Fillers, along with botox is one of the most commonly performed non surgical procedures around the world. It’s effects lasts months and it can be used to bring about subtle changes either on its own or as a combination of other procedures. The common brands such as Juvederm and Restylane have different names within them- it basically comes down to different size of the particles within the fillers.

Fillers these days are made of substance called hyaluronic acid, almost gel-like substance that has some strength to them. These fillers are then injected into very specific areas to restore volume to replace what is lost with aging process.

Some areas like lips will most often need a filler with smaller particles because it is more delicate and closer to the surface so you can ‘feather’ more easily. For volume in the cheek for instance however you need a bigger particles because the filler is placed in a deeper plane. This is the reason for different brand names even within each trading names.

The benefits of fillers you already know- it is well publicised, some times excessively so. Our job here to to provide a balanced view, to inform and to educate to make sure you are undertaking every cosmetic procedures fully mindful of potential risks so that you can make an informed decision.

• Failure to achieve a desired result– commonly this is due to uneven surface or lumpiness. Fillers can some times result in reactions that result in prolonged inflammatory process because your body “over reacts” to the injected filler. This can also be due to infection– fillers are foreign body that is introduced into the body and in great majority of the time cause no problem in the body, but if bugs get onto the foreign substance it can lead to prolonged reactions. This can lead to lumps that may need to be dissolved away with counter active substance called hyalase.
• Blockage of small vessels leading to tissue problems- Again, filler is a volume creating gel-like substance and is placed in the body using needles. In rare cases it can inadvertently be injected into vessels and this leads to blockage of that vessel. This risk is rare but if this happens it can lead to stopping the blood flow to that vessel it was injected into. Great majority of the time this leads to minor wound problems in the skin that improves over time but there are documented cases around the world, particularly for fillers around the eyes that has lead to blocking of the artery to the eye causing blindness. This is the reason that fillers around the eyes are undertaken only by those that are extremely proficient and well versed in this procedure.
• Hypersensitivity reaction to the filler- again this is relatively rare.

Double Chin Reduction  This is done with a fat dissolving injection. It is done in the office much like botox and fillers.  A series of injections under the chin with deoxycholic acid  permanently dissolves this fat. Usually more than one treatment is needed so they are spaced out over few weeks each visit taking between thirty minuts to an hour.

What Can It Do For Me?

Prior to this injection being released the only way to address it effectively was with surgery. In some patients liposuction in the operating theater is still the most effective way to address fat under the neck. But for those with only moderate amount of fat under the chin this injection has made an office based procedure possible. The first things to know about this injection is the swelling under the chin which peaks at about 2 days. This swelling then gradually settles over a week and you are seen again in a few weeks to see the result to repeat the subsequent treatment. It costs between $1000-$1500 per treatment and progress is discussed with you following each treatment to see whether you would like the subsequent treatments- most have 2-3 treatment sessions to see the final result.

What Side Effects Can Occur From Double Chin Reduction Injections?

The following side effects range from rare to extremely rare.

• Numbness under the chin- this effect is usually temporary and settles down over days.
• Firmness under the chin- can happen in less than 20% of patients and last for up to 2 months.
• Infection- rare.
• Allergic reaction- rare.

• Infection– the particular infection we cover you against is cold sores. Other superficial and localised infection if they do occur can be effectively treated with oral antibiotics.
• Change in pigmentation– this is more relevant for darker skinned individuals and the tone of pigmentation (dark or lightness of skin) can either be hypo(lighter) or hyper(darker) following treatments. Treatment type and dosages are adjusted to tailor the treatment that is right for your skin.
• Risk of scarring– we unfortunately see this resulting from untrained and unregulated “clinics” that cause uncontrolled injury to the skin. These treatments need to be absolutely undertaken by specialist dermatologists and plastic surgeons whose prime interest is of the skin with years of specialist training to understand the fine nuances of different treatments available in an accredited facility that perform these procedures on a regular basis. Unfortunately many non surgical clinics are almost totally unregulated in Australia.