Hyaluronic acid & Skinboosters
Fillers
Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin that can be injected to restore volume and fill wrinkles and folds.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the dermis that provides hydration to the skin. Its proportion decreases with age (a 50% decrease by 50 years of age), the skin becomes dehydrated and loses tone.
Marketed in an injectable form (Restylane®, Juvederm®, Fillmed by Filorga®, Teoxane®, ….), hyaluronic acid dermal filler is the safest, most natural and biodegradable (dissolvable) option. As it has been used for several years in aesthetics, its safety has been proven.
The thickness or fluidity of injected Hyaluronic acid depends on the condition to be treated. The thicker the injection the more viscous it is, and the longer the result. Wrinkles will be treated with hyaluronic acid to the depth of the wrinkle. Highly cross-linked acids make it possible to restore facial volume.
Hyaluronic acid is frequently used for the following indications:
Treatment of wrinkles and folds
While Botulinum toxin injections are mainly used for deep wrinkles caused by muscle contractions (frown lines, forehead, crow’s feet…), the hyaluronic acid injections are primarily used to treat permanent wrinkles and folds..
The most common conditions:
- frown lines where treatment with Botox has been insufficient;
- nasolabial folds;
- vertical wrinkles of the cheeks;
- “marionette lines”.
Restoration of facial volume
To restore the volume, hyaluronic acid injections (treatment done at the doctor’s office, with reversible results) are an alternative to fat injections (with anaesthesia, permanent result).
The hyaluronic acid injections can be used to restore volume for the following features:
- Lips aesthetics (contouring or restoring volume);
- Increased volume in cheekbones ;
- Correct hollows and tear troughs ;
- Improve earlobes ;
- Increase chin volume ;
- Filling hollow cheeks ;
- Filling hollow temples;
- Improvement of the facial oval.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty
Hyaluronic acid helps reduce imperfections on the nose but is not as effective as surgical Rhinoplasty.
The easiest flaw to be corrected with hyaluronic acid is the bump in the back of the nose. However, abnormalities to the tip, or small imperfections after surgical rhinoplasty can also be improved by hyaluronic acid injections.
Non-surgical facelift
Injections of fillers may delay the need for a surgical facelift when the skin is not too loose. Some injection sites at the cheekbones can have a lifting effect. Other injections at the bottom of the face can smooth out the jowls and bring back a symmetrical oval face.
It is advisable to not overuse injections at the risk of obtaining bad results. After a certain age surgery is the most effective option and injections are considered to be complementary, rather than an alternative to surgery.
Hand rejuvenation
Hyaluronic acid corrects some effects of ageing by filling the visible hollows.
Blemishes can be removed with a chemical peel.
Breast and buttocks augmentation
A very dense and highly cross-linked version (Hyacorp®, previously called Macrolane®), is used to increase the volume of buttocks.
Dr. Laveaux does not inject hyaluronic acid into the breasts due to the inconvenience for the radiological monitoring of the breasts. There are other safer and permanent methods that should be used: breast implants or fat injections.
However, pertaining to the buttocks, hyaluronic acid injections is a viable option along with surgical augmentation (fat injections or implants).
G-spot augmentation and vaginoplasty
The G-spot area ranges from 1 to 2 cm2 and is located at the anterior vaginal wall.
In women who have difficulty having a vaginal orgasm or women who want to increase their pleasure, this area can be increased with hyaluronic acid and performed under local anaesthesia.
Injections in the entire vaginal wall cause a decrease in vaginal size thus heightening the sensations experienced by both partners during sex.
Penis enlargement
For patients who do not wish to undergo surgery, injections of highly cross-linked hyaluronic acid can be administered to increase the girth of the penis. The injections are performed under a simple local anaesthetic at the doctor’s office. The injections must be repeated about every 12 months to maintain the size of the penis. Stopping of the injections is possible without any side effects.
The injections can be administered specifically at the head, either in addition to penis enlargement (by lipofilling or Hyaluronic acid), or separately. The injections are painless after application of a numbing cream. Injections of hyaluronic acid in the head will increase the volume and also multiply by ten the sensations during sexual intercourse. Hyaluronic acid injections in the head of penis can treat premature ejaculation.
Practical information
The hyaluronic acid Injections are administered in Dr Laveaux’s office.
- Remove makeup;
- Avoid taking aspirin or other blood thinners for 10 days before the injections.
Depending on the treated areas, local anaesthesia may be proposed either by the application of an ointment or injections with a fine needle. The injections are painless.
Hyaluronic acid is then either injected with a fine needle, or soft tube.
Duration varies according to the treated areas (10 to 60 min).
- Immediate return to normal activities;
- Apply ice and gently massage the treated areas to reduce swelling ;
- Avoid taking aspirin or other blood thinners for 10 days following the injections;
The results are immediate, but because of hydration induced by the presence of hyaluronic acid and edema, they develop during the first few days.
The effect is reversible.The lasting effect of the results varies according to the density of the injected product. The average is between 6 and 18 months. To maintain the desired effect, injections need to be renewed.
The cost of a session varies depending on the amount of product used.
Some mild side effects are possible, including small bruises or redness at the injection site that disappear within a few days.
Granulomas (small palpable Lumps under the skin) are rare with hyaluronic acid. They are spontaneously re-absorbed.
Top-up treatments are sometimes necessary to achieve the desired result. They are done after 2 weeks.
Although hyaluronic acid is spontaneously resorbable, an antidote (hyaluronidase) exists which allows partial or total resorption of the product within 24 hours.
The results are very satisfactory and natural.
Before / After
Natural lip augmentation with hyaluronic acide
Moderate lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid
Significant hyaluronic acid lip augmentation with “Russian lips” technique.
Filling dark circles with hyaluronic acid
Dark circles treated in another aesthetic center with edematous reaction and persistent puffiness (A); Correction by hyaluronidase (B); 2 weeks later, treatment of dark circles with hyaluronic acid (C).
Correction with hyaluronic acid of dark circles, the valley of tears, nasolabial folds and marionette lines
Correction of nasolabial folds with hyaluronic acid
Medical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid injections: reduction of the bump on the back of the nose.
Chin protusion with hyaluronic acid (blue line) with the consequent reduction of the double chin (green line)
Increase in buttock volume by injection of 200 mL of hyaluronic acid per side.
Increased moles by injection of 60 mL of hyaluronic acid per side.
Skinboosters
A skinbooster is a very fluid hyaluronic acid (not cross-linked) which deeply rehydrates the skin without plumping. The rehydrated skin is thus firmer and more elastic.
Skinboosters are mainly used to treat fine lines of the face, the decollete and/or the back of the hands however other methods can be used.
Normally 1 to 3 sessions, 15-30 days apart, are needed to achieve the desired result. Maintenance sessions are recommended every 6-12 months.
Smoothing of wrinkles on the cheek and eye area by treatment with skinboosters
Profhilo®
Profhilo® is a new generation hyaluronic acid that is neither a volumizing filler nor a skinbooster.
This hybrid hyaluronic acid combines a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.
Profhilo® is therefore a 2-in-1 product: low molecular weight hyaluronic acid allows hydratation of the skin similar to a skinbooster while high molecular weight hyaluronic acid improves the firmness of the skin for a tightening, lifting effect.
Profhilo® is a thermally stabilised, 100% natural product without any chemical elements.
The deep rehydration and tightening effect obtained from Profhilo® improves the luminosity of the skin, whilst reducing the creased appearance, wrinkles and fine lines.
Profhilo® does not plump the skin however can be combined with other treatments like volumising hyaluronic acid or botulinum toxin injections which give this effect.
Many areas can benefit from the Profhilo® treatment such as the face, neck, decollete, back of the hands, arms, thighs, knees, and abdomen.
The treatment is simple and fast acting. Several subdermal micro-injections are applied to the areas to be treated. The injections are almost painless, at the most a slight burning sensation may be felt for a few seconds at the injection site.
Although standardised protocols exist when using Profhilo®, such as the BAP (Bio Aesthetic Point) method which ensures 5 injections sites at each side of the face, Dr. Laveaux personalises each treatment in order to ensure the best results for his patients.
Small nodules at the injection sites will be visible after the completion of the procedure, however will disappear completely, without massaging, in just a few hours.
There is no impact on social life.
Results are noticeable after 1 to 2 weeks however improvement continues for 2 to 3 months due to natural collagen stimulation.
Ideally, 2 sessions are recommended, 1 month apart, then 1 maintenance session every 8 to 12 months.
Profhilo® is a safe treatment that does not cause any inflammatory reactions. Both women and men, regardless of their age, are extremely satisfied with the remarkably natural result.
