Poly-L-lactic acid injections

Poly-L-lactic acid thickens and firms the skin by prompting the body to make collagen, without an operation. The alternative is not to have the treatment. Depending on your goal, other options can be discussed: skincare, medical devices, botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, other biostimulators or surgery, each with its own benefits, limits and risks. The limits: the product cannot guarantee precise correction, perfect symmetry, a set amount of collagen produced or an exact duration. The product is biodegradable, and further sessions or other treatments may be needed.

Before a poly-L-lactic acid injection, Dr Manon Belhoste needs to know your medical history and treatments. A known allergy to a component of the product, or an active infection or inflammation on the area to be treated, rules out the treatment. A history of thick or keloid scarring is discussed based on the product and your situation. An autoimmune disease, a weakened immune system, a clotting disorder, or treatment with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs are assessed case by case. Any product already injected into the area, especially a permanent one, must be reported, along with any infection, recent or planned dental work and any inflammatory episode. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the aesthetic treatment is postponed as a precaution.

After a poly-L-lactic acid injection, the massage instructions given by Dr Manon Belhoste should be followed precisely: unless told otherwise, the treated areas are massaged for 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for 5 days, with clean hands, regularly but gently. Outside these massages, the areas are not handled. Intense exercise, strong heat and sun exposure should be limited straight after the session.

The result of a poly-L-lactic acid injection is gradual. The improvement linked to collagen production appears over weeks and months. The immediate effect seen just after the session is partly due to the reconstitution fluid and the oedema, and does not represent the final result.

Unless told otherwise, the treated areas are massaged using the “5-5-5” rule: 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for 5 days. Massage should be done with clean hands and, if needed, a simple moisturiser suited to the skin. The massage should be regular but gentle.

Unlike hyaluronic acid, poly-L-lactic acid cannot be dissolved by hyaluronidase. Care for a complication therefore depends on its nature and may require specific treatments and long-term follow-up.