Everything you wanted to know about dermal fillers

If you are thinking about dermal fillers, you surely have a number of questions to which you want to receive professional and relevant answers. That is why we have prepared for you answers to the most common questions regarding dermal fillers.

How do dermal fillers rejuvenate the skin?

The ingredients of dermal fillers primarily replenish volume, help the skin retain fluid, hydrate the skin, and some of them stimulate collagen synthesis, which restores lost volume, smoothness, and firmness to the skin.

With precise dosing and well-chosen application sites, the entire face will regain lost volume, which will consequently smooth out wrinkles and give the skin a youthful glow. Fillers are also used to fill in lips, shape the jaw and chin, erase wrinkles and dark circles, and rejuvenate the arms, neck, and décolleté areas.

In addition to the mechanical action of hyaluronic acid – which attracts and retains water like a sponge and thus gives the skin tightness and smoothness – new generation dermal fillers nourish and renew the skin from the inside, such as Juvederm Volite and Belotero Revive fillers.

When is the ideal time to start using dermal fillers?

Facial skin begins to lose collagen and elastin as early as your mid-twenties, so it’s ideal to start using dermal fillers (a type of skin booster that doesn’t add volume to the face) as soon as you notice the first noticeable wrinkles or feel your skin’s youthful glow fading under the weight of everyday stress and fatigue. Starting earlier can also mean more successful prevention of premature signs of skin aging.

The best indicator of the current condition of your facial skin is the Observ facial skin analysis that we perform at the Bagatin Polyclinic before each treatment. It will, among other things, give us insight into facial wrinkles and the real ‘age’ of the skin, which will be a guiding thread for us doctors when determining a treatment plan.

You don’t have to worry that using fillers will harm your skin – even if you stop using dermal fillers, your skin will look the same or better after they break down than before you started using them. In fact, experience and numerous comments from our clients show us that with long-term use of certain fillers, a certain amount of collagen is restored:

‘I first went for a dermal filler treatment in my early thirties, when I felt and saw that my skin was dehydrated and that the first wrinkles had become more pronounced, both for me and for others. Since then, I have been regularly going to my doctor, who, based on the condition of my skin, suggests what is best for us to do to maintain that fresh and healthy look of my face. Sometimes it is a treatment, and sometimes it is a correction, or a refill of the filler. There is a plan and everything is done systematically so that my face, at 46 years old, as I am today, does not age, but rather rejuvenates.’ – these are the words of our satisfied client.

Will it hurt?

Dermal fillers are developed to preserve the health of the skin, but also to provide a simple, pleasant and minimally painful application experience. That’s why you really have no reason to be afraid of discomfort or pain. In addition to the anesthetic cream that we apply before the procedure itself, the dermal fillers themselves contain mild anesthetics in their formula.

At our Polyclinic, dermal filler applications are performed by doctors – head and neck surgery specialists, dermatologists, otolaryngologists and plastic surgeons, so you can be sure that you will receive the most professional care that will take into account hundreds of professional details related to your skin, face shape and possible health challenges and ensure minimal discomfort from the procedure. Impeccable knowledge of facial anatomy is crucial in the correct application of fillers.

For which parts of the face can dermal fillers be used?

Dermal fillers are used for all areas of the face. With fillers, we can add volume to the cheeks, lift the entire face, emphasize the chin line, lift the corners of the lips, and refresh the face by deeply rehydrating the skin.

Fillers can be used to treat:

• Nasolabial wrinkles (from nose to lips)
• Perioral wrinkles (so-called smoker’s wrinkles around the lips)
• Periorbital wrinkles (wrinkles on the outside of the eyes)
• Wrinkles on the arms, neck and décolleté

Quality treatment with dermal fillers will enable:

• Cheekbone shaping and lifting
• Full face lift
• Shaping the chin and jawline

Juvederm Volux dermal filler, intended exclusively for shaping the chin and jawline, is also particularly popular on the market. At one of the many training sessions we had, I had a client whose chin I shaped. Her chin was naturally small and indented, so in just one visit we achieved a completely new look and profile, and I can’t even describe her delight:

‘I was never overly happy with my profile because of a chin that didn’t exist and a nose that was the only thing visible on my face. I read an announcement about a new filler that was coming and thought that it would be ideal for me because I wasn’t quite ready for cosmetic surgery. A liquid implant? It sounded too good! After the treatment itself, I saw the difference in the mirror, and within a few days, when everything fell into place and there was no longer any mild swelling from the injection, I had a completely new profile – chin and nose on the same plane. I don’t feel any ‘heaviness’ in the lower part of my face, there is no pain, there are no bumps. I look perfectly natural and overjoyed!’

A particularly popular treatment is lip augmentation . Fillers quickly and easily restore fullness, sensuality, and softness to your lips.

What cannot be treated with fillers?

Dermal fillers are great for treating facial skin – but doctors agree that they are not a good choice for breast, buttock or muscle fillers.

Am I a candidate for dermal fillers?

If you notice the formation of the first more pronounced wrinkles, relaxation of the facial skin and loss of shine – it’s time to start using dermal fillers. It can be in your late twenties or your thirties, but don’t worry, whenever you decide to have dermal fillers, it’s never too late. In case you have never done anything to your face, then the upper limit for fillers is approximately 65 years when the solution is a face lift.

Dermal fillers are not recommended for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or people with acute viral infections. Everyone else can benefit from dermal fillers when they want to refresh or improve their facial appearance. Doctors also recommend not having them in place for a few weeks before and after major dental procedures.

Your doctor may advise people with blood clotting disorders or neurological conditions not to use dermal fillers as a precaution. Therefore, it is important to be open about all the details of your medical condition during your consultation.

What can I expect during the consultation before the procedure?

Consultations are the first part of your appointment with the doctor who will be applying dermal fillers. Through a conversation and examination, the doctor will learn everything you want from you and, based on the information gathered, will recommend the approach that will best benefit your skin and facial shape. They will explain their recommendations to you, agree with you which areas will be treated and what amounts of filler are needed to achieve the best effect.

Is there a recovery period after filler application?

Dermal fillers do not require any special recovery period. It is only important that you do not expose yourself to strong sunlight, go to a sauna or solarium, put pressure on your face, or engage in extremely strenuous physical activity for a day or two after the filler application.

There may be mild redness that will pass within a few hours, and if mild swelling or bruising occurs, you can be sure that it will disappear without consequences within a few days.

Although the effect of fillers is immediately visible, we know from experience that it takes about two weeks for fillers to distribute in the skin and show their full effect.

What types of fillers do you use at Bagatin Polyclinic?

At the Bagatin Polyclinic, we use only the highest quality fillers Juvéderm, Belotero and Radiesse , backed by decades of rigorous research and millions of satisfied users. For your safety, we store them according to all manufacturer recommendations, carefully monitoring the expiration date. You can be sure that you will receive an original, properly stored and correct dermal filler with its own product serial number or so-called filler passport.

Each filler in our offer has its own field of application, so the doctor will suggest the best filler – or a combination of them – based on insight into the condition of the face and the client’s wishes.

Juvéderm hyaluronic dermal fillers are based on hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the skin. Hyaluronic acid binds water like a sponge, which replenishes lost volume, tightens and hydrates the skin, and fills in wrinkles. The result is smoother skin and a youthful appearance. In addition to fillers for facial rejuvenation, Juvéderm also offers fillers that can be used to rejuvenate the hands, neck, and décolleté (Volite filler).

The manufacturer of Juvéderm filler is Allergan, a well-known global company with more than 35 years of experience in the development of aesthetic-medical treatments. Thanks to the excellence and high quality of its products, Allergan has maintained a leadership position in its segment to this day.

Bagatin Polyclinic is the reference and training center of Allergan for Croatia and the region.

Thanks to the calcium hydroxyapatite in the microspheres , Radiesse dermal filler stimulates collagen production. Skin richer in collagen is tighter, smoother and more elastic. The effect of Radiesse dermal fillers is visible immediately, but the stimulation of collagen production takes place up to a year after application. The body will absorb the calcium microspheres over time, and natural collagen will remain at the application site. These fillers are a very good choice for improving the quality of the skin on the face and hands, but they are not suitable for shaping parts of the face and lips.

Belotero fillers use patented CPM technology that enables sophisticated integration of hyaluronic acid into skin tissue. They are very grateful for the application because they are evenly distributed into skin tissues and beautifully improve facial contours. Due to their extremely gentle and natural appearance, they are often the choice of generation “Y” or millennials. They are equally effective when it comes to adding volume, contouring or hydrating and texturizing the face. Belotero Lips Shape & Contour is an exceptionally high-quality filler for filling and restoring volume to the lips.

How often do I need to reapply fillers?

Hyaluronic dermal fillers naturally degrade over time and gradually disappear from the skin of the face, so dermal fillers need to be regularly renewed, depending on the region and amount of application, after three, six, nine to eighteen months. The durability of the filler depends on the specifics of your skin, your age and your body, and, of course, the volume of filler injected. Sometimes dermal fillers last for over two years, and we have also noticed that after several years of continuous application, the fillers can last for over several years.

What if I stop using fillers? Will my face look bad?

The use of dermal fillers does not have a negative effect on the health and vitality of your facial skin. Dermal fillers, since they are based on ingredients that the skin naturally contains, break down over time, leaving no unwanted consequences.

‘I’m almost 50 and I thought there was no solution to the wrinkles that age leaves on my face. Now, after having fillers, I realize that there is a solution to almost every aesthetic problem, you just need to find an educated and professional doctor who knows the anatomy of the face. Friends and family tell me that I look a few years younger, and that’s how I feel. In addition to my skin’s freshness and volume being restored, my confidence has also been restored!’

If you decide not to continue with the filler application, your face will still look natural and retain its initial state, before the filler application.

How are fillers packaged?

Fillers are packaged in doses of 1 ml, while, for example, the latest Belotero Lips fillers come in a package of 0.6 ml. Information on the prices of individual fillers can be found in our price list .

Is 1 ml of filler enough?

It depends on the needs, expectations and condition of the face. One milliliter of filler can nicely contour the lips, for example – but for the best results, it is important to look at the face as a whole and apply fillers where they are most needed, i.e. in regions and places where the volume that gives the entire face fullness and firmness has disappeared.

For example, the line between the nose and the lips, which clients often want to correct, is simply a consequence of the sagging of the middle part of the face due to the process of volume loss. That is why it is important to look at the face as a whole and apply fillers to all areas that affect the formation of wrinkles. In this specific case, fillers would be applied to the cheeks, which would ‘lift’ the face and thus eliminate or reduce the nasolabial folds.

The unnatural facial expression that we sometimes see is a consequence of ignorance and the unsystematic and thoughtless application of fillers. For good results, expertise, impeccable knowledge of facial anatomy and continuous education are important, which enables the specialist to propose the best approach for each individual person based on a deep understanding of anatomy and dermatology.

How many milliliters is enough for me?

Every person is different, and the need for fillers depends on your age, volume loss, and the number and severity of wrinkles. After the examination, the doctor will assess where the fillers need to be applied and in what quantity. Of course, the quantity will also depend on how much you want to increase the volume of your lips or correct a particular part of your face.

What does the doctor who will apply dermal fillers to me need to know?

The face consists of hundreds of muscles and a series of layers, which is why only doctors specializing in plastic and aesthetic medicine, otolaryngologists or dermatologists like our experts at 1Polyclinic Bagatin, with a thorough knowledge of anatomy, can apply fillers with sufficient competence. In addition to choosing high-quality and proven fillers, we cannot overemphasize the importance of the education and expertise of your doctor. At Polyclinic Bagatin, you can be sure that all of our experts are educated and certified for all types of fillers and aesthetic procedures that we provide.

Our Dr. Tomica Bagatin is an official Allergan trainer and educator for the application of Juvéderm hyaluronic dermal fillers and facial wrinkle therapy in Croatia and our entire region. That’s why you can trust the Bagatin Polyclinic.