Injectable fillers

Multiple materials have been used as fillers to minimize the depth of lines in the face, usually around the mouth and on the forehead. Fillers can also be used in the lips in order to improve their shape or increase their size if they are thin.

The most common material

used today is hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring material found in the body, for example in cartilage. The material comes in various levels of pliability depending on the area where it used. The material is injected at a certain depth into the dermis under wrinkles or creases so as to diminish them and level the skin. The material is injected at a deeper level into the lips in order to fill them. The body breaks down the material eventually, so the results are not permanent. The effects usually last about a year, and in some cases up to two years. On the rare occasion the material will disintegrate much quicker, in as little as a few months.

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FAQ - Injectable fillers

1. What are the risks associated with injectable fillers?
2. What do I need to keep in mind before using injectable fillers?
3. How can I prepare for filler injection?
4. Where does the injection take place?
5. Will I require anaesthesia or localised anaesthetic?
6. What happens when the filler is injected?
7. How long does the procedure take?
8. How will I feel immediately following the procedure?
9. What expectations can I have regarding the change to my appearance?

What are the risks associated with injectable fillers?

There are almost no risks associated with the use of hyaluronic acid as a filler. Allergies to this material are almost unheard of and no incisions are made to insert the material, meaning there is no scarring. The effects of its use are not permanent and disappear completely with time.

What do I need to keep in mind before using injectable fillers?

It is important to have realistic expectations of the results of your surgery. You should discuss your expectations openly and honestly with the surgeon in order to ascertain whether the use of fillers will give you the expectations you desire. It is also important to keep in mind that although you may be satisfied with the results of the procedure, the results are not likely to last and the injections need to be repeated if you want to maintain the results.

How can I prepare for filler injection?

There is virtually no preparation required for a procedure as simple as this. You only have to arrive at the agreed upon time without make-up on the areas to be treated.

Where does the injection take place?

The surgery is performed at in an operating theatre at Domus Medica Medical Centre in Reykjavík. Dr. Stefánsson and Dr. Einarsson‘s offices are on the 4th floor and operating rooms on the 6th floor.

Will I require anaesthesia or localised anaesthetic?

The material can be injected without a local anaesthetic and that is not uncommon. Usually there is some local anaesthesia used on the areas to be treated, such as the lips or forehead. General anaesthesia is not necessary for a procedure of this sort.

What happens when the filler is injected?

The surgeon injects the material as evenly as possible into the dermis with a very fine needle directly into the wrinkles to be treated. The material is then smoothed out by hand. Because you are awake during the procedure, you can follow closely along in a mirror and actively partake in deciding how much material should be used. This can be especially useful if the lips are being treated.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure takes anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the size and scope of the treatment.

How will I feel immediately following the procedure?

A bit of redness and swelling around the treated areas is common directly after the procedure, but should subside within two or three days. If an anaesthetic has been used to numb the area, its effects are usually gone within two to five hours. Sometimes some bruising of the treated area can develop after the procedure which will usually disappear within a week.

What expectations can I have regarding the change to my appearance?

Shallow wrinkles can vanish completely after injection, while deeper wrinkles will get shallower and more diminished. If the filler is being used to enlarge lips, the results can be very close to your expectations, especially as you are awake during the procedure and can direct the surgeon step by step regarding the amount being used. As previously noted, it is important that you realise that the material does break down usually within a year, although the effects can be apparent anywhere from five months to two years. The effects on wrinkles are usually longer lasting than the effects on lips. If the results from the injection in the lips are considered too short, fat deposits can be made into the lips. This is an entirely different and more complicated procedure which the surgeon can provide more information on.