Hyaluronic Acid Injection
Hyaluronic acid is widely present in our skin, articular cartilage, eyeballs, and other tissues, playing a role in retaining moisture and maintaining flexibility and lubrication.
Hyaluronic acid injection is a treatment that uses gel-form hyaluronic acid with appropriate firmness and longevity achieved through a technique called “cross-linking” to supplement insufficient volume and improve sagging and wrinkle depressions.
Most patients who visit our clinic for hyaluronic acid injections come saying, “I’m concerned about my nasolabial folds, so I want hyaluronic acid injected into them.” However, the reason nasolabial folds become prominent is overall sagging, and simply injecting hyaluronic acid into the nasolabial folds alone may result in a bulky appearance around the mouth, even if the folds become shallower.
At our clinic, we thoroughly examine the overall balance of each patient’s face and perform treatments that inject the necessary hyaluronic acid in the necessary locations.
Recommended for those who:
- Concerned about nasolabial folds
- Concerned about sagging and wrinkles
- Want to round out the forehead
- Temples or cheeks have become hollow
- Want to improve the profile
- Small chin
- Want to improve the appearance around the mouth
- Want to plump up the lips
Important Points for Hyaluronic Acid Injection
- Achieve a three-dimensionally balanced face
- Inject safely and effectively based on anatomical knowledge
- Select the appropriate hyaluronic acid formulation for the purpose
Achieve a Three-Dimensionally Balanced Face
The first important element in achieving balance is the “facial contour,” which serves as the frame of the face.
At our clinic, we use hyaluronic acid injections to smooth out irregularities in the contour and supplement insufficient volume, thereby reducing asymmetry and achieving a beautiful oval or V-shaped contour.
Balance the upper, middle, and lower face to create a three-dimensional appearance
We divide the face into major sections—upper face, middle face, and lower face—and create a foundation for each, adjusting the balance of the face.
In the upper face, we create a rounded forehead by improving forehead depressions and temple hollowing.
In the middle face, we support the ligaments that hold fat and skin while adding volume to the cheeks, which diminishes with age.
We also improve the mid-cheek groove and under-eye hollows.
The lower face is an area where many Japanese people have a short, small, or recessed lower jaw, strong tension in the muscles around the mouth, lack of three-dimensionality in the profile, blurred jawline,
and concerns such as a double chin or prominent volume at the sides of the mouth. By refining the contour around the chin, the jawline appears more defined.
Balance by Combining Addition and Subtraction
With aging, facial bone, muscle, and fat decrease, making sagging and hollowing more prominent. Hyaluronic acid injection is very useful for supplementing this age-related volume loss, but for sagging and fat descent, we recommend combining not only hyaluronic acid injections but also thread lifts, machine-based sagging treatments (HIFU and POTENZA Diamond), and fat-dissolving injections (Kabelline).
Rather than relying solely on hyaluronic acid injections, we thoroughly evaluate the causes of your facial concerns and skillfully combine addition and subtraction to create a well-defined contour.
Inject Safely and Effectively Based on Anatomical Knowledge
Reinforce the ligaments that are one cause of sagging
In recent years, it has become clear that one cause of skin sagging is the loosening of ligaments that connect the skin to the bone. Ligaments are fibrous tissues that extend like the trunk of a tree branching from bone toward the skin, as shown in the diagram on the right. Multiple facial ligaments called “retaining ligaments” exist in the face, which is a common area of concern. By injecting hyaluronic acid to support these ligaments, we reinforce them and achieve a gentle lifting effect.
This method differs from simply filling wrinkle grooves and can effectively and naturally improve sagging with a small amount of product.
Balance Lifting and Volume Enhancement Without Excessive Injection
Rather than supplementing volume from the start, we first use a lifting injection method that supports the ligaments to fix them in their proper position, then supplement the insufficient volume.
Therefore, we achieve results with the minimum necessary amount of hyaluronic acid and prevent excessive injection.
Safety Considerations
Additionally, while hyaluronic acid injection is a convenient treatment with immediate results, complications such as embolism (hyaluronic acid blocking blood vessels), which can lead to poor blood flow to the skin or blindness, can occur.
To ensure safe treatment at our clinic, practitioners with anatomical knowledge avoid important blood vessels, confirm that the needle tip has not entered a blood vessel while injecting slowly, and use blunt-tip cannulas in certain injection sites.
Select the Appropriate Hyaluronic Acid Formulation for the Purpose
Hyaluronic acid formulations vary slightly in firmness and characteristics. It is important to select and inject the appropriate hyaluronic acid according to the treatment purpose and area.
Our clinic offers a variety of hyaluronic acid products and provides injection treatments tailored to each patient’s condition.
Types and Comparison of Hyaluronic Acid
Juvéderm Vycross® Series
The Juvéderm Vycross® series efficiently cross-links high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Because it is efficiently cross-linked and has a tight mesh structure, it is resistant to degradation, has an extended duration, absorbs less water,
and reduces water uptake (swelling) immediately after treatment.
Juvéderm VISTA Voluma XC
Juvéderm VISTA Voluma XC is a product that can add volume to the mid-face, temples, and forehead. Its effects last for 24 months after treatment.
Juvéderm VISTA Volux XC
Juvéderm VISTA Volux XC is the firmest hyaluronic acid in the Juvéderm series, with the highest cohesiveness and elasticity, and excels in shaping the chin and jawline. Its effects last for 18 months.
Juvéderm VISTA Volift XC
Juvéderm VISTA Volift XC is a product that combines moderate softness with lifting power. It can improve deep wrinkles and grooves on the face, such as nasolabial folds. Its effects last for 18 months.
Juvéderm VISTA Volbella XC
Juvéderm VISTA Volbella XC is a product with natural softness. It is suitable for correcting delicate areas such as the lips and under-eye hollows. Its effects last for 12 months.
Neuramis Deep
Neuramis is a hyaluronic acid approved by the KFDA (Korea Food and Drug Administration) from Korea’s Medytox. Its 2-step cross-link structure creates a smooth and soft hyaluronic acid.
Case photos
Sagging Correction
Juvéderm Ultra Plus 1 syringe
Juvéderm Ultra 1 syringe
Chin Enhancement
Juvéderm Ultra 1 syringe
Lip Volume Enhancement
Treatment details
| Treatment Interval | Regular injections are necessary as the product is gradually absorbed by the body. The duration varies depending on the hyaluronic acid formulation, but typically once every 8 months to 1.5 years |
|---|---|
| Treatment Time | 30 minutes |
| Anesthesia | Topical anesthesia or nerve block anesthesia upon request (additional anesthesia fee required) |
| Possible Side Effects | Embolism (hyaluronic acid blocking blood vessels), blindness, skin necrosis, nodules |
| Downtime | Bruising or redness may rarely occur at the injection site, but will resolve over time. |
| Makeup | Needle-mark areas: from the next day. Other areas: makeup can be applied from the same day. |
| Face washing | Allowed from the same day. Please avoid rubbing strongly. |
| Shower | Allowed from the same day. |
| Bathing | Light bathing is possible from the same day. If you wish to soak in a bathtub, lukewarm water for a short time is acceptable. |
| Follow-up Visits | No specific follow-up required. Regular injections are recommended. |
| Recommended Combination Treatments | Thread treatment Botox |
| Patients Who Cannot Receive Hyaluronic Acid Injection |
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