What is hyaluronic acid in aesthetic medicine?

Hyaluronic acid is a macromolecule naturally present in the body. Its many properties make it a flagship product in aesthetic medicine.

Firstly, its highly hydrophilic nature enables it to capture the water molecules around it, gaining almost a thousand times its weight in water. This makes it the treatment of choice for deeply moisturizing the skin. What’s more, this property also gives it a volumizing effect that is highly prized in aesthetic medicine. Indeed, as it surrounds itself with the water molecules present in its environment, it logically gains in volume, making it an excellent filling material.

Hyaluronic acid also stimulates the production of elastin and collagen. These two fibrous proteins are notably responsible for the skin’s elasticity and firmness, and the decline in their production with age is one of the main causes of sagging skin. With a few targeted injections, you can effectively combat this problem.

Finally, as hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally present in the body, it guarantees very good tolerance, and the after-effects of injections are virtually non-existent.

When should hyaluronic acid injections be corrected?

In most cases, hyaluronic acid injections are as effective as they are natural, and patients are fully satisfied. However, some patients may be unhappy with the results for purely aesthetic reasons.

Sometimes, patient dissatisfaction is due to objective reasons: the procedure was not carried out correctly and the results do not correspond to what was expected (bulge or nodule in the injected area, swollen appearance, asymmetry, etc.). This may be due to overcorrection on the part of the practitioner (too much product injected), poor localization of the injections, use of an unsuitable product or simply a poor reaction on the part of the patient.

Dr. Hayot specializes in eye aesthetics, and warns against using hyaluronic acid to fill dark circles. Indeed, this area of the face does not tolerate the product well, and can tend to swell following injections, taking on an unsightly bluish hue.

Hyaluronidase to correct hyaluronic acid injections

While undesirable effects or complications following hyaluronic acid injections are extremely rare, the risk is not totally nil. But hyaluronic acid injections are not irreversible.

First of all, hyaluronic acid is a substance that naturally resorbs in the tissues. Its effects are therefore not permanent, and last around 6 to 9 months, depending on the patient and the areas treated. The effects of hyaluronic acid can also be reversed by hyaluronidase injections. This enzyme degrades hyaluronic acid, significantly accelerating its natural breakdown by the body.