A resorbable product, by nature
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally present in the skin, which the body gradually breaks down. That is what makes it safe — the effect is reversible — and also its limit: the result is not permanent.
The commonly quoted duration of '6 to 18 months' is accurate, but too vague to plan on. Everything depends on the area, the product and you.
Realistic duration, area by area
Lips: 6 to 12 months
A highly mobile area (speech, facial expression, eating), so the product breaks down faster. Lip-specific fillers are softer, and therefore less durable.
Nasolabial folds and marionette lines: 9 to 15 months
Areas of moderate expression, treated with fillers of intermediate density.
Cheekbones and jawline: 12 to 18 months
Volumising fillers, more cross-linked and injected deeper, degrade more slowly. This is the area where results last the longest.
Tear troughs (hollow under-eye circles): 9 to 15 months
An area with little movement, treated with a fluid product injected in small quantities. Results hold well, but this area demands an experienced practitioner (risk of puffiness or visible overcorrection).
Nose (non-surgical rhinoplasty): 12 to 18 months
An almost immobile area, a dense product. Caution: the nose is an area with vascular risks — this injection should only ever be performed by very experienced hands.
What makes the duration vary in the same person
- Metabolism: the more active it is (endurance athletes in particular), the faster the product is resorbed
- How mobile the area is: the more it moves, the shorter it lasts
- The quantity injected and the injection technique
- Smoking and sun exposure, which accelerate overall skin ageing
- First injections often last a little less than the following ones: with maintenance, the effect stabilises
Should you re-inject as soon as the effect fades?
The effect does not vanish overnight: resorption is gradual, and people around you generally notice nothing. The right maintenance rhythm follows your own perception and your doctor's advice — in practice, one session every 9 to 15 months for most areas.
There is no point in overcorrecting 'so it lasts longer': that is the surest way to end up with an artificial result. The right strategy is the opposite — correct just enough, and review at 12 months.
What if you do not like the result?
That is the other advantage of a resorbable product: in the event of overcorrection or asymmetry, hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme (hyaluronidase) injected by the doctor. An unsatisfactory result is therefore never a dead end — provided you are followed by a qualified practitioner.
Price and medical framework
In Paris, expect from €350 per syringe depending on the product and area — see the full fee schedule. A full correction may require one to three syringes. Aesthetic hyaluronic acid injection is a medical procedure: prior consultation, fully traceable product, strict aseptic conditions.
When the request goes beyond what injections can offer — marked sagging, excess skin — the consultation is the place to discuss it honestly and consider the alternatives, from facial lipofilling to a face and neck lift.
Key takeaways
- 6 to 12 months for the lips, 12 to 18 months for the cheekbones, in between for other areas
- The mobility of the area and your metabolism make the difference
- Typical maintenance: one session every 9 to 15 months
- A reversible result (hyaluronidase) — a real safety net
For a treatment plan tailored to your face, book a consultation with Pr Ignacio Garrido in Paris 16.