Adjuvant Procedures (Fillers & Anti Wrinkle Injections)
Procedures which can be used in addition to, or instead of surgery to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
The Procedure
Anti wrinkle injections can be used in addition to, or instead of surgery to reduce the appearance of wrinkles particularly between the eyebrows, the crows feet, the wrinkles at the side of the nose and wrinkles outside of the eyes. It works by causing a temporarily paralysis of some of the muscles that are associated with smiling. As a result anti wrinkle injections temporarily paralyses the muscles causing lines which are produced with facial movement and may go some way to minimising the production of lines which are permanent and not related to movement.
The use of fillers will help to improve contour and fill areas of depression and wrinkles.
The injections can be either autologous (eg. a patients own fat) or artificial.
When using artificial materials these agents attract water (hydrophilic). These agents are temporary and classically will last nine to twelve months before needing replacement. It is common for a temporary artificial filling agent to be used initially and if the patient likes the result that is achieved, then a more permanent solution (eg. using a patients own fat) can be done at a second stage.
Please note that the Therapeutic Goods Administration prevents us from using product names or ingredient names on our website. Dr. Belt will be pleased to discuss specific products at the time of consultation.
Complications and Risks
All Procedures have potential complications and risks. These can be divided into general complications and those specific to each procedure. The latter are listed in the FAQs below.
General complications include:
- Wound complications - bleeding, bruising, collections under the skin of blood (haematoma), pus (abscess), serous fluid (seroma), infection, wound breakdown, suture extrusion, sensory loss;
- Aesthetic complications - poor scars, stretched scars, raised scars (keloid or hypertrophic), contour irregularities, need for revisional procedure;
- Anaesthetic complications
FAQs
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What are the costs involved?
Please contact Dr Belt's staff on 07-3852 6800 and a personalised quote and further information will be provided.
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What are the potential risks involved?
Very rarely a patient may have an unknown allergic reaction to anti wrinkle injections. Occasionally the anti wrinkle injections may spread beyond the target area and this may result in the weakness of muscles beyond the intended area. This may result in some drooping of the eyelids. This can be counteracted with some medications but generally if left alone it will subside within 2-3 weeks.
Occasionally some patients may experience bruising and swelling but this will only take a week or two to subside and can be reduced by using ice packs.
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What happens after the procedure?
The effects of anti wrinkle injections are not immediate and will vary from patient to patient. It is worth waiting five days for the paralysis of the muscles to occur and subsequently for the wrinkles to diminish. Any bruising can be helped with cold packs for a period of up to 48 hours.
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What happens before the procedure?
Cold packs are used to numb the area prior to the anti wrinkle injections, and minimise superficial bruising following the injections.
