill of Your Practitioner

Area Injected

Some areas are naturally more sensitive than others, due to thinner skin, and a greater abundance of nerves and blood vessels. Your lips are one of the most sensitive areas of your body, and filler here will be more painful than, for example, in the cheeks or chin.

Type of Filler Used

As well as different brands, there are fillers with different chemical and physical properties that we use to achieve different effects. More highly cross-linked filler is thicker and more vicious, and we will often use this in procedures such as adding definition to the chin, cheeks or jaw. Fortunately the less sensitive injections sites contract the greater discomfort introduced by the use of thicker filler.

Number of Injection Sites

Your Dermaq Aesthetics clinician will likely need to inject product multiple times across a range of sites, which the amount varying depending on the procedure. The more injection sites, the more discomfort you may experience. Fortunately our highly skilled clinicians are trained to administer product in the most efficient way possible.

Type and Diameter of Needle Used

Skill of Your Practitioner

Dermaq Aesthetics clinicians undergo extensive training to perfect their art.

Summary

But don’t fret! At Dermaq Aesthetics, we care deeply about your comfort. Our clinicians will apply a topical numbing cream before any injections are made. In addition, if you’re particularly sensitive to pain, we can administer a local anaesthetic to the area. Finally, the products we use themselves contain a certain amount of anaesthetic, so the experience should be much less painful than with an unmedicated product.

Ultimately, while it can be uncomfortable, the vast majority of people have no issues with it. The procedure tends to be quite swift. If you have any concerns, speak to your Dermaq Aesthetics practitioner during your consultation.

Will Anyone Know If I’ve Had Work Done?

Short answer: not if you don’t want them to!

Will it be obvious from my face or body?

It depends on the treatment. If you’ve had anti-wrinkle injections, no, there are usually no visible external indications immediately afterwards.

The same is true for most dermal fillers (e.g. cheek filler). There will be slight redness and swelling.

Lip fillers usually result in swelling that is visible for at least a day or two.

However, with any good treatment, the results should of course be visible. How visible generally depends on how dramatic an improvement you elected to make. If you opted for very subtle lip filler for example, let it rest overnight, and don’t mention it to anyone, then it’s going to be much easier to conceal, if that’s what you wish.

However, we strongly recommend everyone embrace their treatment! Who doesn’t love a good glow-up? We’ve yet to meet anyone.

Can my photos stay private?

Of course! We’re medically obligated to take photos for our treatment records. Those photos stay private and encrypted in our secure patient database.

You’ll have the option to consent to cropped photos of your lips, forehead or other treatment areas being used on our social media and website, but they’re all anonymised – unless you don’t want them to be! You’re also welcome to request that your photos never appear anywhere public in any form, and they won’t! It’s that simple.

The vast majority of patients consent for their photos to be used. You’ve probably seen some of these beauties on our website and social media. We love celebrating our patients and embracing their fantastic results!

Can Men Get Filler?

YES
Of course!

We can all agree that shouldn’t need saying, but the question does get asked. Men not only can, but frequently do get cosmetic treatments including anti-wri kle injections, lip fillers and dermal fillers of many kinds. A particularly popular treatment that we offer is jaw filler, which can help achieve that cutting Christian Grey-esque defined jaw.

Close up of man having hyaluron fillers on jaw and ching.

Many men are also getting ahead of the game with preventative anti-wrinkle treatments, particularly around the brow area. But any treatment that women request, we’re likely to have also administered to a man at some point!

Anti aging procedure. Beautician making beauty injection into jaw of male patient, empty space

Can I Go Out After Having Fillers or Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

This is a great question that we’re frequently asked by our patients. The short answer yes, but you may not want to straight away.

The longer version is this: it depends what you’ve had done, what products were used and where. Let’s go over a few common issues so you can understand what we mean.

Can I wear make-up?

When having a cosmetic treatment, whether dermal filler or anti-wrinkle injections, your skin will be covered in small punctures from the entry of the needle. Given their tiny size, these will heal rapidly. But you will want to leave your skin clear and fresh overnight to avoid getting any foreign particles (like powder) into the entry points while it recovers!

If you do wear make-up immediately after, it won’t harm you, but it may increase your chances of minor skin infections like acne.

Can I drink?

Again, yes, but you increase your risk of visible bruising from your treatment. It won’t harm you, but it might make your skin take a little longer to go back to normal.

Check out our fantastic article on coffee and cosmetic injectable treatments to understand why this happens. The issues covered also apply to alcohol.

Will I be swollen?

You’re likely to experience some swelling after any treatment. Lips tend to swell the most, as it’s such a sensitive area. Don’t worry, this will quickly go down. Any swelling will start to reduce after a few hours, and significantly diminish overnight. Your Dermaq Aesthetics clinician can provide some over the counter medication to help relieve this if you’re concerned. Most people don’t find it to be an issue.

However, we wouldn’t recommend getting any treatment the day before your wedding or big event, for example!

Can I kiss?

Yes, you shouldn’t have any issues kissing if you’ve had anti-wrinkle injections or dermal filler. If you’ve had lip filler specifically, you may want to want a few hours at least before a particularly passionate kiss, as the filler can be slightly malleable immediately after being administered, while it bonds to water inside your lips. On the plus side, this means we can sculpt it slightly immediately after injection wirh careful massaging!

Check out our FAQs and recent article which go into more detail on kissing and other intimate acts immediately after treatment.

Check back soon for our upcoming article on massaging your lips, and post-treatment care of your filler.

Will any of this ruin my filler/anti-wrinkle treatment?

The good news and short answer is no! None of the things we’ve discussed will affect your health or the effectiveness of your procedure.

What they might impact is bruising, recovery time, swelling and skin irritation. So the decision is totally up to the individual. Only you can decide what’s best for you!

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Can I Drink Coffee After Having Filler or Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

You’ve scheduled your appointment, you’re excited to try out your new lips, chin, or cheeks, but you’ve heard that coffee and cosmetic treatments don’t mix. So what’s the real deal?

Most of us need a bracing caffeinated pick-me-up at some point throughout the day. Caffeine works to suppress chemical signals in the body that make us feel sleepy. It also dilates (widens) our blood vessels. And this is where it can cause issues!

Now, don’t stress. If you’ve had a cup of coffee or two before or after your appointment, it’s not going to harm you or make your treatment less effective. It will however increase the risk and prominence of bruising, particularly if you’re having lip fillers.

The lips are rich in blood vessels, These red-colored blood filled capillaries are close to the thin skin on your lips, and they’re what make your lips appear red.

When you have an injection of lip filler, the needle punctures the skin and the filler is injected into the lips. This minor trauma naturally causes bruising, which is blood leaking out and collecting under the skin.

When you’ve had caffeine recently, your blood vessels are dilated, including in your lips. With more blood coming through, any trauma will result in a larger bruise. Think of it as poking a hole in a hose when the tap is on high versus on low pressure. The coffee is what’s turning the tap up.

The effect is the same with anti-wrinkle injections, but tends to be much less prominent, because the volume of substance being injected into the face is much lower.

Similarly, it also occurs in areas other than lips, but less noticeably, as the skin is thicker and less densely packed with blood vessels.

How long should I wait before or after injections to drink coffee?

If you want to reduce the risk ans prominence of bruising from your treatment, be sure to wait 12 hours before and after your procedure before drinking coffee again!

However, if you’re not worried about bruising, don’t stress too much. Remember, it won’t affect your health, just your recovery time.

Eating For Healthier Skin – 8 Foods That You Should Include In Your Diet For Youthful And Glowing Skin

Have you ever been told ‘you are what you eat’? What we put into our bodies is reflected externally by our skin. Melbourne based cosmetic injectables clinic Dermaq Aesthetics offers some insight into what can get you on the path to flawless skin!

The food we eat is broken down into vitamins, minerals and proteins, which are then used by our bodies to repair and nourish the skin. If we are eating good quality, fresh foods, then skin health will improve by becoming clearer, more supple and youthful.

For example, a diet that consists of high-quality protein will be able to use the building blocks (amino acids) once broken down to create elastin and collagen, which are essential to skin elasticity and strength. Foods that benefit your skin the most contain high amounts of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, vitamin E, protein and antioxidants.

Here is a list of 10 foods that should be incorporated into your diet to improve skin health, and how they do this.

Fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines and mackerel

Not all fats are the same; but at the forefront of the good fats, omega-3 and omega-6, which are abundant in fatty fish, are important for skin health. Omega-3 and omega-6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids that play an important role in maintaining the structure of skin and its barrier functions. Studies have displayed that omega 3 fatty acids improve skin hydration and reduce itching and redness associated with dry, irritated skin. The complex fats enhance the skin’s ability to ‘seal’ in moisture and improves the barrier function that protects our skin from water loss and bacteria that can trigger an inflammatory response.

photo of person slicing salmon — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Olive oil

Olive oil is the healthiest and most versatile oil there is. Make sure the olive oil you are using is extra virgin olive oil as it has not been refined and stripped of the antioxidants and nutrients. EVOO is high in monounsaturated fatty acids and an antioxidant group called ‘polyphenols’.

Broccoli

Broccoli contains a high amount of vitamin C, which is important for the production of collagen and assisting the skin’s natural regeneration process. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that plays a large role in building collagen, which helps skin stay strong, youthful and aids in wound healing. Vitamin C can also neutralize free radicals to help individual skin cells stay healthy are free of inflammatory damage.

sliced avocado fruit and green vegetable on white chopping board — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which has many benefits for the skin such as assisting normal skin cell function, where they behave in a healthy and more youthful way, leaving your skin radiant and more youthful. The Vitamin A encourages shedding of skin cells which reduces the occurrence of blocked pores. Vitamin A has also been found to decrease the amount of oil that the skin produces.

Brazil nuts

Brazil nuts may not be the first nut you reach for, but these will do wonders for your skin. These nuts contain a very high amount of selenium, which is a mineral that has been shown to slow the aging process of the skin as it improves skin elasticity. Brazil nuts also contain zinc, another mineral with anti-inflammatory properties, great to reduce acne inflammation and scarring.

variety of brown nuts on brown wooden panel high angle photo — Photo by Marta Branco on Pexels.com

Avocado

The wonder fruit, as we like to call it, because it benefits the skin in so many ways! Whether your skin care products contain avocado of some form, or you consume avocado on a daily basis, your skin will love you for it. Avocados are high in good fats, phytonutrients and vitamin A, D and E.

Water

Not a food, but how could we leave out such an important factor to skin health? Drinking water is not only great for your overall health, but it is also vital for your skin’s wellbeing. Your skin, like any other organ requires hydration in order to function properly. If your skin isn’t getting enough water, then it becomes dry, uneven and more prone to aging. Drinking enough water will improve complexion as it helps to flush out harmful toxins that can build up in our digestive system. This will help the skin to look fresh and glowing.

Tomatoes

Adding more tomatoes to your diet will help to protect your skin from UV associated damage. This is because tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which increases the skins resistance to UV light. This does not mean that you should stop wearing sunscreen of at least SPF 30+ each day. A healthy, well rounded diet coupled with a good skin care routine and daily protection against the sun will slow the signs of ageing and have you feeling youthful and glowing!

Why Is Vitamin A So Important For Your Skin?

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient present in many foods that supports immune function, normal vision, reproduction and skin health.

Our bodies cannot produce Vitamin A, therefore it needs to be sourced from out diet. There are two forms of Vitamin A- retinoids and carotenoids. Retinoids are
preformed Vitamin A, and is found in red meat, poultry, fish and dairy. Carotenoids, also called proformed Vitamin A, is found in most plant based foods, and are converted into retinol during digestion so the body can use it.

Both of these forms of Vitamin A are converted into retinoids by the liver, which are then transported around the body for use by cells.

Retinol is a type of retinoid, which has powerful antiaging properties as it has been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin pigment, and fine lines.

The Vitamin A that we get from our diet can be supplemented with topical retinol products, which are the gentlest form of Vitamin A for topical use.

Retinol is also a popular topical product for those who suffer from acne and congestion, as it effectively clears blackheads and reduces the appearance of pores.

Topical retinol can be used to smooth skin and reduce the appearance of pores

So How Does Retinol Achieve This?

Chemical exfoliation, which is simply controlled injury to the outermost layer of the skin causing cells to shed, revealing pink new skin.

Foods that are high in beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A, include squash, carrots, oranges, and pumpkin.

The Questions You Really Want Answered

1. Can I Kiss After Lip Filler?

We know that you can’t wait to try out your new plump lips! You will experience some swelling and tenderness in the first few days after your treatment. A peck or gentle kiss will be fine, anything more passionate that involves your lips or mouth is best put off until your lips have settled!

2. Does It Hurt?

It is completely normal to experience a little bit of discomfort during your cosmetic injectables treatment! Most people say that it feels like a sting, pinch or scratch. Lip filler is the most uncomfortable procedure because the lips are extremely sensitive and require a number of injection sites as we need to perfect the shape and volume.

We provide numbing cream before all cosmetic injectables at your request, and if you have an extremely low pain tolerance then we can firstly inject a local anaesthetic. The dermal/lip fillers that we use also contain local anaesthetic to help ease discomfort during the procedure.

3. Can You Un-Do Dermal Filler And Lip Filler?

Dermaq clinicians pay close attention to your needs and requests, we will conduct a thorough facial assessment and, in some cases, use an eyeliner pencil to mark exactly where we want to inject the product.

If for some reason you decide that you don’t like having filler, this may be due to the feel, a change in mind or bad reaction, we are able to dissolve the product with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. The reversal product is injected with a small needle into the affected area where it will immediately start to dissolve the hyaluronic acid dermal filler. This will help to correct:

Overfilling or dissatisfying results
Excess swelling
Infection in the treated area (rare)
Prolonged lumps that have not resolved with massage
Vascular compromise (occurs when filler is placed in a blood vessel, interfering with blood flow – extremely rare)

4. What Happens If I Want More Filler?

If you and your injector think more filler is needed to achieve your desired result, then we can inject more than initially planned in that same appointment.

Incredible full lip transformation in a beautiful Dermaq patient

Dermaq Aesthetics clinicians will do a maximum of 1mL in the lips at any one time. This is due to a number of reasons including:

Swelling will be present, so it is difficult to accurately see where a second syringe is needed
Risk of overfilling
Severe bruising and swelling as there have been more injections in the lips

It is best to let your lips settle for 1-2 weeks then book in again for a second syringe.

5. What Is The Difference Between Dermal Fillers And Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

Anti-wrinkle injections are typically used to treat wrinkles, in areas such as the eyes, upper face and mouth.

Dermal fillers are placed beneath the skin to provide support and volume in multiple facial areas including the lips, around the mouth and in the jawline.

6. Are Dermal Fillers Permanent?

No, the dermal fillers that Dermaq Aesthetics uses are made of hyaluronic acid. They typically last anywhere from 3-18 months depending on the thickness and placement.

7. Will Smoking Have An Impact On My Filler?

It is safe to have cosmetic injectables if you smoke. Some people will say that smoking can reduce the longevity of cosmetic injectables.

There are no studies that suggest smoking impacts the longevity of dermal filler, however smoking can accelerate the formation of lines called ‘smokers lines’ around the mouth.

8. Can Lip Fillers Look Natural? I Don’t Want To Have Duck Lips!

The procedure can be as subtle or dramatic as you want! Speak to one of our highly trained medical staff about your specific needs.

9. Will My Partner Be Able To Feel The Lip Filler?

Your partner may notice that your lips feel fuller and more plump (which is great!), however they will not be able to feel lumps or hardness once the initial swelling has gone down.

10. Can I Get 0.5mL of Lip Filler?

We rarely use less than 1mL of filler at Dermaq Aesthetics. The price of 0.5mL is the same as 1mL as all dermal fillers that we have come in 1mL amounts. You may choose to get 0.5mL, in some cases we can store the left over 0.5mL for your top up, but it is never used on another client.

Before and After

A picture speaks a thousand words. A comparison even more. Although every individual’s results will vary, seeing a similar procedure on another person can be helpful when you’re making decisions. Here we include a selection of side-by-side comparison to help you in your process at Dermaq Aesthetics.