Tiny amounts of hyaluronic acid are injected into your face through very fine needles. The treatments typically take less than 30 minutes, depending how many lines are treated. You can expect very little discomfort.

Assess.

First, your surgeon will listen to your desired results and then evaluate your facial appearance and skin tone, examining the areas of your face to be augmented with hyaluronic acid as a filler.

Map a strategy.

Next, the surgeon will mark strategic points on your face as guides to the appropriate injection sites for the filler as part of your wrinkle removal treatment.

Clean the area.

Your injection sites will be cleansed with an antibacterial agent. Then a topical anesthetic will be used to numb the area, particularly if you are sensitive to injections. But in some cases, the hyaluronic acid includes an anesthetic in the mixture.

Inject.

The actual injections will take just a few minutes total, and just seconds per site.

Clean up and ice.

The marks will be washed away and you will be offered an ice pack to reduce any minor and temporary discomfort. At this point you may apply makeup, but be careful not to apply pressure to the treated areas. Doing so may result in movement of the hyaluronic acid.

A special note about scars and deep lines. These areas will often require multiple injections to achieve your desired results. If a deeper injection is required, you’ll be offered a local anesthetic to remain comfortable. Common sites for deeper tissue fillers are the nasolabial folds and marionette lines, or to enhance fullness in the cheeks.

You can resume most activities immediately following injection with hyaluronic acid wrinkle treatment. Just be careful not to rub the area.

Most people tolerate injectable hyaluronic acid therapy without irritation or complications. Right after your treatment, the area may be red, swollen and bruised. This tenderness should go away within a few days.

Almost everyone is a good candidate for hyaluronic therapy. It is almost always suggested as an alternative treatment to people who have a skin test for bovine collagen and develop an allergy. Some people, however, may experience:

• An allergic reaction
• Red and/or thickened nodules that arise in the injected sites. They can persist for several weeks or months.

In the long term

Before you consider having hyaluronic acid treatment, be aware that you might not achieve the results you want with just one treatment. Depending on how your body reacts to the injections you might need additional injections. Most people need at least three visits before they are completely satisfied with the results.

It’s key to know that the injections lasts from between three and five months depending on your life style, body chemistry and the rate at which you are naturally aging. To maintain their youthful appearance, most people have new hyaluronic injections two to three times a year.

If you decide not to re-treat, your appearance will return to its original condition. Wrinkles and scars will return, and plumped lips will lose volume.

Hyaluronic acid injections can be used to improve the skin’s contour and reduce depressions in the skin due to scars, injury or lines. You can see potentially dramatic improvements for:

• Acne scars
• Cheek depressions
• Crow’s feet at the corner of your eyes
• Deep smile lines that run from the side of the nose to corners of the mouth, also known as nasolabial furrows
• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Marionette lines at the corners of the mouth
• Redefining lip border
• Scars including burns, acne and those caused by wounds
• Smoker’s lines; vertical lines on the mouth
• Some facial scars
• Worry lines that run across your forehead

This kind of filler treatment will help to improve your appearance temporarily, but it’s not a permanent solution and it won’t stop the aging process. Some people opt to have these injections – often called a liquid facelift – to delay the time when a surgical facelift is more appropriate. It’s a great way to see some impressive changes and improvements in your appearance until you’re ready for a permanent surgical option.

Cost is always a consideration in elective procedures or treatments. The cost for hyaluronic acid treatments may vary based on the expertise and qualifications of the person performing the treatment, the type of procedure used, time and effort the procedure or treatment requires, as well as geographic office location.  In 2009, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimated national surgeons’ average fees were $592 for  hyaluronic acid treatment.    Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.  Additional fees may include:

• Surgical facility costs
• Anesthesia fees
• Prescriptions for medication

Be sure to ask your surgeon about all costs involved in your procedure.

Your satisfaction involves more than a fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for hyaluronic acid, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the procedure.

Most health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery or its complications.

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery?
• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
• Am I a good candidate for hyaluronic acid?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Who will perform the hyaluronic acid injections?
• Have they been specifically trained in this procedure?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure or treatment?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect?
• What are the risks and possible complications associated with my procedure?
• How can I expect to look over time?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure?
• What results are reasonable for me?

To find a qualified plastic surgeon who performs this procedure, visit the online referral service of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). ASPS, founded in 1931, is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world and the foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. All ASPS physician members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Caution: In the wrong or inexperienced hands, hyaluronic acid injections can be dangerous. In addition to seeking a doctor who is trained and qualified in facial plastic surgery, make sure the physician has specific experience with these types of injections. Even though the injections may ultimately be delivered by another healthcare professional in the surgeon’s office, it will be with the surgeon’s close supervision.