Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid corrects the loss of volume that is one of the main signs of ageing, along with the wrinkles and folds that form as fat is lost. It is used on the cheekbones, the temples, the nasolabial fold, the mouth, the marionette lines of the chin and the jawline, often in combination with Botox. The injections also benefit the hydration and elasticity of the skin, since hyaluronic acid is a compound naturally present in the skin that becomes scarcer with age. They can also be used to refine the nose or remove a bump without surgery.

Hyaluronic acid is a protein naturally present in the body, responsible for maintaining water. As the skin ages, hyaluronic acid levels decrease, and injections help to rehydrate skin tissue. Hyaluronic acid is a dermal filler with a volumizing effect that corrects hollow dark circles. Injections of hyaluronic acid into the lips redefine their contours and plump them up. Medical rhinoplasty involves reshaping the nose with hyaluronic acid injections. Nasolabial folds define the creases from the root of the nose to the corner of the mouth. Hyaluronic acid has a smoothing effect on these wrinkles. Hyaluronidase is a product that reduces the pronounced effects of hyaluronic acid injections when they are poorly performed.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of our skin, where it holds water like a sponge to maintain hydration, tone and elasticity. It is partly thanks to hyaluronic acid that the skin keeps a youthful appearance for part of our lives. With age, the synthesis of this molecule naturally diminishes, which contributes to skin ageing, to the first wrinkles and to the loss of volume. In aesthetic medicine, hyaluronic acid can be injected into the cheekbones, the temples, the nasolabial folds and other areas of the face to restore lost volume and tighten the skin. Its volumising properties can also be used to reshape the nose, for example by correcting a hump.

Facial hyaluronic acid injections by Dr Hayot

Dr Hayot uses hyaluronic acids of varying viscosity, depending on the indication and the area to be treated.

Hyaluronic acid for dark circles

As a specialist in eyelid surgery, Dr Hayot strongly advises against filling dark circles with hyaluronic acid.

• In an area with little mobility, such as the dark circles, where lymphatic drainage is inadequate, hyaluronic acid is absorbed poorly or not at all. Over time, the product can swell with water and form an unsightly bag.
• Because the skin over the dark circles is very thin and almost transparent, hyaluronic acid can become visible and give the circles a bluish tint, known as the Tyndall effect.

The best technique for filling dark circles is micro-lipofilling, or nano-lipofilling if the circles are pigmented. Dr Hayot encounters this problem regularly in his daily practice: patients come to him with bags under the eyes that are in fact the remains of earlier hyaluronic acid injections. The first step is to remove the hyaluronic acid, before proceeding to genuine filling by lipofilling or nano-lipofilling.

Hyaluronic acid for the lips

Hyaluronic acid injection has a volumizing effect, plumping the lips without excess. It can also correct asymmetry or an imbalance between the upper and lower lips. In addition to this volumizing effect, hyaluronic acid has a moisturizing power that acts like a balm, giving a "glossy" appearance. The product is absorbable and the result is very natural when the surgeon doses his injections intelligently.

Hyaluronic acid for the nose

Hyaluronic acid can be used to correct a nose: refine or lift the tip, camouflage a bump by adding volume, give the illusion of symmetry. Medical rhinoplasty has the advantage of lightness: you avoid the operation and its after-effects, the procedure is reversible, and there's a very limited risk of "messing up".

Hyaluronic acid for the nasolabial folds

The nasolabial fold extends vertically from the roots of the nose to the corners of the mouth. It is favored by mouth movements (mimics, smiles…) that cause skin breaks, but also by loss of volume in the cheekbones and malar region (lower part of the dark circles). The surgeon fills in the wrinkles superficially and restores the volumes that have melted away, dosing his injections to achieve natural rejuvenation. The guiding principle is to respect the conformation of the face: volumes are restored, never artificially inflating the cheekbones or cheeks.

Hyaluronidase

The final results of hyaluronic acid injections are visible around 2 weeks after the injection. In most cases they are discreet and natural. If corrections are needed, we have a particularly effective product to dissolve the injection and perfect the result: hyaluronidase, an enzyme naturally present in the body that breaks down hyaluronic acid.

Side effects after injection

Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our bodies. It is therefore very well tolerated, and allergic reactions are extremely rare. After your session, slight side effects may nonetheless appear, linked not to the product but to the injection itself: redness of the skin, swelling, small bruises. These effects are benign and transient, and fade naturally after a few days.

Contraindications to hyaluronic acid injection

Before any treatment, Dr Hayot checks that you do not have any of the following contraindications:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Autoimmune disease
• Active infection or inflammation of the area to be treated
• A history of intolerance to one or more components of the product

The price of hyaluronic acid injections with Dr Hayot

The price of a hyaluronic acid injection session depends on the area treated and on the quantity of product required. At your initial consultation, Dr Hayot will provide you with a personalised quotation.