Dr Hayot for GALA

Hyaluronic acid, a product that “never quite goes away”.

In recent years, hyaluronic acid has become very popular in the world of aesthetic medicine. This sugar derivative hydrates the skin, and its volumising properties are widely used to correct a lack of volume in certain parts of the face. According to Dr Hayot, however, deep injections of hyaluronic acid leave unnatural marks on the face. Taking the cheekbones as an example, he says the product “makes cheeks look like apples”.

To restore harmonious volume to the face, he recommends injections of the patient’s own fat by lipofilling, which give a natural result with a very limited risk of rejection or allergy. The fat injected into the part of the face that lacks volume is indeed the patient’s own, taken beforehand from another part of the body.

The mini-lift, for a subtly younger face

Dr Hayot is categorical about the unnatural results given by certain aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery techniques, which freeze the face and smooth out all its wrinkles: “beyond a certain age, a smooth forehead makes no sense”. He therefore recommends the mini-lift, which is gentler than a conventional facelift and preserves the patient’s own features. Sagging cheeks, jowls and a blurred facial contour are among the signs of skin ageing corrected by the mini-lift.

Blepharoplasty

For overall facial rejuvenation, the mini-lift can be combined with blepharoplasty which, by ridding the eyelids of the excess skin that signals skin ageing, opens up the eyes and restores a spark of youth.

With summer approaching, Dr Hayot reminds us that the secret of beautiful skin is to avoid the sun.

The Paris doctor ends his interview for Gala on this fine note: “Growing old is wonderful!”