Breaking Down the Stigma Around Dermal Fillers

Why Is There Stigma?

Fillers are unfortunately often stigmatised for creating unnatural outcomes; the most common worry from patients is that they fear they will look ‘unnatural’. Media attention has fed this concern, with the focus over the years on overtreated celebrities looking ‘fake’ after Botox treatments, leaving them with unnaturally stiff faces and lacking the ability to show expressions. 

Since aesthetic medicine first evolved, it has taken time to develop the correct techniques and the knowledge needed to get natural, subtle-looking results. Frozen foreheads and huge lips are what some people associate with cosmetics, as these were the results first seen on celebrities treated in the early days, but we’ve come so far since then.

The truth about cosmetic treatments like dermal fillers is quite different. You can, of course, achieve the ‘Kylie Jenner’ lip if you wish, but cosmetics are primarily used for restoration purposes. It’s about creating a subtle, natural result, restoring the characteristics and enhancing someone’s features, rather than manufacturing features that were never there. 

The use of dermal fillers and other aesthetic treatments should ultimately be used as an expression of what makes the patient happy and gives them confidence. We widely use and buy products daily for our faces and bodies, so appointments where these sought-after ingredients, such as Hyaluronic Acid, are applied, albeit differently, via injectables, should not be stigmatised if done with safety at the forefront.

The Key Is to Find the Right Practitioner

Finding the right practitioner to perform your dermal filler treatment is vital. Don’t ever be afraid to ask about certification and training. Many clinics and salons are now offering filler treatments, and whilst it’s readily available, not everyone is qualified or insured if things go wrong. 

In the hands of a qualified medical aesthetics practitioner, complications are incredibly rare with dermal fillers. However, a few minor side effects that might occur following treatment can include bruising, redness or slight swelling. That said, downtime is minimal.

In the very rare event of a more serious complication, a fully-qualified medical aesthetics practitioner will know exactly how to take care of you should anything like this happen. This is why it’s so vital to know your practitioner and be able to trust them with your safety.

Dermal fillers might seem daunting, especially if it’s your first time having the treatment, but with the right practitioner, you’ll feel like a brand new you, and there should be no stigma attached to that feeling, or how you achieved it!