What is hyaluronic acid in aesthetic medicine?

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar-derived product naturally present in the human body. It adds volume to the skin and maintains its elasticity. Aging gradually slows down its production in the human body.

Hyaluronic acid injections help rebuild facial volume while moisturizing the skin and preventing puffiness.

It’s a natural treatment that resorbs itself, just like the one naturally present in the body. This makes the treatment reversible. The effect of hyaluronic acid gradually fades after one year. It is therefore necessary to repeat the injection after a certain time to preserve the effects of the treatment.

What is botulinum toxin in aesthetic medicine?

Botulinum toxin, also known as botox, entered the medical scene in the ophthalmology sector to treat an eyelid condition known as blepharospasm. Doctors found that its use also helped to erase wrinkles from patients’ faces. Since 2003, botulinum toxin has been used in France on the aesthetic medicine market.

Once injected into the patient’s face, this product relaxes the muscles and dermis, making the first signs of ageing – wrinkles – invisible. It’s an effective treatment that poses no real danger to patients’ skin.

Are hyaluronic acid and botox injections complementary?

Hyaluronic acid and botox can be combined to rejuvenate the face in two different ways:

• An anti-aging facelift: This technique aims to correct age-related skin slackening by restoring sagging volumes. Injecting botox relaxes the contracted muscles responsible for sagging skin, while injecting hyaluronic acid restores lost facial volume, giving the face a toned, firm appearance.
• Filling wrinkles: This technique aims to erase wrinkles and the tired expression of the face due to aging. Botox is injected to soften muscles, while hyaluronic acid fills in the folds formed by wrinkles.

The results of botox and hyaluronic acid injections are visible as early as 15 days after the injections, giving the face a youthful, relaxed appearance. It is important to note that the effect of hyaluronic acid is immediate and stabilizes after 15 days, whereas that of botox (botulinum toxin) is progressive after 5 to 10 days. Both treatments are not definitive: hyaluronic acid disappears from the body after about a year, and botox after 6 months.

How do I know which injections are right for me?

Botox smoothes wrinkles, while hyaluronic acid fills the creases caused by them. What’s the best choice between the two?

It all depends on the patient’s skin, state of health, habits and aesthetic desires: results vary depending on the injection chosen (hyaluronic acid, botox or a combination of the two).
Prior to any injection, a preparatory consultation with the doctor is essential to find the right solution for each patient’s face. During this initial consultation, the doctor will explain the ins and outs of each possible procedure.