Hyaluronic Acid

We live, move, laugh, cry -- in short, our face is constantly active, and it is the accumulation of all these repetitive movements that causes wrinkles to appear. Of course, our genetic and hormonal makeup will accelerate or slow down the appearance of wrinkles.

Added to this is the external environment: pollution, as well as smoking and sun exposure, which can worsen skin aging. With hyaluronic acid injections, we can delay the effects that bother us about our face.

From the age of 25, our skin begins to "age." By 40, wrinkles appear on our forehead, at the corners of our eyes (known as crow's feet), and around the nasolabial folds. The face loses its elasticity and begins to sag.

As the years pass, the phenomenon intensifies. Brown spots appear on our hands, the eye area becomes hollow, the lips thin out, the face loses elasticity, and the neck and decolletage develop fine lines.

Through hyaluronic acid injections in the lips, face, eye area, and cheekbones, you can fight the signs of skin aging.

Hyaluronic acid injections allow you to restore facial elasticity while also filling in wrinkles, eliminating a tired or sad appearance, replumping your cheekbones and lips -- all with a very natural-looking result.

Hyaluronic acid is a polymer belonging to the glycosaminoglycan family. It is an entirely natural molecule. It has been used for nearly 30 years with complete biocompatibility. It is biodegradable (resorbable).

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of our cells. Its presence is essential for skin hydration and elasticity. With age, the amount of hyaluronic acid in our skin decreases. The skin becomes less elastic, and the subcutaneous space loses volume. Hyaluronic acid is the most widely used dermal filler product in the world.

Dr Weiss uses the finest product on the market (ALLERGAN), which is entirely pure as it is produced through genetic engineering. It has obtained all American and European certifications for injection use. It is a resorbable product, with resorption varying depending on the type of product used, from 9 to 24 months. The products used are numbered and fully traceable. In France, hundreds of thousands of hyaluronic acid injections are performed each year. Hyaluronic acid is approved by the CE and the FDA.

Over-the-counter creams containing hyaluronic acid have no efficacy, as the dermis is impermeable and does not allow any hyaluronic acid molecules to penetrate.

Hyaluronic acid requires no tolerance test prior to injection.

Hyaluronic acid is a deep or semi-deep filler product; it can restore volume to certain areas of the face, reshape contours, reduce the depth of furrows and hollows, increase lip volume, or correct skin irregularities and sometimes nasal irregularities.

The action of hyaluronic acid is static. It fills volume in areas that are deficient. It has an effect on facial volume but no effect on the dynamics of the face or the fine lines that result from facial expressions.

Correcting furrows caused by normal facial expressions is not recommended, as the results can appear too artificial.

It is important to understand that hyaluronic acid not only increases facial volume but also improves hydration by retaining water. To achieve a natural effect, it is very important not to over-correct imperfections.

Hyaluronic acid can treat cheekbone volume deficiency, tear troughs, nasolabial folds, and the facial oval. Treatment with hyaluronic acid is sometimes called "Aqualift."

Hyaluronic acid combats drawn features, a tired appearance, structures the face, and restores its vitality and freshness.

An excellent indication for hyaluronic acid is lip augmentation. This is where Dr Weiss's expertise ensures you will not end up with "duck lips." The result must be as harmonious as possible for your face. We do not merely enlarge the lips; we redesign them.

Dr Weiss restores volume by:

• Filling hollow temples with a highly volumizing hyaluronic acid,
• Filling hollow cheeks with a highly volumizing hyaluronic acid,
• Filling marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and tear troughs with a moderately volumizing hyaluronic acid, to maintain mobility and the most natural facial behavior possible.
• Increasing lip volume (lip plumping) using a "very soft" hyaluronic acid, to accentuate and contour the volume while maintaining natural elasticity,
• Augmenting the cheekbones with a highly volumizing hyaluronic acid,
• Restoring the contour and oval of the face with a moderately volumizing hyaluronic acid,
• For non-surgical rhinoplasty, using a moderately volumizing hyaluronic acid.
• For non-surgical chin augmentation, using a highly volumizing hyaluronic acid.

Contraindications and side effects are detailed in the SOFCPRE information sheets available for download here.

Injection of aesthetic products must be performed by a practitioner who is fully trained in this field. A plastic surgeon can provide a comprehensive assessment of the harmony and imperfections of your face and guide you through the injections.

To improve facial volume, it is essential to have a global and artistic vision. During the consultation, Dr Weiss, drawing on his experience, can best advise you on the imperfections to correct and the choice of hyaluronic acid to achieve a harmonious and natural result.

Analysis of the face at rest and in motion is fundamental; based on your expectations, Dr Weiss will specify what is achievable and what is unrealistic. Dr Weiss has banned and refuses all overfilling, "duck lips," and any "puffy" face.

The immediate natural result can give you a refreshed appearance. Dr Weiss explains the specifics of each area to be treated according to the products injected.

The hyaluronic acid injection procedure takes place in the office.

• During the consultation, you will be asked to sign an informed consent form and a quote.
• A photo session before and after the injection is conducted.
• The injection area is cleansed of makeup if necessary and disinfected.
• The injection is performed using very fine needles or micro-cannulas. The hyaluronic acid used by Dr Weiss is combined with an anesthetic to reduce skin sensitivity and minimize discomfort during the injection.
• Massages are performed immediately after the procedure.
• The patient can reapply makeup immediately after the injection.

The frequency of re-injection depends on two factors: the product used and the presence of inflammatory fibrosis that permanently improves the volume of the injected areas; depending on the product, it ranges from 6 to 24 months.

Dr Weiss nevertheless recommends only one injection per year, and for more cross-linked, longer-lasting preparations, once every 2 years.

Hyaluronic acid injection can begin from the age of 18; in reality, there is no age limit, as with the years, the indications for hyaluronic acid change. From lip plumping and correcting minor nasal defects, we move with age to volume loss and filling of furrows and missing volume.

Immediate aftereffects may include very subtle sensitivity, edema, and skin redness. The patient is advised to remain calm for a few hours after the injection. Dr Weiss demonstrates precisely how to massage the treated areas. Small irregularities that may appear after injection are usually due to edema or minor bruising that will resolve and are easily concealed with makeup. The result is immediate, with further improvement extending over 10 to 15 days for the complete effect.

Overly superficial injection, such as for treating superficial fine lines, should be avoided because, in the event of inflammatory granulomas (unpredictable), you could be permanently disfigured.

Botox Injections: The action of Botox is dynamic; it reduces normal facial expressions by relaxing the responsible muscles. It therefore treats the cause of wrinkles, namely facial expressions.

Drawing on his surgical training and expertise in facial anatomy, Dr Weiss will guide you through both aesthetic medicine and definitive cosmetic surgery options. This is where perfect knowledge and expert mastery of three-dimensional facial anatomy and applicable techniques is essential. Only he can propose genuine alternatives to treatments.

• Liposculpture, which fills missing volume with your own autologous fat, with the advantage of being permanent and lasting, but which requires a procedure in the operating room, as with any surgical procedure.
• Various types of facelifts that reposition volumes and smooth out furrows and wrinkles.