Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance that you may have heard referred to as Restylane, which is the name of one of the products that contain Hyaluronic acid. It can be injected into the face to create a more youthful appearance by filling in and plumping the area around wrinkles, areas that have become sunken, or lips that are too thin. There are now many options in hyaluraonic acid products including, Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm Ultra and Ultra Plus, Prevelle, and Hydrelle. Dr. Rubinstein will advise you about your choices and recommend the best options to achieve your goal.

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Who Can Benefit From Hyaluronic Acid?

You may be a good candidate for Hyaluronic acid injections if you have any of the following:

• Facial wrinkles, creases, furrows, or "crow's feet."
• Depressions in the skin.
• A sunken appearance of the lower eyelids.
• Thin lips.

Certain types of wrinkles may best be improved with a resurfacing procedure or a face lift. The doctor will evaluate your particular situation and recommend which procedure(s) will help you to achieve your desired results. Some people opt to have a facelift to tighten the face and Hyaluronic acid injections to plump up certain areas.

There are other substances, such as fat and collagen, which can be injected to achieve similar results to Hyaluronic acid. The doctor will help you determine which injectable substance will be the best for you.

What is the Procedure Like?

Hyaluronic acid injections are an outpatient procedure that is performed in the doctor's office and should take under an hour to complete. To prevent you from feeling pain during the procedure, a local anesthetic will be applied to the areas to be treated. Hyaluronic acid attracts water, which means that it will plump the areas further after it has been injected. This swelling may last a couple of days after the treatment. Once the initial swelling has resolved, you will be left with the correct amount of plumping. You will be allowed to go home very soon after your procedure is completed.

What Can I Expect During Recovery?

You may feel some minor discomfort after the procedure, but it should subside within 24 to 48 hours. In some cases, there is minor bruising, swelling, and redness, but these conditions should go away quickly. You can wear makeup and return to work immediately. The results of Hyaluronic acid injections are not permanent. The results last for about six months.

What Are the Risks of Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is very safe. Since it is a natural substance, the risk of allergic reaction is extremely low. Sometimes, bumps may occur temporarily, but this is a very rare occurrence and resolves without any further treatments.