Which aesthetic medicine treatment best suits my needs?
Treatment should be chosen according to the cause of the problem, not just the area concerned.
Dark circles, for example, may be associated with a hollow, pigmentation, visible vessels or several of these factors. Hyaluronic acid can correct hollow dark circles, but does not act on pigmented dark circles.
Similarly, a forehead wrinkle caused by muscle contractions can be treated with botulinum toxin. If the wrinkle remains visible at rest, additional treatment with a hyaluronic acid injection may be needed.
What result can you realistically expect from aesthetic treatment?
The doctor should explain precisely what treatment can improve, but also its limitations.
An injection may soften a wrinkle without eliminating it completely. Treating hollow dark circles may reduce tired-looking eyes without correcting pigmentation. A fractional laser may improve an acne scar without erasing it entirely.
The result also depends on the patient's anatomy. Lip shape, chin projection or jaw contours cannot be altered in the same way on every face.
A photograph can help explain the desired result, but is not a model to reproduce. The same treatment can give different results depending on the original anatomy.
Are several treatment options available?
Yes. Several treatments may sometimes meet the same objective, but the choice depends on the precise problem to correct.
To improve skin quality, a Skinbooster, mesotherapy, a peel or a laser may be offered. The choice depends on the indication: dehydration, pigmentation spots, visible pores, texture irregularities, scars or photoageing.
The consultation compares the different options and explains why one technique is more suitable than another in each situation.
What are the treatment risks?
After an injection, redness, swelling, tenderness or bruising may appear. After a peel or laser treatment, redness, peeling or skin sensitivity may occur.
Certain complications are rare but more serious. A hyaluronic acid injection can exceptionally cause vascular occlusion. A peel or laser can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly in dark phototypes or after sun exposure.
What are the contraindications to aesthetic treatments?
Contraindications depend on the treatment. The doctor therefore needs to know the patient's illnesses, allergies, medication and medical history before any procedure.
In particular, anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment, certain autoimmune or neurological diseases, current infections, a history of herpes when having ablative lasers, lip or labia majora injections, and pregnancy or breastfeeding must be disclosed.
Prescribed medication must never be stopped spontaneously to undergo an aesthetic procedure. The appropriate course must be decided with the prescribing doctor.
How many sessions will be needed?
Certain injections can be performed in a single session. Skinboosters, mesotherapy, Sculptra, certain peels and laser treatments may require several sessions depending on the indication.
It is also important to know whether maintenance sessions will be needed and how frequently.
When will the result be visible?
After a hyaluronic acid injection, the result is immediately visible, but it is preferable to wait around two weeks before assessing it. This allows swelling to subside and the product to integrate into the tissues.
Botulinum toxin generally starts to act after 3 to 7 days. Results are assessed at around 10 to 15 days, when a possible touch-up can be discussed.
With Sculptra, the result appears gradually after a few weeks and continues to develop over 3 to 6 months through stimulation of collagen production.
After fractional laser treatment, improvement continues for several weeks to several months, with collagen production and gradual skin remodelling.
How long will the result last?
For hyaluronic acid, results generally last between 6 and 18 months. Duration varies according to the product used, amount injected and movement in the treated area. The product is gradually absorbed and another injection may be considered when the effect decreases.
Botulinum toxin generally acts for 3 to 6 months. Muscle contractions gradually return and injections can be repeated as their effect fades.
Skinboosters generally require 2 to 3 initial sessions, followed by a maintenance session every 6 to 12 months according to the product used and skin condition.
Sculptra stimulates collagen production. After a course generally comprising 2 to 3 sessions, the result develops gradually and can persist for up to around 24 months.
After fractional laser treatment, the result develops over several months with collagen remodelling. Its duration depends on the laser type, indication treated and subsequent skin ageing.
What will the after-effects be?
After a hyaluronic acid injection, swelling generally lasts a few days and may persist for up to a week, particularly in the lips. A bruise may remain visible for 7 to 10 days.
After a botulinum toxin injection, redness or small papules at injection sites generally disappear within a few hours. A bruise may persist for several days.
After a superficial peel, redness and mild peeling can last 2 to 5 days. After a medium-depth peel, redness and peeling are more substantial, generally requiring 5 to 10 days of social downtime.
After fractional ablative laser treatment, redness, swelling and small crusts are mainly visible for 5 to 10 days. Residual redness may persist for several weeks depending on treatment intensity and skin response.
These timeframes should be anticipated before an important event, travel or a holiday involving sun exposure.
What precautions should be taken before and after treatment?
Before a peel or laser treatment, avoiding sun exposure and temporarily stopping certain irritating products, such as retinol or exfoliating acids, may be necessary. After the session, rigorous sun protection and skincare adapted to healing are essential.
After an injection, avoiding massage or manipulation of the treated area, intense exercise, saunas and steam rooms for a week is generally recommended.
Instructions concerning make-up, cosmetic skincare and resuming activities vary according to treatment. They should be specified before the session so the patient can organise the following days.
What will the total treatment cost be?
It is important to know how many syringes or sessions are planned, whether a follow-up consultation is included and whether maintenance will be needed.
When several options are possible, their overall cost can also help inform treatment choice.
What if I am unhappy with the result?
In certain situations, hyaluronic acid can be dissolved using hyaluronidase. The effect of botulinum toxin cannot be removed immediately: it gradually decreases over the months following injection.
After a peel or laser treatment, the changes produced in the skin cannot be undone. If results are unsatisfactory or a complication occurs, medical assessment is necessary to determine the appropriate course.
Correction options and treatment limitations should therefore be explained before the session.
Should previous aesthetic treatments be disclosed?
For a previous injection, knowing the product name, date, amount and injected area is useful. Previous surgery or a treatment complication should also be mentioned.
This information may change the product choice, injection plan or indication for a new treatment.
Which questions should you ask before agreeing to aesthetic treatment?
The consultation should also establish whether the requested treatment actually corresponds to the observed problem. In some cases, changing the proposed treatment, postponing it or not treating is preferable.
A first consultation therefore establishes treatment adapted to facial anatomy, medical history and the desired result before any decision to perform a procedure.
Article written by Dr Valeria Romano
Dr Valeria Romano supports each patient through a comprehensive approach to facial, body and intimate aesthetics, as well as skin and hair quality. Every treatment is based on a personalised medical assessment.
Learn more about