How Many Times Can You get Hyaluronic Acid Injections?

Hyaluronic acid injections are very popular among the various types of anti-aging treatments available at cosmetic surgeons.

They are the most commonly used form of fillers used to create volume and lifting effect. It is used in many areas such as the lips, chin, cheeks, etc.

However, if the injections are not done with great care, this procedure may become more risky and/or have undesirable results for the patient.

In this article, we will answer common questions and concerns about Hyaluronic Acid injections and provide information you need to know before getting them done.

　【Table of Contents】
1. How Long Does Hyaluronic Acid Filler Last?
2. How many times can you get Hyaluronic Acid Injections?
3. What are the side effects of Hyaluronic Acid Injections?
4. How to Avoid Risks of Hyaluronic Acid Injections?

The effects of hyaluronic acid are not permanent.

Although It varies depending on the area and the patient’s own metabolism, Hyaluronic Acid filler lasts about 6 months to a 12 months on average, with longer lasting results being seen in patients who periodically top up their filler.

Hyaluronic Acid injected into more mobile parts of the body such as the lips may be metabolized quicker than an area like the chin due to the higher mobility rate of the lips; we are always moving our lips when we talk or eat.

Besides the body area, it also depends on the degree of cross linkage of the HA molecules, and the amount injected in relation to the tissue space.

Since hyaluronic acid is an element naturally found in the body, your immune system is much less likely to identify hyaluronic acid as a foreign substance.

After the injected hyaluronic acid has been absorbed to a certain extent, it is important for your physician injector to check for any lumps before injecting hyaluronic acid filler again.

If your tissues are healthy, it is safe to get hyaluronic acid as many times as necessary.

Before we go into the health risks, it should be mentioned that excessive hyaluronic acid injection can cause undesired appearances such as puffiness.

This comes down to the patient’s own goals and the injector’s understanding and respect for anatomy to minimize risks.

Recurring injections may cause issues listed below, and it is important to know about the risks and side effects before receiving or continuing to receive hyaluronic acid injections.

Although it is a rare complication, skin necrosis is caused by inadequate blood supply to the tissue, leading to death of the cells in the tissue.

It is important to point out that necrosis is very rare,　occuring in 1/100,000 cases.

skin necrosis can result when hyaluronic acid is injected into a blood vessel and subsequently ‘clogs’ it, or when blood vessels are overly compressed by the swelling caused by hyaluronic acid injections.

That area of skin may suffer from less blood circulation, causing that area of skin to essentially die.

The risk of skin necrosis is greatly increased by the body area involved, the amount used, the method of administration, and the rate of injection.

So it is important to choose an experienced injector at the right clinic!

Be aware of deals that seem too good to be true, and do your own research beforehand.

When HA filler is injected into a blood vessel on the face, it may break off and end up as an embolism to the brain causing a stroke or, the worst, to the retinal artery leading to blindness.

The risk of vision loss is very rare, but in most cases, associated with non-surgical nose jobsjob, also known as or non-surgical rhinoplasty.

This procedure uses dermal fillers to enhance the shape of the nose.

However, the glabellar region is a high risk area for vascular occlusion due to its proximity to the arteries that supply blood flow to the eyes.

Although hyaluronic acid is to be metabolized and absorbed by the body over time, there is a possibility that the hyaluronic acid may settle as a more solid lump.

Hyaluronic acid injected repeatedly in the same area, in large amounts, or concentrated in a small area can all be factors increasing the possibility for lumps.

It leads the body to create a fibrotic capsule.

The good news is that these lumps are usually unproblematic health-wise, but can be a great nuisance.

To correct the lump formation, massage the area of the lump to help the hyaluronic filler spread and shrink the lump.

If the lump is still there after several weeks, hyaluronidase can be injected to dissolve the lump.

Since hyaluronic acid injections are a minimally invasive procedure, there is little downtime to achieve natural-looking results.

However, the injected area can become unnatural if it is ‘overstuffed’ or too accentuated.

If you receive hyaluronic acid injections repeatedly over several years, it may cause your face to look unnatural.

To prevent unnatural looking results, it is extremely important to follow an experienced physician’s advice to choose the right type of filler, and to inject the proper amount of filler into the face.

In addition, every filler brand is made with a different hyaluronic acid cross-link.

Some brands have more cross linkages than others, allowing for better tissue integration and smoother results.

Furthermore, advanced filler companies are now offering different types of fillers to be used on certain areas of the face.

For example, the under eye trough area requires a softer filler, while the chin area requires a harder filler.

A good physician injector would choose the right filler for the right facial area to give you a natural look.

Hyaluronic acid injections are a safe procedure because they do not require surgery , however there are possible complications as we explained above.

To avoid these risks, it’s important to choose the right physician and clinic.

Seek an experienced physician with these criteria:

• Employs a slow injection technique to prevent occlusion
• Is able to effectively communicate with you and explains step-by-step how to achieve your end goals
• Uses a conservative amount and progressively increase to get the desired results rather than inject a large amount of hyaluronic acid filler at one time
• Be transparent about the side effects and dangers of hyaluronic filler
• Offer squeeze balls, lidocaine, ice, and/or laughing gas to minimize pain
• Give you other options in addition to hyaluronic filler treatments
• Have a good follow-up system after your injection

Get Hyaluronic Acid Injections Without Worrying!

At Ovo Medi Spa, we offer a free 30-minute consultation prior to any treatment in order to listen to your goals and any concerns you may have.

If you are interested in having hyaluronic acid injections, please click the button below to request a consultation.

We are here to answer your questions and improve your skin!

Book a Consultation