Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid fillers for lips, folds and cheekbones: a prior medical assessment, a resorbable product and a natural result. It's a medical procedure.
What it is and what it does
Hyaluronic acid is a substance already present in your skin that holds onto water. The fillers used in aesthetic medicine are non-animal-based hyaluronic acid gels that are injected to restore volume where it's been lost, soften a fold or define a contour. They're resorbable: the body breaks them down over time, and far from being a drawback, that's a safeguard.
Where it's used
- Lips: hydration and defining the border, without going for an exaggerated look.
- Nasolabial folds and the corners of the mouth.
- Cheekbones and jawline.
- Under-eye area, in selected cases and with a specific product.
- Hands and other areas that have lost volume.
It's a medical procedure
Even though it takes only a few minutes and needs no operating theatre, injecting a filler is a medical procedure: it requires knowledge of anatomy — especially the blood vessels —, assessing your skin and your history, and having the means to deal with a complication. That's why it's carried out by a doctor, and why there's a prior consultation to decide whether it's what you need, which areas to treat and what result is reasonable to expect. Sometimes the honest answer is that you don't need it.
After treatment
Some swelling and mild bruising is normal for a few days, especially on the lips. It's best to avoid intense heat, strenuous exercise and alcohol for the first 24-48 hours, and not to touch the area. The result is assessed after two weeks, once the swelling has fully gone down, at a follow-up visit. How long it lasts depends on the product, the area and your metabolism: think months, not years.
Frequently asked questions
How long does hyaluronic acid last?
It depends on the product, the area treated and your metabolism: we are talking about months, not years. It is a resorbable material, and that is more of a guarantee than a drawback, because the result is not permanent if you are not happy with it.
Will it be obvious?
The aim is that it should not be. We work by replacing volume where it has been lost, not by adding more than is needed, and at the prior consultation we agree what result it is reasonable to expect. Sometimes the honest answer is that no treatment is needed, and that is what we say.
What aftercare is needed?
Swelling and some bruising for a few days are normal, especially on the lips. It is advisable to avoid intense heat, strenuous exercise and alcohol for the first 24 to 48 hours and not to touch the area. The result is assessed two weeks later, at a review appointment.
What are the risks of hyaluronic acid in the lips?
The usual ones are swelling and bruising in the first few days, and the odd palpable nodule that normally resolves. The serious risk, very infrequent, is occlusion of a blood vessel, and that is why it matters who administers it: you need to know the vascular anatomy and to have hyaluronidase available to reverse the product should it be needed.
How much do hyaluronic acid lip fillers cost?
It depends on the amount of product and the type of gel your case needs, so it is quoted after assessing you, not over the phone. Be wary of very low prices: they usually mean products without guarantees or hands without medical training, which is where complications appear.