Hyaluronic acid is a natural compound in our skin and skin of all mammals. In the extracellular space of the skin tissue this substance binds huge amount of water and therefore: Maintains the distance between the cells in connective tissue and enables their cell division, Enables the transport of nutrients, metabolism in the skin cells, and Binds free radicals and suppresses the influence of the damaging agents at the skin tissue. The amount of the hyaluronic acid decreases during the ageing process and so the skin looses the ability to sustain enough moisture. The skin thus looses its smoothness, tightness and the wrinkles appear.
In the areas with greatest strain the wrinkles appear and deepen in the course of time. The physician applies the hyaluronic acid with a thin needle directly under the wrinkle, so the defect is filled in the subcutaneous region and the wrinkle is reduced or even eliminated. Treatment of emerging, shallow wrinkles slows down the process of wrinkle formation and delays other, more invasive methods of skin rejuvenation.
The amount of subcutaneous fat may be decreased during the ageing process. The aesthetically most problematic is this loss in the cheeks and under the eyes. To fill the space under the skin the hyaluronic acid is applied broadly deep into the subcutaneous area. Many clients wish to give their lips a plumper contour and this effect can be also achieved immediately by application of the hyaluronic acid.
In aesthetic medicine the hyaluronic acid is used in a form of a gel in the one shot injections. The products vary in size of the particles in gel and manufacturing technology. For correction of the deep wrinkles and defects, the products with larger particles are used and vice versa. Effects of the hyaluronic acid application: It increases the ability of the skin to bind water, and enhances strength and elasticity of the skin, It enables new collagen and elastic fibres formation, and The treated parts of the skin are soft, pliable and have natural appearance.
The place of the puncture may become sensitive immediately after the hyaluronic acid application, it may be also reddish, swelled or bruised a little. These reactions are most apparent during the procedure and within several hours after it. Mild symptoms can last for a few days and then they spontaneously disappear. Discolouration or redness of the treated skin is caused by applying of the substance not deep enough, too big amount of filling substance, especially in the regions with thin subcutaneous layer, or by many other factors like the condition and structure of the skin and the client’s diseases. They also resolve spontaneously after some time. Very rare side effect is an inflammatory reaction towards the material and formation of a so-called granuloma, which is a ball-like collection of fibrous tissue in the vicinity of the foreign material. It may emerge several months after the procedure. It is cured by intravenous administration of corticoids or surgical removal. This complication is presently very scarce, because of today’s new, improved and safe products.
If you have often a cold sore, the similar formation may appear at the place of the puncture. If you take some drugs, small bruises and swelling may appear at the place of the puncture. Your physician will advise you and inform you how to prevent these complications. You do not need to make any other arrangements or preparations.
The procedure lasts approximately 10 to 40 minutes depending on the extent of the treated area. The way of preventing the pain depends on the treated locality, it may be an anaesthetic cream so-called EMLA spread on the treated area for about 30 to 40 minutes, the anaesthetic substance administrated intravenously (then the procedure can be performed immediately), or in case that the filling substance contains already an anaesthetic, no additional pain suppressing is needed. It varies patient to patient and everything is adjusted to make the client fully satisfied. The procedure itself is absolutely painless and to make it even more tolerable we will cool the treated area. The substance is applied by many punctures into precisely chosen spots. The technique and the precise accomplishment are the key factors ensuring the perfect results.
The treated area should not be exposed to strong warmth (solarium, sauna) or cold, and direct sunlight; also increased physical activity should be avoided, until the redness and swelling disappear.
You should not touch the treated area for 6 hours. Then you may wash it with water and gentle soap.
Make-up may be put on after 6 hours at earliest.
The results of the treatment can be assessed practically immediately considering the necessary short convalescence.
It is good to see the physician again after 3 weeks, when the material is stabilised in the tissue and the final results are visible. The physician will assess them with the help of the before- and after-treatment photos and possibly he or she will plan the next strategy.
The duration of the effect differs according to the location of the material, individual disposition, activity in the treated area, and sufficient amount of applied material. Since the material undergoes the so-called isovolumic degradation (a volume is sustained for a long time and there is more and more water molecules bound to the more and more exposed molecules of degraded hyaluronic acid) the effect is long lasting with slightly faster loss of the volume at the end of the period of efficacy. Often the smoothing effect lasts even much more longer, because of natural remodelling of the skin tissue leading to smoothing the wrinkle naturally.
Injection filling techniques are now replacing or supplementing other aesthetic surgery procedures. Considering their efficacy they are becoming more and more popular and frequent. All this together with using the excellent materials and the procedure being performed by top physicians ensure that the whole procedure will fulfil the client’s desires.