Injectable fillers are substances own or foreign to the body that are applied under the skin with the aim to smooth and lift aging skin. There are used own fat, collagen, hyaluronic acid, hydroxylapatite, acrylates and others. Anesthesia is local only in form of anesthesia cream. The duration of the treatment depends on the type of filler and size of treated area. Return to normal activities is possible right after the treatment.
Soft-tissue fillers such as injectable collagen or fat, can help fill in facial lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face. Injectable fillers can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. They may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment, or a recontouring procedure, such as a face-lift.
Injected collagen and fat are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture. They can help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. They can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips.
Injectables are usually not helpful for severe surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple vertical “lipstick lines” that sometimes form around the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon may suggest a resurfacing technique, such as a chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser treatments. Rather than filling in facial lines, resurfacing methods strip away the outer layers of the skin to produce a smoother appearance.
Deep folds in the face or brow caused by overactive muscles or by loose skin may be more effectively treated with cosmetic surgery, such as a face-lift or brow-lift. Injectable fillers are sometimes used in conjunction with facial surgery procedures; however, injectables alone cannot change your facial contour the way surgery can.
Prague has many attractive features for those considering injectable filllers abroad. Its location in Central Europe is easy to access; its mild climate is conducive to healing and its experienced clinics and injectable filler surgeons ensure you’ll receive the best possible care. Injectable fillers Prague costs are often much more affordable than in the UK or with the NHS. For more information about getting to and around the Czech Republic, please visit our handy cosmetic surgery Prague info guide.
Collagen is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the face and sometimes the neck, back and chest.
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body: the skin, the joints, the bones and the ligaments. Injectable collagen, patented by the Collagen Corporation under the trade names Zyderm and Zyplast, is derived from purified bovine collagen. The purification process creates a product similar to human collagen. Injectable collagen received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 1981. It is produced in various thicknesses to meet individual patient needs.
In the medical world, the fat-injection procedure is known as autologous fat transplantation or microlipoinjection. It involves extracting fat cells from the patient’s abdomen, thighs, buttocks or elsewhere and reinjecting them beneath the facial skin. Fat is most often used to fill in “sunken” cheeks or laugh lines between the nose and mouth; to correct skin depressions or indentations; to minimize forehead wrinkles and to enhance the lips.
Because the anesthetic agent lidocaine is mixed in with collagen, additional anesthetic is usually not used when receiving injectable fillers. However, if you are especially sensitive to pain, your doctor may use a topical cream anesthetic or a freon spray to numb the injected area.
You may also choose to have an injected local anesthetic or sedative drugs.
Both the donor and recipient fat areas are numbed with local anesthesia. Sedation can be used as well. If you elect to use sedation, be sure to arrange for a ride home after your treatment.
The injectable filling procedure takes from 15 minutes to one hour.
Collagen
Injectable filler treatment with collagen can begin after a skin test determines that you’re not allergic to the substance. The collagen is injected using a fine needle inserted at several points along the edge of the treatment site. If a local anesthesia has not been used, you may feel some minor stinging or burning as the injections are administered.
Since part of the substance is salt water that will be absorbed by the body within a few days, your doctor will slightly overfill the area.
You may be asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure to help your doctor decide when you’ve had enough.
Fat
After both the donor and recipient sites are cleansed and treated with a local anesthesia, the fat is withdrawn using a syringe with a large-bore needle or a cannula (the same instrument used in liposuction) attached to a suction device. The fat is then prepared and injected into the recipient site with a needle. Sometimes an adhesive bandage is applied over the injection site.
As with collagen, “overfilling” is necessary to allow for fat absorption in the weeks following treatment. When fat is used to fill sunken cheeks or to correct areas on the face other than lines, this overcorrection of newly injected fat may temporarily make the face appear abnormally puffy or swollen.
An Injectable fillers procedure can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, however it will not change your looks. Before you decide to have this procedure, keep in mind that the results are not long-lasting. The best candidates for injectable fillers are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations as to how injectable fillers can enhance their appearance. to see the effect of other people’s injectable fillers surgery, click here for injectable fillers before and after photos.
In your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your face – the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone – and discuss your wishes for the surgery. Your doctor will help you select a treatment option based on your goals and concerns, your anatomy and your lifestyle.
Your surgeon will ask you about your medical history, drug allergies, and check for conditions that could cause problems, such as active skin infections or non-healed sores from old injuries. Collagen injections are generally off limits for pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef or bovine products, patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to lidocaine (the anesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material.)
Collagen
Immediately following the injectable filler treatment, you may notice some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing in the injected area. Occasionally some bruising or swelling will occur, but it is usually minor. Any redness that appears in the injected site usually disappears within 24 hours.
However, in some individuals, particularly fair-skinned patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the needle-stick areas; these generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection shortly after the injectable filler surgery.
There may be some temporary swelling and redness in the treated area which should disappear within a few days. If these symptoms persist, contact your surgeon.
Fat
If a larger area was treated, you may be advised to curtail your activity for a brief time. However, many patients are able to resume normal activity immediately.
You can expect some swelling, bruising or redness in both the donor and recipient sites. The severity of these symptoms depends upon the size and location of the treated area. You should stay out of the sun until the redness and bruising subsides – usually about 48 hours. In the meantime, you may use makeup with sunblock protection to help conceal your condition.
The swelling and puffiness in the recipient site may last several weeks, especially if a large area was filled.
Results from collagen injections varies. The injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
In some individuals, the results may last only a few weeks; in others, the results may be maintained indefinitely. Researchers believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected material’s “staying power.” However, the precise reason for the variation of results among patients has yet to be identified.
If you’ve had short-lived results from fat injections, you shouldn’t necessarily assume that collagen injections will work better for you. And, conversely, if you’ve had disappointing results from collagen, don’t assume that injected fat is the answer.
Although it’s true that some individuals’ bodies are more receptive to one substance than the other, others may find that neither substance produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one substance may work better than the other for a specific problem.
The duration of fat injections varies significantly from patient to patient. Though some patients have reported results lasting a year or more, the majority of patients find that at least half of the injected fullness disappears within 3-6 months. Therefore, repeated injections may be necessary. Your doctor will advise you on how to maintain your results with repeat treatments.
Skin rejuvenation that is drooping and aging. This revolutionary method uses plasma flow of ionized nitrogen that regenerates skin from depth but does not damage it. It can remove scars after acne, bags around eyes and other problems. You do not even have to restrict your activities even immediately after the procedure.
Plasma is a fourth state of matter (beside liquid, solid and gas) which is formed by free electrons of atom that form inert gas. Nitrogen is used as a source of gas thanks to its ability to oust oxygen from the surface of he skin. This way we can avoid heating of the skin, burns and creation of scars. Nitrogen is not inflammable, therefore there is no risk of sparkle or explosion.
Plasma causes controlled thermal damage of the upper layer of old skin and stimulates creation of collagen fibers and therefore creation of new skin. There is no direct contact with the skin, however the thermal energy is transported right into the tissues.
Plasma skin regeneration – PRS uses portrait device.
The Portrait device is formed by radiofrequency generator that makes inert nitrogen gas, which is then placed into the adapter with a jet at the end in form of millisecond stream right on the skin. Immediately after the contact with the skin the energy changes into heat that won’t damage the epidermis. Plasma appears as a characteristic heat/flame, which changes in yellow light. The distance between the jet and the skin should be approximately 5 mm, in case of high energy the distance should be 1 cm to prevent creation of border lines. The pulse should flow in one direction not from left to right. The area and depth of the thermal effect depends on the selected energy and the size of adapter. The energy can be selected between 1 – 4 J per pulse. This technology can be used for different selected energies, that is associated with the depth of the treatment.
Peel of the epidermis to heating into depth is possible.
The resurfacing of the skin with the usage of plasma has 4 recommended schemas of treatment:
It is mainly used for facial skin rejuvenation: wrinkle removal and general skin lift, removal of odds and unwanted pigmentation. Also for rejuvenation of skin on the neck, chest and back side of hands. The portrait device can treat also areas around mouth and eyes.
Local anesthesia was used with the combination of anesthetic cream, which was applied on the treated area. At present usage of the cream is sufficient, although its application must have the right timing, i.e. it must be applied only on small areas and stepwise on the others according to already finished treatment.
Care after the procedure of skin regenaration with plasma is minimal in case of usage of low energy. In high energies it is relatively simple. You should avoid sun exposure and apply sensitive cream on the treated spots frequently after the procedure during the healing process of the skin.
In case of usage of low energy the redness of the skin stays 2 – 3 hours. When using high energy redness and rough skin appearance is visible. The healing process takes 5 – 10 days, during this period the old epidermis peels away. It is important for the patient not to peel the skin by her/himself and wait until it separates. Not to intervene in the process of healing.
Redness and itching several days after the procedure is common. Itching can be avoided by application of ice on the treated spots. Creation of scabs can appear in case of usage of high energy. A sensitive lotion is good then. Dark spots on the skin might appear caused by low or high energy, they usually absorb within several weeks or months.
The price ranges from 5000 – 35000,- CZK depending on the size of treated area and the intensity of the procedure.
Are you unsatisfied with your tattoo? Do you have skin pigmentation problems; perhaps caused by ageing skin or the sun? Previously, removal of these skin issues was painful; but new laser methods offer the opportunity to clear your skin safely and pain-free.
To remove tattoos, pigment stains or permanent make-up, in most cases an Alexandrite laser is used. Laser pulses penetrate the skin without damaging it and they break dark pigment into smaller parts. These are then absorbed with the help of white blood cells.
The laser device works with an accuracy to one-thousandth of a millimeter. This means there is maximum protection of the surrounding tissue. Please remember that more sessions will be needed for the remvoal of a professional tattoo – the pigmentation is deposited through more layers, which have to be broken down in steps. Another option for tattoo removal is “grinding” with the help of an Erbium laser. With this method it is possible to remove the tattoo during the first session, and because this method is quicker, it is even less expensive than with the use of the Alexandrite laser. The disadvantage to this treatment is that a scar may appear in the treated area.
Prague has many attractive features for those considering tattoo and pigmentation laser removal abroad. Its location in Central Europe is easy to access; its mild climate is conducive to healing and its experienced clinics and laser tattoo and pigmentation removal surgeons ensure you’ll receive the best possible care. Laser tattoo and pigmentation removal Prague costs are often much more affordable than in the UK or with the NHS. For more information about getting to and around the Czech Republic, please visit our handy cosmetic surgery Prague info guide.
If you have an undesirable tattoo or pigment stains caused by sunshine or old age, then this procedure will probably work for you. Your expectations should be realistic.
If your surgeon recommends the use of the Alexandrite laser that “breaks up“ the tattoo pigments, it may be necessary to repeat the treatment several times, especially if the tattoo is deep or the pigmentation large. It is easier to remove tattoos and pigmentation from places that move a lot (fingers, neck.) The Alexandrite laser works well on black and dark blue ink, but it does not work as well on green ink. It unfortunately has no effect on yellow and red ink. The effect of the Erbium tattoo laser treatment is usually 100% after the first visit.
During the consultation, the dermatologist will examine your tattoo or pigmentation and suggest a procedure to achieve the best possible results. The first consultation should include a test, which should show the effect of the laser method on a small part of the damaged skin. This test can prevent you from wasting money on a procedure that may not work for you.
Treatment with the Alexandrite laser is intense but very gentle. It is often compared to a stinging nettle. In most cases, it is not necessary to use anesthesia. In case of larger treatments or the use of the Erbium laser, it is possible to use a local anesthesia of anesthetic ointment or light analgosedation. If you are extremely sensitive to pain, you can ask for this type of anesthesia.
The Alexandrite laser treatment has an advantage; it does not really damage the skin. The skin may sometimes turn red and swell, but the swelling does not last long. Sometimes, small scabs may appear, but they soon fall off. There are no scars after the laser treatment. In the case of the Erbium laser treatment, a small scab might appear in the treated area, which will fall off in several days. However a scar might remain. In both laser methods it is necessary to protect the treated place from sunshine for several weeks. Use sunscreens with a high UV filter (50+.)
It is not possible to see the results of the Alexandrite laser treatment immediately. The healing and clearing can take approximately 6-8 weeks. If you have undergone the removal of sun spots, one treatment should be sufficient. In the case of removing tattoos or permanent make-up, it is necessary to plan for more treatments to achieve the best possible results (approximately 5 times or more.) It is possible to undergo the next treatment approximately two to three weeks after the previous one. To see the results from other patients, visit our before and after tattoo and pigmentation laser removal Prague photos.
Red or bluish veins on your face, calves, thighs or elsewhere are undoubtful signs that you probably suffer from an insufficient supply of blood to the skin. If you are plagued with this cosmetic problem, you can have the spider veins removed by laser.
Abnormal veins are removed by a high-voltage blood vessel laser. The laser beam is precisely targeted at the required spot where it reacts with haemoglobin and the reacting heat removes the undesirable veins up to the width of 2 mm.
Thanks to the precise targeting of the beam, the adjacent tissue is not affected. The laser appliance is usually equipped with so-called dynamic cooling of skin which prevents scabs and other skin injuries.
It is necessary to consult the surgeon before the procedure.
The surgeon may test the efficiency of the laser method on a small spot of skin during the session. It will help him/her to estimate the resulting effect of the procedure and won’t let you spend your money unnecessarily.
The treated place will be slightly inflamed after the procedure but will turn normal again in several minutes or hours.
It is vital to avoid sun tanning after the procedure and to use sun-block lotions (SPF 40 – 100).
As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement, such as smiling, chewing and squinting. The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down.
Soft-tissue fillers, most commonly injectable collagen or fat,can help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face.
They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment, or a recontouring procedure, such as a face-lift.
Injected collagen and fat are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture. They can help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. They can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips.
Injectables are usually not sufficient for severe surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple vertical “lipstick lines” that sometimes form around the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon may suggest a resurfacing technique, such as chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser treatments. Rather than filling in facial lines, resurfacing methods strip away the outer layers of the skin to produce a smoother appearance.
Deep folds in the face or brow caused by overactive muscles or by loose skin may be more effectively treated with cosmetic surgery, such as a face-lift or brow-lift. Injectables are sometimes used in conjunction with facial surgery procedures; however, injectables alone cannot change facial contour the way surgery can.
Collagen is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the face and sometimes the neck, back and chest.
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body: the skin, the joints, the bones and the ligaments. Injectable collagen, patented by the Collagen Corporation under the trade names Zyderm and Zyplast, is derived from purified bovine collagen. The purification process creates a product similar to human collagen. Injectable collagen received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in1981. It is produced in various thicknesses to meet individual patient needs.
In the medical world, the fat-injection procedure is known as autologous fat transplantation or microlipoinjection. It involves extracting fat cells from the patient’s abdomen, thighs, buttocks or elsewhere and reinjecting them beneath the facial skin. Fat is most often used to fill in “sunken” cheeks or laugh lines between the nose and mouth, to correct skin depressions or indentations, to minimize forehead wrinkles and to enhance the lips.
Because the anesthetic agent lidocaine is mixed in with collagen, additional anesthetic is usually not used.
However, if you are especially sensitive to pain, your doctor may use a topical cream anesthetic or a freon spray to numb the injected area.
Or, you may elect to have an injected local anesthetic or sedative drugs.
Both the donor and recipient sites of fat are numbed with local anesthesia. Sedation can be used as well. If you elect to use sedation, be sure to arrange for a ride home after your treatment.
The injectable filling procedures take from 15 min to 1 hour.
Collagen
Treatment with collagen can begin after a skin test determines that you’re not allergic to the subsstance. The collagen is injected using a fine needle inserted at several points along the edge of the treatment site. If a local anesthesia has not been used, you may feel some minor stinging or burning as the injections are administered.
Since part of the substance is salt water that will be absorbed by the body within a few days, your doctor will slightly overfill the area.
You may be asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure to help your doctor decide when you’ve had enough.
Fat
After both the donor and recipient sites are cleansed and treated with a local anesthesia, the fat is withdrawn using a syringe with a large-bore needle or a cannula (the same instrument used in liposuction) attached to a suction device. The fat is then prepared and injected into the recipient site with a needle. Sometimes an adhesive bandage is applied over the injection site.
As with collagen, “overfilling” is necessary to allow for fat absorption in the weeks following treatment. When fat is used to fill sunken cheeks or to correct areas on the face other than lines, this overcorrection of newly injected fat may temporarily make the face appear abnormally puffed out or swollen.
Injectable fillers procedure can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, however it will not change your looks Before you decide to have this procedure keep in mind, the short time results of this method.
The best candidates for injectable fillers are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations.
In your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your face – the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone – and discuss your goals for the surgery. Your doctor will help you select a treatment option based on your goals and concerns, your anatomy and your lifestyle.
Your surgeon will ask you about your medical history, drug allergies, and check for conditions that could cause problems, such as active skin infections or non-healed sores from injuries. Collagen injections are generally off limits for pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef or bovine products, patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to lidocaine (the anesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material)..
Collagen
Immediately following treatment, you may notice some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing in the injected area. Occasionally some bruising or swelling will occur, but it is usually minor. Any redness that appears in the injected site usually disappears within 24 hours.
However, in some individuals, particularly fair-skinned patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the needle-stick areas; these generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection shortly thereafter.
There may be some temporary swelling and redness in the treated area which should dissipate within a few days. If these symptoms persist, contact your surgeon.
Fat
If a larger area was treated, you may be advised to curtail your activity for a brief time. However, many patients are able to resume normal activity immediately.
You can expect some swelling, bruising or redness in both the donor and recipient sites. The severity of these symptoms depends upon the size and location of the treated area. You should stay out of the sun until the redness and bruising subsides – usually about 48 hours. In the meantime, you may use makeup with sunblock protection to help conceal your condition.
The swelling and puffiness in the recipient site may last several weeks, especially if a large area was filled.
Results from collagen injections is variable. Injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
In some individuals, the results may last only a few weeks; in others, the results may be maintained indefinitely. Researchers believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected material’s “staying power.” However, the precise reason for the variation of results among patients has yet to be identified.
If you’ve had short-lived results from fat injections, you shouldn’t necessarily assume that collageninjections will work better for you. And, conversely, if you’ve had disappointing results from collagen, don’t assume that injected fat is the answer.
Although it’s true that some individuals’ bodies are more receptive to one substance than the other, others may find that neither substance produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one substance may work better than the other for a specific problem.
The duration of the fat injections varies significantly from patient to patient. Though some patients have reported results lasting a year or more, the majority of patients find that at least half of the injected fullness disappears within 3-6 months. Therefore, repeated injections may be necessary. Your doctor will advise you on how to maintain your results with repeat treatments.
Even men with advanced hair loss have hairs growing on some parts of the scalp. The parietal and temporal areas usually feature permanent hair growth and are used as so-called donor areas for the surgical treatment of baldness.
Hair follicles from these areas may be grafted during one or more sessions, depending on the necessary amount of transplanted hair. The corners of the frontal hairline or the vertex (crown) of a scalp are the most frequent places for transplantation.
A hair transplant is a procedure performed under local anesthesia and usually without any overall complications. The patient is conscious and may co-operate with the surgical team. During the procedure, hairs with follicles are relocated from the places of permanent growth to places that are bald. In the case of relocation of hairs into the corners and frontal hairline, this line is carefully drawn and consulted with the patient before the procedure. There are two different methods of hair harvest:
1. Using the so-called strip method the surgeon dissects an anesthetized posterior part of the scalp with a scalpel to harvest a strip of skin with hair and hypodermis. This excised, boat-shaped strip is about 15 – 25 cm x 2.5 – 4 cm in size, depending on the size of the patient’s head. After excision, the wound is closed by simple interrupted sutures which will remain for 10 – 14 days based on the tension of the wound’s edge. Because the wound is closed under tension, a scar may be stretched and in the case of a haircut shorter than 1 cm in the place of excision, it may be visible.
2. Using the more innovative FUE method (follicular unit extraction – the harvest of single hair units) the place of harvest is also locally anesthetized. The harvest is a time intensive procedure because each hair unit is extracted separately. After the extraction of every hair unit, a small 1 mm incision remains in the place of the harvest and is left to heal spontaneously. It is not true that there is no scar in the donor area when using the FUE method. There are numerous tiny scars which are so small however that they cannot be seen even if the hair is cut short.
When the follicular unit grafts are prepared (it differs in each method) the transplantation starts again with the anesthesia of the transplantation (recipient) area. Depending on the method used, the transplantations further differ by the preparation of an incision for the implantation of a hair follicle; either the incisions are prepared separately before each graft or they are all done together. When the transplant is complete, the grafted area is covered with an antibiotic cream and sterile dressing. The sterile dressing covers the scalp for a time period which depends on the method of implantation used; at least until the second day.
There used to be an opinion that hair grows on the scalp individually. However, detailed research discovered hair occurs and grows on the scalp in groupings. These groupings usually contain 1, 2, 3 or 4 hairs. Every such a hair grouping is denoted as a hair follicular unit.
Above all it is important to have a realistic vision about the possibilities of surgical treatment of baldness. The resulting density of the hair is influenced by many factors, mostly by the transplant technique used. The available methods are mainly influenced by the fact of how close to each other the follicular units may be grafted in one procedure. Hair density in the grafted area may be enhanced by another procedure. The second procedure of enhancing the hair density in the grafted area is performed usually a year after the first operation. The number of sessions is individual according to the extent of the hair loss.
To achieve the best conditions for hair grafting and with respect to possible complications and preservation of hair follicles, please, follow these recommendations:
When the dressing is removed there are numerous scabs in the recipient area as well as in the donor area in the case of the FUE technique. We let the scabs fall off gradually. Gentle removal of the scabs is important, particularly for the recipient area, as the grafted hairs are not resistant to mechanical pull-off within 14 days after the operation. Transplanted hairs fall out within a month, only a small number remain in place and new hair growth is apparent 3 – 4 months after the transplant. It is necessary to realize the grafted hair follicles need blood supply to survive and it may take a long time and vary from person to person. The success of the transplant may be evaluated only 6 – 9 months after the procedure; when the resulting hair density is apparent in the grafted area.