A recent article in the Daily Mail (23rd November 2012) reported a 'rise complications from the treatment of dermal fillers'. The report stated that '70 per cent of Britain’s plastic surgeons have seen patients with problems resulting from temporary skin fillers.'
Dr Nina Sheffield (Clinical Director at Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin & Laser Clinic) Responds...
I agree about permanent fillers; this is why we use HA temporary fillers from very well known and trusted suppliers such as Allergan and Galderma. HA fillers gradually disappear from the skin and will also stimulate hydration and collagen production. Our skin naturally produces Hyaluronic Acid and this is diminished with ageing, so by using HA dermal fillers we are simply replacing what is lost. If required, HA fillers can easy be removed with Hyaluronidaze.
Permanent dermal fillers on the other hand are not possible to remove. Over time they could create nodules and can migrate due to the changes in the facial anatomy when we age. I agree with the statement that dermal fillers should be administered by properly trained practitioners with a recognised, medical qualification.
We have been in the aesthetic business now for over 7 years and we have never had any complications relating to temporarily HA dermal fillers. There are a few minor side effects after treatment such as; redness, swelling and bruising which are related to all injectable treatments, in general and aesthetic medicine. These are normal skin reaction to a needle and usually last for 2-4 days.
In my time in this business, I have seen a few patients with a nodules after permanent fillers, particularly in the peri-orbital and cheek areas. However, I have only seen one patient with a few small lumps in the skin with a temporal HA dermal filler, and this was after treatment which was carried out by a GP. It is my belief that the formulation was a too high density for very fine lines, and that they injected the filler too superficially in the skin. This was however only a temporarily complication and the filler broke down in the skin naturally over few months.
In my belief, treatments with HA dermal fillers for the 'tear troughs' and 'dark circles' should be limited, as it could promote puffiness around the eye area. At Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin & Laser Clinic we have a good alternative to this; we use the DEKA SmartXide2 RF System and we have the only one in the UK. We use this for CO2 laser fractional skin resurfacing in peri-orbital region, a treatment known as the Madonna Eye Lift, and we achieve great. lasting success.
We can now confidently say that 'skin tightening' and 'wrinkle removal' within the eye area can be tackled effectively and quickly with new laser technology, and we are very excited by this amazing breakthrough. We also believe that this non-surgical treatment is, in many cases, superior to the surgical alternative; Blepharoplasty.
If you are having problems or concerns with an existing treatment and would like a FREE personal consultation with Dr Nina Sheffield, please call 01892 22 22 22 or visit www.skinlc.co.uk for further details.
To read the full article click here. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237682/Cosmetic-face-filler-timebomb-Doctors-crackdown-rising-toll-women-scarred-botched-skin-treatments.html?ito=feeds-newsxml