Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid in Aesthetic Medicine

Hyaluronic acid has been used as a dermal filler, both well-tolerated and resorbable, for treating facial and neck wrinkles for over 20 years. These injections are specifically designed to correct and smooth wrinkles through precise application of the product.

In addition to addressing wrinkles, hyaluronic acid can also enhance facial volume, thanks to the development of thicker and more concentrated formulations:

• Defining lips and plumping the mouth
• Filling cheeks or cheekbones
• Correcting the nose or chin
• Filling hollow temples
• Reducing under-eye hollows

Typically, no allergy test is required, as hyaluronic acid is not an allergenic substance. Modern high-quality products are extremely pure, making allergic reactions exceedingly rare.

Today, various laboratories offer a wide range of hyaluronic acid products with different concentrations and viscosities. These formulations are tailored to specific applications, such as reshaping facial volumes, smoothing fine wrinkles, or revitalizing and deeply hydrating the skin, while also catering to different skin types.

To fill or smooth a wrinkle, the injection is very superficial (1 to 2 mm). It is performed using a very fine needle, allowing for the immediate erasure of wrinkles and lines without overcorrection. Thus, the result is immediate. The physician must know how to vary the depth of product implantation to achieve the desired effect (smoothing a superficial wrinkle, filling a deep wrinkle, or a line). The practitioner’s experience makes all the difference in the results obtained.

A complementary session may be necessary after 3 to 6 weeks, especially if it is the first time the area is being treated.

To restore lost volume to a face, the doctor will prefer to use a foam-tipped needle (micro-cannula) to avoid bruising. Indeed, in this case, the injections are deeper, and the risk of bruising is higher, especially with standard needles.

Generally, larger amounts of concentrated hyaluronic acid are required. Therefore, the cost is higher. Learn more about facial volume correction.

It is advisable to repeat the filling injection every six to nine months, sometimes less frequently during the initial sessions. Preferably, one should not wait for the wrinkles or grooves to fully reappear. The products used to reshape volumes (cheeks, temples, lips, nose correction, deep grooves…) last longer: 12 to 18 months.

The product is almost “natural” because it is identical to that of the human body. The effect of the filler injection is immediate. There are few or no troublesome aftereffects. If the doctor is gentle, bruising or hematomas are rare. Hyaluronic acid is not allergenic, so there is no need to test the product before the injection session.

Small redness and swelling at the treated wrinkles may occur (depending on the skin) and can persist from a few hours to a few days after the injection. Hyaluronic acid dissolves at varying speeds and requires regular sessions, but in general, the effect improves with each session.

Side effects are very rare with the high-quality hyaluronic acids available to doctors today. In exceptional cases, itching may occur for a few weeks, or granulomas (hardening, swelling, and local redness). These effects are reversible, and the injected hyaluronic acid can be quickly dissolved by injecting a specific product: hyaluronidase.