Skin Boosters
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Skin boosters are superficial injections of hyaluronic acid to deliver deep hydration within the skin dermis resulting in improved skin laxity, firmness and texture without changing the structure of the face like dermal fillers. Acting as an injectable moisturiser they leave the skin feeling plump and hydrated with a dewy glow as well as gradually improving skin quality long term.
Examples of hyaluronic acid skin boosters include Profhilo and Seventy Hyal.
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The hyaluronic acid is injected in set points (BAP technique) spread out evenly on the face, then slowly spreads out in the skin to cover as much area as possible. Once dissipated in the skin layers, the hyaluronic acid molecules attract water leaving the skin plump and hydrated and adding subtle volume without changing the structure of your face. The injection also simulates your skin to produce more collagen and elastin aiming to improve your skin quality over time.
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After your initial consultation with Dr Chloe where your treatment plan including treatment risks and aftercare advice are discussed and consent taken, Dr Chloe will apply numbing cream to reduce the discomfort of the injections.
Dr Chloe will then clean the skin and mark up the injection points using the BAP technique (a 10 injection point protocol) which ensures the product spreads and covers as much of the face as possible. The skin booster is then injected which might be a bit uncomfortable, like a dull ache/pressure sensation. Once injected into the skin, you will be able to feel little bumps of the product under the skin. These don't tend to be overly visible but can be felt and tend to slowly go down over a few hours as the hyaluronic acid dissipates in the skin.
The treatment will take around 30 mins - 20-25 mins for the consultation and numbing cream and 5 minutes for the injections. .
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The recommendation is to have an initial course of 2-3 treatments 4 weeks apart after which the visible improvement in skin quality, hydration and laxity tend to last around 6 months, with continued collagen and elastin stimulation persisting beyond this.
After the initial course, a maintenance treatment every 6-12 months how your skin responds is recommended.
This treatment is perfect for a plump, refreshed appearance, often with some benefits visible even after the first treatment but to get the best results a course is recommended and your skin quality will continue to improve with time due to the stimulation of collagen and elastin.
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Skin boosters have little to no down time. There might be mild redness at the injection sites but this should settle within minutes to a couple of hours. The 10 lumps (5 each side of the face) in the skin after injecting will slowly dissipate as the product spreads out in the skin over the next 24 hours.
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Skin boosters are a brilliant treatment for anyone wanting to focus on long term skin improvements in hydration, texture and elasticity. They can provide subtle volume from hydration without changing structure. Unlike dermal fillers there is no gel like substance left sitting in the skin but focus on stimulating your own collagen and elastin to improve laxity with time.
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Common side effects include:
mild redness and swelling at the injections sites that usually fade within a few hours
Bruising and tenderness especially in patients more prone to bruising
Rare side effects include infection, vascular occlusion (if a needle enters a vessel and the product blocks blood flow) and allergic reactions/reactive nodules.
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Immediate (6-12hrs) after treatment:
avoid touching injection sites for 6 hours, after which time you can use a gentle cleanser if needed
Avoid make up for 12 hours
Avoid heavy exercise, sweating or saunas for 24 hours
Avoid retinol/vitamin C/AHAs/BHAs for 24 hours
Longer term (1-2 weeks) after treatment:
drink lots of water to help maximise your glow; hyaluronic acid draws in the moisture
Wear daily SPF 50
Avoid chemical peels, laser therapy or microdermabrasion for 2 weeks
