Hyaluronic acid: the natural alternative to Botox and collagen

What is hyaluronic acid? 

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body and is found in large quantities in the dermis, the deep layer of the skin located between the epidermis and the hypodermis. However, these quantities diminish over time.

Hyaluronic acid injections can compensate for some of this loss of acid within the body and is coming to be regarded as a serious alternative to the Botulinum toxin, as it has no effect on neuromuscular tissue and poses no significant risks to the body.

Why should you use hyaluronic acid?

Reductions in the levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin do not come without consequences: the more visible harmful effects include the appearance of more or less pronounced wrinkles, progressive changes in the skin and sagging of the face. 

Hyaluronic acid injections can restore volume to affected areas in a matter of days, and can have a moisturising effect at the same time. Your face will be reshaped, wrinkles will be smoothed out and you will feel fresh and revitalised – a feeling highly appreciated by women.

How are hyaluronic acid injections performed?

Very gently. At Ardentis, we use a local anaesthetic to minimise discomfort during injections. Sometimes, a simple anaesthetic ointment is enough to numb the injection site temporarily.

Based on the assessment made during your first consultation, injections can be made into different areas of the face: lips, brow furrow, shadows under the eyes, nasolabial folds (near the nose), cheeks, cheekbones, chin, jawline or skin quality.

How does the procedure take place? 

The first step is a thirty-minute consultation with Dr Jean-Thomas Bachelet, at one of the three clinics in which he sees patients: Morges, Lausanne or Vevey. This preliminary assessment is then used to plan a programme of injections, based on the requirements identified and an analysis of your skin. 

A programme? Yes: although an injection of hyaluronic acid produces visible effects immediately (with the optimum effects observed after 10-15 days), the benefits will fade over time. The ideal solution is therefore to have a second appointment 6-12 months after the first injection, to take advantage of the combined effect.

This is, of course, entirely up to you. The best thing to do is to have one injection, then measure how well the procedure worked. In addition, a follow-up appointment, included in the price, is offered one week after your first injection. This allows for any adjustments to be made, if required, and to plan the next step in the procedure with Dr Jean-Thomas Bachelet.

Make an appointment with Dr Jean-Thomas Bachelet

What are the risks related to hyaluronic acid?

Although the procedure itself is not dangerous, it does involve making an injection to the face. Having the procedure done by a specialist who is extensively familiar with the use of hyaluronic acid is essential, in order to avoid unattractive side effects such as swelling or bruising.   

Hyaluronic acid is not an allergen and there is therefore no risk that your body will react strongly to it. A faint redness or blue discolouration can sometimes occur at the injection site, but this is easy to conceal with makeup until it disappears (which never takes very long).      

How much does a hyaluronic injection cost? 

That all depends on the assessment and the programme drawn up during your first consultation. There are several different types of hyaluronic acid, intended for different specific uses: liquid hyaluronic acids, mainly used for treating shallow wrinkles; ‘conventional’ acids, for the nasolabial folds and the lips; and dense acids, used for remodelling the face and the facial proportions. Dr Jean-Thomas Bachelet will explain all this to you during your consultation. 

Anything else? Oh yes: the price You should allow for between CHF 450.00 and CHF 850.00 per injection session.