At what age can you start having hyaluronic acid injections ?
With age, the amount of hyaluronic acid naturally present in the body gradually decreases. However, there is no ideal age to start having hyaluronic acid injections. The timing depends on the indication, the characteristics of the face and the desired result. Injections for purely aesthetic purposes are generally reserved for adults. For minors, they require a medical assessment and compliance with the applicable legal provisions.
Indications vary at different stages of life :
- From your twenties. Injections can be performed to enhance certain areas of the face or change their proportions, particularly the lips, chin or cheekbones.
- From your thirties. Treatments focus more on the first wrinkles, dehydration and changes in skin quality. Early treatment may be considered as soon as signs warranting treatment appear, without being systematically necessary.
- From your fifties. Injections can also treat certain age-related changes in the hands, neck or décolletage.
- For intimate injections. They may be considered at different ages in adult life, depending on the indications and the patient’s needs.
Age alone is therefore not a criterion for starting injections. Treatment must address a specific indication, following a personalised medical assessment.
What is hyaluronic acid ?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally present in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thanks to its ability to retain water, it plays an essential role in their hydration.
The hyaluronic acid used for injections is manufactured as gels with different properties. Depending on their formulation, these products can hydrate the skin, restore lost volume or improve tissue support. Their composition also influences how they behave in the tissues and how long they act.
Hyaluronic acid has become one of the leading products in aesthetic medicine.
Since its discovery in 1934, hyaluronic acid has been used in medicine to treat numerous conditions (ENT, neurology…). In aesthetic medicine, this product has been used successfully since 1990.
It is a medical device certified by CE marking and CH-rep, with rigorous traceability.
What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid ?
Hyaluronic acid is widely used in aesthetic medicine thanks to its many benefits :
- Track record : this gel has been used in aesthetic medicine for more than 30 years.
- An appealing duration of action : results can last from 8 to 16 months, depending on the product used and the area treated.
- Excellent biocompatibility : naturally present in the body, it does not require a prior tolerance test.
- Biodegradability : it is gradually absorbed over time.
- Hydrating and revitalising action : it improves skin quality and suppleness.
- Anti-ageing and age-defying action.
- Volumising and filling properties
- Precise and adaptable use : treatment is tailored to the individual.
- Immediate results.
- Few side effects : reactions are mild and temporary.
- A wide range of products : each hyaluronic acid is suited to a specific indication.
- Great versatility.
Indications and treatment areas
A hyaluronic acid injection may be considered to :
- Restore volume : correct age-related volume loss or genetically determined volume deficits.
- Soften a fold : improve nasolabial folds and marionette lines, for example, after identifying their cause.
- Redefine facial contours : change the proportions of the lips, improve chin projection or redefine the jawline.
- Correct a localised hollow : treat certain hollow under-eye circles in particular, following a precise assessment of the area’s anatomy.
- Improve skin hydration : hyaluronic acid naturally has hydrating properties, but Skinboosters are specifically designed to improve skin hydration, suppleness and quality.
Before a hyaluronic acid injection
- A prior consultation is essential to assess the patient’s expectations, carry out a medical analysis and check for any contraindications.
- Photographs are taken before the session to ensure accurate follow-up and assess the result after treatment.
- It is advisable to avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines in the three days before the injection, unless otherwise advised by the prescribing doctor.
- In the three days before the injection, it is also advisable to avoid taking certain dietary supplements such as ginkgo biloba, vitamin C and cod liver supplements, which increase the risk of bruising.
- It is preferable to arrive without make-up ; it can be applied at the end of the session.
- If needed, an anaesthetic cream can be applied to improve comfort during the injection, but this is rarely necessary.
What happens during a hyaluronic acid injection session
Hyaluronic acid injections take place at Dr Valeria Romano’s practice in Geneva.
The session involves several stages :
- Confirmation of treatment : checking the areas, the desired result and medical information. The proposed and recommended result is natural-looking, but patients’ wishes and preferences are respected.
- Skin preparation : cleansing, disinfection and marking the injection points.
- Gel injection : Dr Romano chooses the injection technique (bolus, fanning, nappage or retrograde threading), the type of gel, the depth and the quantity to inject, as well as whether to use a needle or a cannula, depending on the area treated and the desired result. The session generally lasts around twenty minutes and does not usually require anaesthesia.
- Massage to distribute the product evenly.
- Immediate check : assessment of the correction, tolerance and condition of the skin.
- Follow-up instructions : explanation of the usual after-effects and personalised instructions.
Precautions after hyaluronic acid injections
After a hyaluronic acid injection, certain precautions help limit redness, swelling and bruising while supporting a good recovery.
- During the three hours after the injection. Rest and avoid touching or manipulating the treated areas.
- If swelling occurs. Apply cold compresses to soothe the skin, without ever placing ice directly on it.
- If bruising occurs. A soothing or concealing cream may be used if necessary.
- For skin care. Apply a suitable moisturising or repair cream during the days after treatment.
- For hydration. Drink normally according to your needs and avoid alcohol during the hours after the session.
- For medicines. Avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines taken without medical necessity, as they promote bleeding and bruising. Never stop a prescribed treatment without medical advice. For mild pain, paracetamol is generally preferred.
- During the first 12 hours. Avoid wearing make-up.
- For 24 hours. Avoid strenuous sporting activities.
- For 48 hours. Do not massage the injected areas unless instructed otherwise by the doctor.
- For one week. Avoid intense sun exposure, high temperatures, saunas, steam rooms and extreme cold.
These recommendations may be adapted according to the injected area, the product used and the after-effects of treatment.
What are the contraindications to hyaluronic acid ?
The contraindications to hyaluronic acid injections are :
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- A skin condition in the area to be injected.
- Hepatitis C.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- The presence of a non-absorbable product in the injected area.
- Taking anticoagulants (a relative contraindication, to be assessed on a case-by-case basis).
What are the side effects of hyaluronic acid injections ?
The most common side effects of hyaluronic acid injections are mild and transient. They mainly include redness, swelling and sometimes bruising. They generally disappear within a few days and do not require social downtime.
Certain reactions require specific precautions :
- Swelling (oedema). This is more common in the lips and under-eye area and may persist for several days. It is preferable to schedule these injections before a period without any important events. Bromelain is sometimes used, but its effectiveness for this indication is not firmly established.
- Bruising. This can occur after the injection, particularly in areas where the skin is thin. Homeopathy, such as Arnica 5CH, has not demonstrated reliable effectiveness in preventing bruises or accelerating their disappearance.
- Reactivation of herpes. Injections, particularly in the lips, can trigger a new outbreak in people with a history of herpes. Preventive treatment with aciclovir may be prescribed depending on the patient’s history.
Although serious complications are rare, intense or unusual pain, blanching of the skin, mottled discolouration or a visual disturbance require immediate medical attention.
Results : before/after hyaluronic acid
The result of hyaluronic acid injections is immediate. The skin is more hydrated and plumped, volume is restored and the face is enhanced.
For certain indications, such as the lips or upper eyelids, initial swelling may nevertheless exaggerate the result or create a temporary asymmetry. Assessment takes place once these reactions have subsided, often within two weeks.
Follow-up allows progress to be compared with the initial photographs and a decision to be made on whether an adjustment would be useful. Additional correction is not systematic. The quantity required varies from one patient to another.
How long do the results last ?
The results are not permanent.
Hyaluronic acid is an absorbable product ; it is broken down by an enzyme present in the skin, hyaluronidase. The duration of the result varies according to the product, the area and individual characteristics. Published estimates often range from 6 to 24 months.
How much does a hyaluronic acid injection cost ?
Hyaluronic acid : how much does a session cost ?
In Geneva, the price of a hyaluronic acid injection is CHF 600 for most indications.
Depending on the anatomical area and the complexity of the procedure, the price may vary between CHF 650 and CHF 900 per syringe. The price of an injection of one syringe of hyaluronic acid depends on the indication. This variation reflects the technical skill required, the duration of the procedure and the specific nature of the product used (for example, certain denser or more stable gels are more expensive).
The total cost will also depend on the number of syringes used. The number of syringes required is determined during the initial consultation, according to the aesthetic needs, facial morphology and desired result. It is not uncommon for several syringes to be indicated, but the approach remains gradual and tailored to the individual.
| Hyaluronic acid | Usual prices |
|---|---|
| Standard injection, including medical lifting technique | CHF 600 per syringe |
| Lip injections | CHF 650 per syringe ; a single syringe is injected for most patients |
| Upper eyelid injections | CHF 900 per syringe |
| Forehead injections (hollows, convexity) | CHF 750 per syringe ; 1 to 3 syringes may be required for the first injection |
| Under-eye injections | CHF 750 per syringe ; 1 to 2 syringes may be required for the first injection |
| Nose injections (non-surgical rhinoplasty) | CHF 750 per syringe ; a single syringe is injected for most patients |
| G-spot injections | CHF 700 for one syringe, CHF 1,300 for two syringes |
| Labia majora injections | CHF 600 per syringe |
| Skinboosters | CHF 400 per syringe ; 2 syringes are injected during the same session. The number of sessions required depends on the condition of the patient’s skin. A single annual session is sufficient in most cases |
| Hyacorp | CHF 300 per syringe. As a guide, a treatment for moderate buttock augmentation or enhancement of the lateral contour may require between 15 and 20 syringes |
Why choose Dr Valeria Romano’s practice in Geneva for your hyaluronic acid injections ?
- Care provided directly by the doctor. The consultation, treatment selection and injections are carried out by Dr Valeria Romano.
- A personalised facial analysis. Each treatment takes account of the anatomy, facial proportions, signs of ageing and the patient’s expectations.
- Adapted injection techniques. The choice of gel, quantities and injection depth is determined according to the area treated and the desired result.
- Natural-looking and harmonious results. Corrections aim to restore volume, soften hollows and improve facial contours while preserving facial expressions.
- Personalised medical follow-up. Recommendations are provided after the injections and a check-up can be arranged as needed. The aim is to offer measured treatments tailored to each face, without unnecessarily multiplying injections.
Frequently asked questions about hyaluronic acid injections in Geneva
Is the result guaranteed ?
No. The result depends on the anatomy, the indication and how the tissues react. The consultation helps define a realistic improvement ; follow-up is used to assess the correction and whether an adjustment might be beneficial.
Do injections change facial expressions ?
Hyaluronic acid changes volume without blocking muscle contraction. However, excessive or inappropriate correction can alter the appearance of the face. The quantities and areas treated must be adapted to the patient’s proportions and movements.
Do several areas need to be treated ?
No. A localised correction may be sufficient. The number of areas depends on the request and the medical examination. Treating several areas is not compulsory : priorities, quantities and cost are discussed before the session.
Are there alternatives ?
Yes. Depending on the cause of the problem, another technique, a combination of treatments or no intervention may be preferable. The choice depends in particular on the type of wrinkle, skin quality and the degree of sagging.
Can several treatments be combined ?
A combination is possible when the techniques address different needs. It is not systematic. The choice of treatments and the interval between them are determined following a medical assessment, according to the areas, products and expected after-effects.
Do injections prevent ageing ?
They correct certain visible signs but do not stop ageing. Starting early does not, in itself, constitute proven general prevention. An injection must address a specific indication rather than follow an age-based schedule.
