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One of the most pronounced and active ingredients in dermal fillers is Hyaluronic Acid, which is a naturally occurring substance in the body. These injectables are temporary and will gradually be broken down over time by your metabolism. As dermal filler consists of Hyaluronic Acid and not a foreign substance, they are very safe to be injected. However, you may experience some mild side effects in the hours or days following your treatment. Common Side Effects If you are experiencing any of these side effects, don’t panic! They are completely normal and will subside very quickly. It will take 14 days from the date of your treatment for the area treated to fully heal, at which point you should have no remaining side effects. However, this can vary depending on the individual client as some people heal much quicker, while others are more sensitive and may take slightly longer. Common side effects include: Swelling Bruising Redness Lumps Tenderness Is there anything you can do to ease mild side effects? The dermal fillers needles are not complicated or to be feared. Moreover, there are a number of remedies available to help ease your side effects and shorten the healing process. We would recommend using Arnica cream or tablets which will reduce bruising more rapidly. If you are experiencing swelling, taking an anti-histamine and icing the area will help it decrease quicker. You can take pain killers to make you more comfortable if you are experiencing any tenderness, but make sure not to take any blood-thinning medication as this may increase bruising. If 14 days after your appointment you are still experiencing symptoms, please contact your practitioner for further advice. Rare Side Effects The majority of clients will only have mild side effects. However, in extremely rare cases, some clients may experience more severe symptoms. Rare side effects include: Infection Migration of the filler from the injection site Nodules around the injection site Granulomas, a type of inflammatory reaction to the filler Injury to blood vessels Vascular occlusion, which occurs when filler is injected into a blood vessel and not treated quickly Safety Precautions To minimise your chance of experiencing a more serious side effect and ensure your safety, you can take the following steps: Use a highly trained, experienced and professional dermal fillers Ask your practitioner about their experience and qualifications Ensure your practitioner has Hyaluronidase on site so they can dissolve in an emergency Read reviews of past clients Look at photographs of past results

Have you noticed that your lips significantly reduce in size in the weeks following your lip filler appointment? Immediately after your treatment, your lips will be significantly swollen. Inflammation and swelling are common side effects of lip filler. This is a natural reaction of the body to the injection technique, which causes mild trauma to the lips. Swelling is also caused by the hyaluronic acid in the filler. When injected, the hyaluronic acid binds to the body’s natural water supply, causing the lips to temporarily puff up and swell until the body re-establishes its natural balance. All swelling should subside two weeks after your treatment. Once the initial swelling has subsided, you will notice that your lips have reduced in size. At this stage most clients are very happy with the size of their lips. However, in the following weeks you may notice your lips keep on reducing in volume even further. What has happened to your lip filler? Has it disappeared? You may be wondering at this point, how long do lip fillers last? Don’t panic! Your lips reducing in volume does not mean that the filler has disappeared. In reality, the filler has settled into your lips and formed a layer at the base. Each session of filler you have will build upon the last, gradually creating a build-up of product. Most clients will need 2-3 sessions of filler before there is a build-up, leaving no room left for it to sink. This creates a much fuller look which will last much longer. Despite your desire to achieve fuller lips quickly, you should not rush the process. Each session should be spaced around three months apart. Be patient, Rome was not built in a day! Like many times in life when being patient pays off in the long run, lip injections is one of these times. Once you have created a build up of product, you will only need a top-up every 6-12 months to maintain the same fuller look, as the bottom layer of filler gradually dissolves. How regularly you need a top-up varies depending on the client and how fast the layers are dissolving in your lips. If you have a faster metabolism, are very active, drink a high amount of alcohol units or smoke, you will find that the filler will dissolve more quickly, and you will need a top-upmore frequently. Before beginning your lip injection journey, you should ask your practitioner any questions you may have about the process. They can answer all your queries and doubts, ensuing that you are well-prepared for the procedure and what you will experience afterwards. Have you ever considered aesthetics training? On our aesthetics courses, you will learn about the different layers of the skin and how this relates to helping your clients achieve a fuller look. We offer botox and filler courses for beginners, as well as dermal filler training and Botox training for medics. If you are already a qualified aesthetic Practitioner and looking to further develop your skills, our advanced lip filler course would be perfect for you. Contact us today for further information.

When it comes to anti-ageing, there are ways to turn back the clock without resorting to drastic and expensive surgery. In recent years, there have been huge advances in skincare and non-surgical treatments, so you can look younger without having to resort to going under the knife. Here’s how you can look younger without surgery. Look for Hyaluronic Acid in your skincare Hyaluronic acid is commonly used in dermal fillers, but it’s also very effective when used topically on the skin. It’s a naturally occurring substance in the body, and one of the most important jobs it does is keeping the skin plump and hydrated. As we age however, the body produces less of it, so using a topical gel, cream, or lotion can top up levels in the skin making it look plumper and more youthful. Use Retinol to improve skin tone and texture Retinol is an amazing anti-ageing skincare ingredient. It’s a form of vitamin A which can seriously improve the tone and texture of your skin. The only downside is that it can sometimes cause skin irritation, dryness, and redness. If this happens, use a less concentrated product while your skin gets used to it. Will skincare alone make me look younger? Good quality skincare products can make a difference to your skin’s tone and texture, and they can reduce the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation, but the truth is, products alone are unlikely to make you look noticeably younger and fresher. Why non-surgical cosmetic treatments are they key to looking younger If you want noticeable and natural results, non-surgical cosmetic treatments are the way forward. Muscle Relaxant (Botox) The natural proteins in our skin, collagen and elastin help keep it firm and toned, but as we age, they break down and you might find that your skin sags and doesn’t snap back into shape like it used to. Add to this the wrinkle-producing effects of making repeated facial expressions, and before you know it, you’re staring at an older and tired looking face in the mirror. Botox relaxes the facial muscles which stops the skin creasing, and lines and wrinkles are reduced, or even fade away completely. Forget the images you’ve seen of celebrities with frozen faces; when Botox is used strategically by a qualified and experienced practitioner, you can look refreshed and youthful, and not at all ‘done.’ Is muscle relaxant for me? If you have frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, smoker’s lines, or bunny lines (horizontal lines that form on the nose) that are making you look older and tired, muscle relaxant might just be for you. Treatment is quick and simple. You can be in and out within 15 minutes and you’ll be able to see the full results of the treatment in 7-10 days. Unlike surgery, there’s no downtime required, and any side effects tend to be minor and temporary. Some people experience slight redness in the areas that have been treated, as well as a minor headache and some bruising. Results last for up to 5 months, though this can vary from person to person. Dermal fillers As we get older, our skin loses its volume and elasticity. It starts to sag, and deep lines and wrinkles form. The loss of volume and the loss of natural fat stores can make our facial features look tired and sunken and the result is we can look a lot older than our years. When you’re trying to restore lost volume and smooth lines and wrinkles, dermal fillers are your friend. Remember we mentioned earlier that Hyaluronic Acid is an amazing plumping skincare ingredient? It’s also the star of the show when it comes to dermal fillers. When it’s injected into the skin, Hyaluronic Acid can fill out and smooth lines and wrinkles, restore volume and plumpness to specific areas of the face, and restore the facial contours, leaving you looking rejuvenated and much more youthful. Are dermal fillers for me? Yes if you want to smooth out deep lines and wrinkles, and restore volume to areas that are usually affected by the natural ageing process including the lips, brows, temples, and jawline. Many of our clients also opt for cheek and lip fillers to create a more youthful appearance. You will be able to see the results of fillers immediately and you’ll be able to get on with your day straight after your treatment. The treatment should take no longer than 30 minutes and you’ll be treated by a qualified and experienced medical professional. You might experience some discomfort during treatment, but many fillers contain a local anaesthetic which numbs the treatment area and reduces discomfort. Results can least from 1-2 years, depending on your skin type and the area(s) that have been treated. Do you want to look younger, without surgery? At Second Look Aesthetics, we have many treatments that can help you achieve a more youthful appearance, whether you want to restore lost volume, say goodbye to lines and wrinkles, or improve your skin tone and texture. Get in touch to find out how our treatments can help rejuvenate your skin and give you the second look you deserve!