Everything You Need to Know About the Minimally Invasive Procedure That Will Contribute to Your Natural Beauty

What is Hyaluron

Merely 10 years ago, the term “hyaluronic acid” was unknown to the wider public (except for patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis), but today it is an inevitable term in articles and advertisements for anti-aging products. But what is it actually?

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a lubricant, a clear substance that the body produces on its own to maintain its collagen, increase the humidity and provide elasticity and flexibility to the tissue. Its presence has been established in almost all living organisms and our skin contains about 50% of hyaluronic acid from the body. Besides being present in our body (mostly in the eyes, joints, and skin), it can also be found in food. It is a completely natural and safe substance that is actually a type of sugar (glycosaminoglycan)—a very long chain of molecules of carbohydrates that have the ability to keep a large amount of water.

Dermatologists and other doctors recommend it because of its ability to improve the texture and appearance of the skin, reduce pain in the joints and help eliminate other symptoms that are related to aging. Hyaluronic acid is used in products for the joints, eye drops, lip balms as well as anti-wrinkle products. Considering its natural derivation, the risk for allergic reactions and irritations is quite low when using products that contain hyaluronic acid.

The issue with hyaluronic acid is that there isn’t a lot of it in our organisms and it disintegrates quickly. The total amount of hyaluronic acid in an organism of someone that weighs 70 kg, is about 15 g, and almost half of that amount is in the skin. Besides, it is a rather unstable element. The organism keeps compensating for that loss but the issue is that, with age, that ability is rapidly reduced. That results in less and less hyaluronic acid in the organism and the skin appears far from youthful.

Why Have Fillers Become So Popular?

Hyaluronic fillers as fillers for soft tissue have gained popularity thanks to the numerous advantages that this treatment provides:

• The side effects are rare
• Its structural properties are similar to hyaluronic acid that already exists in the organism (biocompatibility)
• They are easily integrated into the tissue (it’s rarely rejected)
• They don’t cause allergies
• They are biodegradable
• High hydration ability
• They can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if needed (it’s reversible)

Hyaluronic acid can be used for:

• Lip augmentation
• Lifting the corners of the lips
• Decreasing the nasolabial folds (smile lines)
• Correcting dark under eyes
• Preventing wrinkles and maintaining the hydro balance of the skin
• Shaping the jawline
• Shaping the nose

How Much Filler Is Needed?

The most common question is how much filler is needed to reach the wanted results. Let us explain. One milliliter of filler, as a minimum amount that can be injected, is a quarter of a small teaspoon. To achieve the complete volume of the face or certain areas, with nice and visible results, a lot more is needed than 1 ml. Therefore, applying one ml is something the patient should not be afraid of as there is no possibility of it looking like “too much” no matter where the filler is being applied. When augmenting and shaping the lips 1 milliliter of filler is not too much to start with, but bear in mind that more can be added later to achieve the wanted results. In this case, less really is more because it is a lot easier to add a little bit of filler (which can always be added) than to put too much and achieve unwanted results that will last while the filler is in the system. Although there is a possibility of neutralizing the injected filler. The effects of the filler last 6 to 24 months.

Applying the Filler

Applying hyaluronic acids depends on the depth of the wrinkles and the assessments of the plastic surgeon. The procedure takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Before the procedure starts, a local anesthetic (cream) can be applied. For lip augmentation, a local anesthetic can also be injected into the mucosa the same way it is done at the dentist.

Immediately after the treatment the treated region might be red or it can itch. That is a natural reaction and it can last for a few hours or two days at most. The initial swelling after lip fillers can last a couple of days.

It is extremely important not to touch the region that has been treated six hours after the injections. Also, until the swelling and redness retreat, the patient should avoid sun exposure, tanning, or extremely cold temperatures. Slight bruising might be possible in the area of the injection which goes away in two or three days

Everything That the Doctor Must Let the Patient Know

For the treatment to be successful, one of the most important steps is talking with the patient. The doctor must inform the patient on:

• the effects of the treatment
• the number of treatments that would be needed to achieve the wanted results
• the amount of time that will pass before accomplishing the final results
• possible side effects
• instructions that the patient should follow after the treatment

The potential patient must also know that, before the treatment, they should avoid smoking, alcohol, coffee, taking anticoagulants, and increase the intake of vitamin C.

Possible Side Effects

The doctors must provide instructions that the patient should follow after the treatment to reduce the risk of side effects during the recovery period.

Possible side effects include:

• bruising
• temporary pain, discomfort
• rash, itch, redness
• asymmetry

Book your free consultation in Atlas General Hospital by calling 011/785 88 88 or 060/32 92 411 where you can learn more from our esthetic surgery specialists before the procedure.