HYALURONIC ACID

Hyaluronic Acid or Hyaluronane is a molecule associating a uronic acid and an aminoglycan present in the human body. It’s a molecule that holds water and helps keep the skin hydrated and plump. Since it’s a totally natural substance, it is safe to use without fear of rejection by the body.

Hyaluronic Acid is widely used in esthetic medicine and is well known for its skin benefits:

• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Hydrates and revitalizes the skin
• No tolerance tests needed: totally biocompatible
• Immediate results
• Hindsight of use: has been injected for 30 years
• Easy to prepare and inject
• Resorbable filler
• Results last 8 to 24 months depending on the injected product
• Many different types of Hyaluronic Acid depending on the areas to be treated
• Minimal side effects are extremely rare
• Corrects fine lines and deep wrinkles and adds volume

Discovered in 1934 in a cow’s vitreous body, it has since been used in many medical fields. Its use in esthetic medicine began in the 1990s and has experienced a significant boom since, due to many improvements and innovations.

Nowadays, Hyaluronic Acid is the most widely known and popular filler in cosmetic medicine.

• As injection of Hyaluronic Acid is a medical procedure that requires specific training and skill to ensure safe treatment and natural-looking results, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will be conducted. He will discuss your needs, the areas to be treated, your expectations and the outcomes.
• You will be asked about your medical history and review contraindication (herpes, hypersensitivity to Hyaluronic acid, pregnancy,…)
• Before and after comparison photographs will be taken.
• Discontinue aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication 3 days before the injections.
• No fasting is necessary but it is required to avoid alcohol and long sun exposure the day before and following the injections.
• Come without make-up (it will be removed before but may be applied after the injections) when possible.
• Homeopathic treatment may be prescribed to avoid swelling and bruising.
• Local anesthetic may be used depending on the patient and on the areas to be treated:
  • Emla cream will be applied 30mn before injection
  • or local anesthetic will be directly injected into the areas to be treated.

• The injections are performed at the esthetic surgery practice except if it is combined with a surgery procedure.
• Dr Vincent Nguyen has developed his own injection method to obtain the best possible outcome.
• The doses of Hyaluronic Acid (syringes of Hyaluronic Acid) will depend on the areas to be injected.
• Make-up is removed and injection areas are thoroughly cleansed and disinfected
• Anesthetic is used if needed.
• Hyaluronic Acid is injected with a very thin needle or with a micro cannula.
• The patient may watch the procedure in a mirror and follow the doctor’s advice if more injections are required.
• The procedure may last from 10 minutes to one hour depending on the extent of the areas to be treated and if it is paired with another treatment such as Botox.
• The injection zones are lightly massaged at the end of the procedure.
• Make-up may be applied.
• Dr Vincent Nguyen performs the injections himself.

• Abstain from exercise 6 hours following the injections then resume normal activities.
• Avoid aspirin-containing and anti-inflammatory medication, sun exposure, UV, sauna and hammam for a few days.
• Immediately after injection, small transient redness (around the injection site), swelling and rarely bruising may appear.

No, it can’t. Breast augmentation with HA Macrolane type is absolutely forbidden in France as there is no proof of safety as far as breast cancer is concerned.

No, there isn’t. Contrary to Botox, the substance doesn’t affect the mobility of the muscles of the face.

There are many indications in face cosmetic medicine for women and men:

• Folds fillings : nasolabial fold (between the lip and the cheek), bitterness fold or marionette line (vertical line that extends from the outer corner of the mouth down to the jawline on either side of the chin), mento-labial fold (between the chin and the lip) …
• Fine lines and deep wrinkles treatment: lion’s wrinkles (frown lines between the eyebrows), crow’s feet (at the corner of the eyes), perioral wrinkles (around the mouth), wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead…
• Increase in volume : lips (for thin lips or patients who are looking for luscious lips or patients who want to redefine their lips), cheekbones, dark circles under the eyes, chin, oval of the face …
• Esthetic rhinoplasty : for small corrections or patients afraid of surgery.

Hyaluronic Acid is also used in esthetic medicine in body shaping and volume restoration:

• Back of the hands: volume loss on the back of the hand
• Buttocks
• Calves
• Chest/ cleavage wrinkles
• Foot: heel (Loubjob) to avoid pain due to shoes, foot lift to address the problem of fat pad atrophy under the foot.
• Intimate medicine: G spot, outer labia, vaginal rejuvenation for women. Penis enlargement for men.
• Scar treatment

Due to its incredible properties, Hyaluronic Acid is used in numerous medical specialties: in ophthalmology (cataract), in ENT (vocal cords), in rheumatology (joint pains), in urology, wound healing, …

The alternatives to Hyaluronic Acid are other fillers:

• Polylactic acid (PLA) : New Fill, Sculptra; Hydroxyapatite: Radiesse and many others…
• There is also a surgical alternative: lipomodelling or fat injection. (see information sheet).

Botox and Hyaluronic Acid injections may be combined to increase their effects and obtain better results (Botox inactivates the muscle responsible for the wrinkle and Hyaluronic Acid plumps up the wrinkle).

It may also be combined with other esthetic techniques such as laser type, dermabrasion, peeling or PRP Therapy.

It may also be combined with any other plastic face surgery: lifting, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, chin or cheekbone implants, …

To obtain an immediate, natural-looking rejuvenated appearance, it is wise to treat all the areas showing signs of aging at the same time.

There are many Hyaluronic Acid fillers. Each has unique characteristics and is used to treat a specific condition.

Some are used to improve the lines, add volume and structure in a natural way.

Others keep the skin hydrated or have a rejuvenating effect.

An anesthetic is commonly associated into most brands of Hyaluronic Acid fillers for further comfort measures.

Among the most popular there is Juvederm, Surgiderm, Restylane, Perlane, Stylage, Teosial, Voluma, Emervel, …

When the wrinkles are too deep, when there is too much sagging, when the defects are too considerable, only surgery can correct them.

When many areas of the face are treated in the same session, the outcome will be:

• More efficient and more visible.
• More natural as the overall face rejuvenation won’t treat and enhanced only one area but the whole face.