Hyaluronic acid injections

Naturally present in the dermis, where it contributes to the hydration and the support of the tissues, hyaluronic acid is found, in aesthetic medicine, in the form of resorbable gels of non-animal origin. Their density and their fluidity differ according to the objective sought: a denser gel may be placed deeply with a view to volumetric support, a more fluid gel more superficially with a view to skin hydration. The product itself is resorbed gradually.

The session opens with an examination of the face and a discussion of each patient’s expectations. The injection points are mapped out, then the skin is disinfected, before the procedure is carried out with a needle or with a cannula, according to the area and the depth targeted; topical anaesthesia may, where this is useful, be offered. The quantities, the points treated and the possible need for a second session depend on each situation: I specify them during the consultation, without ever setting them in advance.

Depending on the case, the injections may concern certain furrows and folds of the face, the contours of the middle third, or aim to improve skin hydration. The indication proceeds from the anatomy, the quality of the skin and the medical history, as much as from the request expressed. My approach consists in assessing each of these elements before considering any procedure at all, since a procedure may not be indicated: abstaining, postponing or another form of care are sometimes preferable. No result can be announced in advance, as the effects vary from one person to another.

After-effects may occur following the injection: redness, oedema, bruising, tenderness at the puncture site. These manifestations are usually transient, without their intensity or their duration being predictable; rarer reactions exist, and they are set out to each patient before the procedure. A prior consultation is mandatory: it makes it possible to assess the indication, to look for contraindications, to give information about the after-effects and the risks, and to obtain each person’s consent.