Skin boosters – hydration and better skin quality, Wrocław

Skin boosters are preparations based on hyaluronic acid with a low degree of cross-linking, administered intradermally in order to improve the hydration, density and elasticity of the skin. Unlike fillers, they do not serve to shape the face or to restore volume. Their task is to change the quality of the skin as a tissue, not to change the features.

The procedure is addressed to patients in whom the signs of dehydration and reduced firmness of the skin are visible: a matt surface, fine wrinkles visible on movement, a loss of tension in the area of the cheeks, the neck or the backs of the hands. Skin boosters do not remove established wrinkles or excess skin.

We perform the procedures in Wrocław at ul. Barlickiego 31/1U. Reception: 573 290 488.

The mechanism of action

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the extracellular matrix of the skin, able to bind many times its own mass of water. Administered intradermally, it increases the hydration of the tissue and improves its mechanical properties. At the same time the stretching of the tissue around the deposit of the preparation is a stimulus for the fibroblasts, leading to increased synthesis of type I and III collagen and of elastin.

The effect is therefore in two stages: hydration visible after 7–14 days and an improvement in the density of the skin developing over the following 2–3 months. For that reason we do not make the final assessment directly after the end of the series.

Indications

dehydration of the skin with a visibly matt surface,
fine wrinkles arising on facial movement, without an established depression,
reduced firmness of the skin of the cheeks, the neck and the décolletage,
skin of the backs of the hands with reduced density and visible tendons,
preparation of the skin before other procedures of aesthetic medicine,
prevention in patients over the age of 30 in whom there are not yet indications for volume procedures.

Skin boosters and other procedures – a comparison

Procedure	Aim	Effect visible	Duration of the effect
Skin booster	Hydration and improvement of skin density	After 2–4 weeks	6–9 months
Needle mesotherapy with cocktails	Nourishing the skin with vitamins and amino acids	After a series of 4–6 procedures	3–6 months
Cross-linked filler	Restoring volume and shaping the contour	Immediately	9–18 months
Collagen biostimulator	Stimulating the skin to produce its own collagen	After 2–3 months	12–24 months
Platelet-rich plasma	Regeneration using the patient’s own growth factors	After a series of 3 procedures	6–12 months

We establish the choice of method during the consultation. In some patients these procedures complement one another and are planned in a particular order, for example a skin booster as preparation of the skin before a volume procedure.

The course of the procedure

Consultation and qualification – assessment of the condition of the skin, a history covering chronic diseases, medicines taken and earlier procedures with fillers.
Preparation – removal of make-up and disinfection of the skin, and if necessary the application of an anaesthetic cream for 20–30 minutes.
Administration of the preparation – intradermal injections performed with a point or a linear technique, depending on the area and the preparation used. The procedure lasts 20–30 minutes.
Conclusion – cooling of the skin and discussion of the recommendations. A return to everyday activities is possible the same day.

The series of procedures and the expected results

We usually plan a series of 2–3 procedures every 3–4 weeks. The first changes in the appearance of the skin are visible 2–4 weeks after the first administration. The full effect, including the improvement in the density of the skin, develops within 2–3 months of the end of the series and usually lasts 6–9 months.

We establish the frequency of maintenance procedures individually; in most patients it is twice a year. The effect depends on the initial condition of the skin, age, habits relating to sun exposure and smoking.

Recommendations after the procedure

avoiding touching and massaging the treated area for 24 hours,
no make-up for 12 hours,
no sauna, swimming pool, sunbed or intensive physical exertion for 3 days,
sun protection with an SPF 50 filter for 2 weeks,
keeping an interval of at least 2 weeks before procedures using energy, including lasers and radiofrequency.

Possible consequences of the procedure

Directly after the injections small papules are visible at the sites of administration, usually resolving within 24–48 hours, along with redness. In some patients small bruises appear, persisting for up to 7 days. These are a predictable consequence of the technique of the procedure and not a complication.

Increasing pain, blanching of the skin or disturbances of vision after the procedure require immediate contact with the clinic. These symptoms are rare but require urgent management.

Contraindications

pregnancy and breastfeeding,
an active skin infection in the treatment area, including herpes,
autoimmune diseases during a flare,
coagulation disorders and anticoagulant treatment,
hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine,
an active neoplastic disease,
a tendency to form keloids in the treatment area.

Prices

Revitalisation and hydration of the skin with hyaluronic acid – 1 ampoule: from 1000 PLN
Profhilo – 1 ampoule: 1600 PLN; Profhilo Structura: 1800 PLN
Croma mesotherapy – face, neck or décolletage: from 600 PLN
Platelet-rich plasma: 900 PLN
Medical consultation: 280–350 PLN

The full list is available on the page HappyDERM price list.

Frequently asked questions

Will my face become bigger after a skin booster?

No. The preparations used in this procedure have a low degree of cross-linking and do not build volume. Their task is to improve the hydration and density of the skin, not to change the features of the face.

From what age is the procedure worth considering?

The indication is not age but the condition of the skin. We most often perform the procedure in patients over the age of 30 in whom dehydration and reduced firmness of the skin are visible and in whom there are not yet indications for volume procedures.

Is the procedure painful?

The sensation is compared to a series of pricks of low intensity. In sensitive areas, such as the eye area and the neck, we use an anaesthetic cream. Some preparations contain lidocaine.

How many procedures have to be performed?

Usually 2–3 procedures every 3–4 weeks, then maintenance procedures usually twice a year. We establish the number of procedures during qualification.

How does a skin booster differ from mesotherapy?

A skin booster is based on hyaluronic acid acting above all to hydrate and stimulate, administered at a smaller number of points. Needle mesotherapy uses cocktails of vitamins and amino acids, requires a larger number of procedures and gives an effect of shorter duration.

Can the procedure be done before an important event?

We recommend keeping an interval of at least 2 weeks, because during the first days small papules and bruises may be visible, and the full effect develops gradually.

Is the effect reversible?

Yes. Hyaluronic acid can be broken down by an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which is used if a correction is needed. The preparation itself is also gradually absorbed.

Areas treated

The face

The most frequently treated area. We administer the preparation within the cheeks, the temporal area and around the mouth. The improvement concerns above all the evenness of the surface of the skin and the way it reflects light, which in practice is described as a rested appearance.

The eye area

The skin of the eyelids is the thinnest on the whole body and particularly susceptible to dehydration. Here we perform the procedure with preparations intended for sensitive areas, in a smaller volume and more superficially. A skin booster does not remove shadows under the eyes resulting from a loss of volume or from pigmentation.

The neck and décolletage

These areas are exposed to solar radiation and at the same time are usually omitted from daily care. The transverse lines on the neck and the fine wrinkles of the décolletage respond to treatment the better, the earlier it is begun.

The backs of the hands

The skin of the hands loses density earlier than the skin of the face, because it is constantly exposed to ultraviolet radiation and contact with detergents. The procedure improves its hydration, but it does not mask visible tendons and vessels, for which preparations of a different character are used.

Preparation for the procedure

stopping anticoagulant preparations only in agreement with the doctor in charge, never on your own,
no alcohol and no non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 24 hours before the procedure, if they are not taken chronically,
coming without make-up,
informing the doctor about all earlier procedures with fillers, together with the approximate date on which they were performed,
with a tendency to herpes – beginning antiviral prophylaxis in accordance with the doctor’s recommendation.

What the procedure will not change

Skin boosters do not remove established wrinkles, do not lift sagging tissue and do not reduce excess skin. Nor do they replace volume procedures in the case of a clear loss of the facial fat tissue. During qualification we determine what result can be obtained and, if necessary, propose another method or a combination of several procedures.

Booking a visit

An appointment for a consultation can be booked by telephone on 573 290 488.

Telephone booking: 573 290 488. The contact details of all the clinics are available on the page contact.