Dermal fillers have seen growing popularity across Singapore’s modern society as an aesthetic treatment. If you have considered getting dermal fillers and are curious about what the procedure entails, this article provides a helpful breakdown of everything you need to know.

Dermal fillers are injectable Class D medical devices, per the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA), provided by licensed medical practitioners to address age-related skin issues. As we grow older, our skin gradually loses its natural elasticity due to reduced collagen, elastin, and fat levels. The ageing process gradually results in noticeable sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines. As such, dermal fillers are typically applied to potentially maintain a person’s facial appearance.

Dermal fillers are a minimally invasive procedure that requires no surgery. Results typically last several months with proper application, depending on the filler type used, and can be reversed if necessary.

Dermal fillers are available in three different types.

HA dermal fillers are the most common option, using hyaluronic acid, a compound that the body naturally produces. Hyaluronic acid is essential for your skin’s flexibility, as it attracts water to keep the skin hydrated, while also facilitating wound healing and joint lubrication. Given its natural origin, HA fillers are biocompatible (reducing the risk of allergic reactions) and versatile for treating fine lines, wrinkles, and facial folds, as well as adding volume to your facial features. HA fillers also come in different concentrations, offering varying levels of firmness and elasticity, giving you more options to find something that meets your specific aesthetic needs.

As the name suggests, these fillers contain compounds that may stimulate collagen production in the skin, promoting natural-looking improvements. They are typically used to alleviate general signs of facial ageing, such as wrinkles, and to manage volume loss across a large area.

These fillers are further categorised into distinct variants that use various compounds.

• Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) fillers occur naturally in bone and may be used to treat deeper wrinkles and moderate-to-severe creases, and to enhance your facial contours. Like hyaluronic acid, CaHA is biocompatible and typically produces natural-looking results.
• Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a synthetic substance primarily known as a stimulator that may gradually increase collagen production. It is commonly prescribed to smooth deep wrinkles and plump thin lips.
• Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) fillers are frequently used to treat medium-to-deep wrinkles, folds, and even pitted scars. It is a semi-permanent option that adds small collagen balls into your skin, which remain there to add volume and keep your skin firm. The use of this type of dermal filler requires additional care and should only be performed by an experienced, certified medical professional to reduce the risk of side effects.

Dermal fillers are available in three different types.

Age-related volume loss occurs as the skin undergoes structural changes, which may gradually diminish the natural fullness of your face and its youthful appearance. Factors such as the gradual reduction in collagen levels due to ageing, along with environmental factors like exposure to secondhand smoke, can also contribute to this gradual volume loss, making your face appear thinner while experiencing noticeable sagging in certain areas, among other complications. Dermal fillers may help address this by either drawing hydration into the skin (HA fillers) or stimulating collagen and elastin production (collagen-stimulating fillers).

The gradual loss of skin volume and elasticity also contributes to slack, “hollow” contours, which can significantly alter the appearance of your natural expressions. Most people with affected facial contours may have flatter cheeks and deeper folds, which can make them seem more tired than usual. Dermal fillers may help alleviate this by directly injecting into areas that define your facial contours, restoring your appearance and expressions.

Wrinkles and fine lines appear on different parts of the face and are the earliest signs of ageing in people. They typically arise as collagen levels in your skin deplete, which causes the skin to gradually become thinner and more fragmented as the collagen fibres unravel. This occurrence may also result from skeletal and fat changes, which reshape your facial contours and lead to deeper wrinkles.

Severe acne breakouts can cause acne scars, leaving noticeable depressed indents on your skin. Dermal fillers are applied just beneath acne scars to add volume and lift these depressed areas of your skin, making the scars much less prominent than before.

The total cost of a dermal filler treatment depends on several factors, including the type and brand of dermal filler, the volume required, the total number of injections needed, and the expertise of the medical professional performing the procedure. General prices typically range from SGD 600 to SGD 1,600, but the final fee will be determined after an extensive consultation session to understand your specific aesthetic needs.

While dermal fillers are typically safe to use, dermal filler treatments must only be performed by licensed medical practitioners with the necessary certifications to perform them safely, as per prevailing health safety guidelines. Feel free to discuss the pricing structure with them, and be sure that you ask relevant questions that help you understand the treatment, its procedure, and its potential risks.

Typically, results last several months to a few years, depending on the type of filler used, the area treated, how quickly your body metabolises the fillers, and various other factors.

You may be able to resume your regular activities shortly after your treatment concludes, though this may depend on various factors, such as the type of treatment you underwent. You may experience mild swelling or redness after treatment, but these should subside within a few days. Consult your doctor for further advice or support.

You may experience some mild discomfort during the treatment, as dermal fillers often contain an anaesthetic to help minimise the pain you might otherwise experience during the procedure. If necessary, additional numbing can be applied for your comfort.

Only certain types, such as HA dermal fillers, may be reversible. This is possible by introducing the enzyme hyaluronidase (which is also a naturally occurring compound in the body) to break down HA fillers.