What can I Expect During Hyaluronic Acid Injections?

The procedure for getting hyaluronic acid injections is relatively simple. Most injections are given in an office setting with minimal anesthetics, and recovery time varies with the particular procedure being performed. The expected results of aesthetic and pain management therapies are well-defined and usually achieved. Hyaluronic acid injections are a safe and effective treatment, and a patient can expect that any concerns about the procedure, recovery, and continuing treatment plan will be addressed before it takes place.

The specific conditions surrounding hyaluronic acid injections depend on the procedure that is being done. Hyaluronic acid can be used as an injectable filler to help shape and plump contours on the face or used to fortify and expand synovial fluid around worn joints, especially those of the knee. In addition to these specifics, hyaluronic acid can be reticulated and non-reticulated. This designation is usually seen in aesthetic applications, and reticulated acid is generally considered to be more effective and, in turn, more expensive. Reticulated hyaluronic acid is compact and more water-absorbent, which lets it gain stability over time; a patient can expect the results from an injection to last considerably longer, 14 to 16 months as compared to four to 12.

Both types of hyaluronic acid injection are typically done in an outpatient office setting. The patient lies down, and the administering physician can mark one or more intended points for injection. He may apply a topical or sometimes injectible anesthetic to numb the area if it is sensitive and will use an antiseptic on the intended injection spot. He then measures the correct amount of hyaluronic acid product, fills a syringe, and injects the product. The procedure can last from a couple of minutes up to around 30 minutes total.

There is usually minimal discomfort and side effects associated with hyaluronic acid injections. Sometimes there is some residual pain reported from joint procedures, but it is usually manageable and lasts only a couple of days after the treatment. For aesthetic face procedures, the results are immediate and recovery time is short. Most times, a patient can resume regular activity the same day that the procedure is done, and a follow-up injection is usually given in three weeks. When receiving joint treatment, the procedure is usually repeated once a week for three to five weeks, and the recovery time is relatively short as well, two days at most.