Hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan is commonly used to fill the wrinkles in the face and the neck, for facial lifts by raising and filling the cheekbones, as for hydration and correction of the bumps on the skin of the entire face.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance which can be found in the connective tissue of human skin, and it makes the skin elastic and firm. Hyaluronan has similar effects as collagen, but the effects of injecting hyaluronic acid last a lot longer, and the organism’s reactions to the substance are extremely rare.

Hyaluronic acid is a relatively new cosmetic mixture which was approved for use in 2003 after numerous clinical studies on a large number of patients and it is already in use for a decade. Reactions to hyaluronan are considerably rarer than the reactions to collagen, and the results last longer (collagen 3 – 4 months and hyaluronic acid 6 – 9 months, depending on the region that is being treated). Hyaluronan treatment is a safe procedure, because it is also a natural ingredient of the skin. Hyaluronic acid isn’t made of animal or human material, and therefore there is no risk for infection, and the risk for a temporary allergic reaction is very low, and they occur very rarely.

What does a treatment with hyaluronan fillers look like?

With the help of a small needle and an injection, hyaluronic acid is inserted into the skin with the goal of leveling the wrinkles on the face, foremost the wrinkles around the lips (nasolabial wrinkles), relaxed corners of the lips or for filling in the scars. The procedure of injecting hyaluronan isn’t pleasant in itself, which is why local anesthesia is applied which eliminates the pain during the intervention, and the procedure itself is easy to bear.

What are the side effects of the hyaluronic acid treatment?

In the first 24 hours there is a mild swelling at the place of injection. In some patients there can be a bruise which will pass in a few days. Very rarely, an induration and redness can occur at the place of the injection, as a consequence of allergic reaction to hyaluronic acid, but this reaction can be treated and is transient in nature, and usually doesn’t disrupt the normal appearance of the face.

Spec. Dr. Svetlana Djurisic, dermatologist
Dermatological clinic DERMATIM, Belgrade, Serbia

Additional education of Dr. Svetlana Djurisic during current practice regarding application techniques of hyaluronic fillers:

2009:  certificate for advanced work with hyaluronic acid
       – Restylane
2010:  certificate for advanced work with hyaluronic acid
       – Teosyal
2011:  certificate for advanced work with hyaluronic acid
       – Juvederm
2011:  certificate for advanced work with hyaluronic acid
       – Dr Mauricio de Maio
2012:  expert mentoring masterclass Juvederm/Allergan
       - Dr Iñigo de Felipe
2012:  liquid facelift techniques
       - Dr Iñigo de Felipe
2012:  expert meeting on facial anatomy and complication management
       - Dr Gregor Wahl, Dr Mauricio de Maio, Dr Koenraad de Boulle, Dr Herve Raspaldo, Dr Lakhdar Belhaouari