As a board-certified dermatologist, I, Dr. Jennifer Breedlove, will delve into the world of hyaluronic acid fillers, a type of volume replacer that's most commonly used in the face, but may be used in other areas of the body, too.
In this blog, I’ll be discussing who makes a perfect candidate, what to expect during the procedure, when to get it done, how long the injections last, and potential complications to watch out for.
The Perfect Candidate
Hyaluronic acid fillers can be used in multiple places. This type of filler can help improve the skin's contour and reduce depressions caused by scars, injury, or lines. You can use it in the cheek or jaw line for volume depletion in those areas. It’s very commonly used around the lips, the chin, and the back of the hands. Therefore, anyone who has lost volume in those particular areas would be a perfect candidate!
What To Expect During The Procedure
You can be in the office anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. It does not usually require any kind of pre-planning. We do ask that you do not do strenuous exercise post-procedure, for the following 24 to 48 hours, however, light walking is okay.
Most people on average get one to two syringes at an injection site, possibly more, but we tend to do incremental injections and then bring you back because it does take a little while to settle.
When You Can Get It Done
You can get hyaluronic acid fillers done virtually any time! Unlike other procedures, with hyaluronic acid fillers, you don’t need to worry about if you've been in the sun or not.
Some patients, on occasion, will get this procedure done at lunchtime, but to ensure we have plenty of time for your appointment, be sure to set aside one hour. Areas such as the lips, that are a little more sensitive, we do offer a topical numbing medicine, and that needs to be applied at least 30 minutes prior to the injections.
Frequency
Another question I get is how often do I get this done? The injections themselves, depending on the product that you're using, usually can last anywhere from 6 to 18 months depending on the person.
Hyaluronic acid is a normal sugar that's produced in our body and so our body will reabsorb it after a certain duration. Additionally, location also plays an important part in how long the injections will last for your body. For example, lips may not last as long as the cheek because you’re not animating that area as much, you're not using the musculature in that area to wear it down as quickly.
Complications
This is an area of concern for many patients, but the good news is hyaluronic acid fillers are generally recognized as safe and typically produce only mild complications! These may include pain, bruising, redness, itching, and swelling. These side effects are usually self-limiting and last no more than a week
At Love Dermatology, we ask that when you get injections that you do not manipulate the area afterwards. It is common to feel a little bumpy immediately after injections, even up to 2 weeks, but that tends to dissipate on its own. Part of that is the product going into the skin, another part is that you are seeing a small bruise in the area, and that can produce small localized swelling. However, we encourage you to follow up with your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about a bumpy texture.
The rarest complication is something called vascular occlusion and that is when you see a dusky appearance in the area that was injected. So please make sure that you are seeing an injector who is very well versed in learning how to deal with complications, should one occur.
A hyaluronic acid filler can be reversed, and most clinics who do injections should have that agent called hyaluronidase in their office. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that can dissolve the fillers.
Cost
Hyaluronic acid fillers have a variable cost. For example, one injection, one syringe of product, versus multiple syringes in different locations, would all affect your total cost for the procedure.
I hope this is helpful and you’ve gained some insights on hyaluronic acid fillers! If you have any further questions please give our office a call, we’d be happy to discuss your health concerns and questions with you.
Wishing you a wonderful day ahead,
— Dr. Jennifer Breedlove, Your Trusted Dermatologist
Shop Love Dermatology Skincare
Shop dermatologist-tested products by Dr. Breedlove, made with natural ingredients and free of sulfates and parabens.
Also available are a complete offering of UV skin care products by EltaMD.
We're here to help when you have questions about either selecting the right products for your skin type, or deciding on the right in-office treatments!
Our staff is knowledgeable and here for you!
Comments