Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: What Are They And Why Use Them?

Non-surgical facelifts such as Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are some of the most coveted aesthetic procedures, as they can add volume and provide intense hydration to various parts of your face.

While one might immediately think of Botox when they wish to soften any fine lines and wrinkles on their face, these two treatments work using different mechanisms of action and should not be directly compared.

In this article, let’s find out the properties of HA fillers and why they make a great treatment option for reversing the signs of ageing and giving your skin the vitality it deserves!

What Is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a kind of humectant found in the body such as the skin, connective tissue and joints. It’s essential for tissue hydration and repair, lubricating of joints and immune response.

Skin only preserves its resilience, pliability and elasticity thanks to its high content of water. Hyaluronic acid also plays a crucial role in skin hydration due to its unique water-binding capacity. In fact, it can bind up to 1,000 times its volume in water!

Hyaluronic acid dissolves over time and is naturally expelled through the body. Over time, our body also produces lesser amounts, which is when we start to notice the first signs of ageing.

Since hyaluronic acid is a naturally found element in the body, this makes it a safe and popular choice as a dermal filler.

How do hyaluronic acid fillers improve my skin?

Hyaluronic acid fillers inject hyaluronic acid into the skin to help fill the volume that your face has lost over time. This essentially helps to revitalise and add volume to the skin, while diminishing the appearance of wrinkles or frown lines.

To properly administer the hyaluronic acid, the aesthetic doctor will first use a pen to mark the areas that will be injected. Effects are visible shortly after the treatment. For even distribution and reducing the chance of swelling, the doctor will lightly massage the area. Depending on the area, the procedure can take around 15 minutes to one hour.

Aside from helping with ageing lines, HA fillers can also be used to sculpt certain parts of the face, such as the cheeks and chin. However, because the hyaluronic acid injected is biodegradable, the results are not permanent.

What are the types of hyaluronic acid fillers used

At our aesthetic clinic, we used two main brands of HA fillers: Restylane and Juvederm. While at first glance, they aren’t too many differences, there are key distinctions once we examine them closely.

While both of them can treat roughly the same areas, they do not have the same component of hyaluronic acid gel, which makes them particularly useful for different needs. Here are some of their differences:

Restylane:

Has a granular and more cohesive texture. This makes it ideal for adding volume to specific sunken areas on the face. It can also be easily moulded for sculpting the desired facial shape and contours such as those seen in non-surgical rhinoplasty.

It is particularly effective on facial areas that target the lips, cheeks, and area around the nose. Restylane may also be used to add volume to the back of the hands.

Juvederm:

Juvederm has a smoother and thicker texture. Hence, it allows for more HA molecules per injection. This makes it better for tackling issues such as fine lines and wrinkles in tight facial areas.

The most common side effects associated with HA injections are local injection-related side effects which manifest as edema, pain, erythema, itching and bruising. These adverse side effects are mild and usually subside within the first week.

Side effects and minimising them

Usually, there will be some side effects after the initial injection. Some of the common ones include:

  • Pain
  • Bruising
  • Swelling

Here are some ways to minimise the side effects before, during or after the treatment session:

Pain: Your doctor will utilise a tiny needle gauge or blunt-tipped cannulas, usage of anaesthetic agents such as nerve blocks, applying ice before and after injection, or distraction through vibration. If not, the fillers themselves will contain something called lidocaine to lessen the pain.

Bruising and swelling: One week before injection, do not take any oral-based medicine such as aspirin, pain relievers, supplements that contains substances such as vitamin E, ginseng, fish oil, omega-3, kava–kava and Ginkgo Biloba. This is because the supplements tend to thin the blood, which will significantly increase the chances of side effects happening.

Regain your youthful glow

At the end of the day, if you are unsure of whether HA fillers is the right treatment for you, arrange an appointment with our doctors so they can better assess your situation and give you personalised advice.

It’s essential to find an experienced doctor that is certified and possess a deep knowledge of facial anatomy to give you the best results. Even if it’s possible to reverse consequences from a botched filler job, it still ends with wastage of money and time.

Our doctors prioritises our patients’ safety first. With over 20 years of experience in Aesthetic Medicine, we can tackle the needs of every unique individual and meet their expectations of delivering the most natural-looking results. From acne treatments to hair transplants, we aim to deliver optimal results with minimal downtime, so you can return to work after lunch with renewed confidence –– drop us a call to book your appointment today!

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