The wrinkles and sagging skin associated with aging are largely caused by a loss of moisture, a reduction in the hyaluronic acid present in our skin, and a decline in our body’s ability to replenish it. In aesthetic medicine, hyaluronic acid is injected according to each patient’s needs to correct the signs of aging.
The most common areas where this filler is applied are:
– Contour and corner of the lips.
– Lip and facial volume (cheekbones, chin, jaw, temple, temporal fossa, parotid area, etc).
– Lip or peribuccal wrinkles (around the mouth, commonly known as “barcode”).
– Nasolabial folds (expression lines that run from both sides of the nose to the mouth).
– External periocular wrinkles (crow’s feet).
– Correction of dark circles and tear through (tear trough).
At DraVillaverde we will study your case and advise you so that the treatment offers a natural and aesthetic result, so that you can look the way you want. It is important to keep in mind that facial fillers with hyaluronic acid must always be injected by medical specialists, usually plastic surgeons or dermatologists, and in authorized centers.
The results of hyaluronic acid treatments on the face will depend largely on the doctor’s precision, the quality of the product used, each person’s metabolism when it comes to
synthesizing this substance, and the area where it is injected. We use the Restylane® and Juvederm® product lines because of their reliable and long-lasting results.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a cosmetic surgery treatment that has become one of the most effective weapons against aging, as it manages to increase the volume and hydration of the skin, making it look smoother and more radiant. This type of facial filler is a substance found in numerous tissues and organs of our body, for example, in the connective tissue that supports the spine, in cartilage, in the synovial fluid of the joints or in our epidermis. With the passage of time, the presence of this substance decreases significantly, which causes, among other things, the aging of the skin and, with it, the appearance of wrinkles, flaccidity or loss of firmness.
One of the main properties of hyaluronic acid is its great capacity to attract and retain water. For this reason, its use in local aesthetic treatments allows to rehydrate in depth the dermis of the treated area to make its appearance smoother and increase its thickness and volume, and finally to smooth the skin furrows.
When injected properly and in the precise amount, the effects are almost immediate and the result is quite natural. Since it is a substance that the skin synthesizes and metabolizes by itself, its effects will diminish over time. Depending on the product used, the average duration of hyaluronic acid ranges from nine to twelve months to two years, depending on the type of acid used. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid is totally biocompatible and does not generate any type of rejection, foreign body reaction, granulimas, etc.
How is hyaluronic acid facial filler performed?
Depending on the type of treatment we perform, the procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. First, we’ll answer all your questions to ensure that the treatment we provide is appropriate and satisfactory for you. Once we’ve selected the treatment plan you need, Dr. Villaverde’s team will prepare you for the hyaluronic acid injection. We’ll take some photos to assess the before-and-after results of the treatment and ensure we’ve achieved the desired changes. We’ll clean the area to be treated and, if you wish, apply a local anesthetic.
Once the product has been injected, you’ll rest for a few minutes with ice applied to the treated area to prevent bruising. These treatments are performed using an ultra-fine needle or a specialized microcannula; the procedure is carried out with care and includes a gentle massage after the injection.
After a few days (usually 2 weeks), you will go for a check-up in which we will evaluate the result with the photos taken previously and we will retouch the area if necessary.
Hyaluronic acid is a very safe substance, but it can have side effects.
In general, hyaluronic acid is a very safe substance, since it is naturally present in our body and its rejection by the patient is rare. In fact, according to recent studies, only 3% to 5% of people who undergo this treatment have had any type of allergy or reaction.
This is so, as long as its application is carried out by professionals authorized to do so and with products that comply with all regulations. Despite its safe application and results, there are certain side effects that may appear once the treatment has been performed.
The most common side effects are:
• Tenderness and the appearance of bruises or lumps in the areas where the medication was applied.
• Pain and discomfort.
• Skin irritation, stiffness, and redness.
Most of these effects usually disappear within a short period of time ranging from 48 hours after application to one week later. In any case, there are some contraindications of hyaluronic acid treatments, such as, for example, that it should not be applied to people suffering from any type of severe allergy, in areas where there is an inflammatory or infectious process, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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