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Facial balance and volume in Olbia

I restore support where volume has been lost. Often the point to treat is not the fold you can see.

Session

Thirty to forty-five minutes

Visible effect

Immediately; assessed at two to three weeks

Duration

Nine to eighteen months

What it is

Nasolabial folds run between the nose and the corners of the mouth. Their appearance depends on several factors, including the skin, facial volume and tissue laxity. I assess the face as a whole before deciding where to treat.

I use cross-linked hyaluronic acid, denser than the one I use for the lips, injected deep. The areas I treat most often:

Cheekbone, which supports the middle of the face
Nasolabial fold (from the nose to the corner of the mouth) and marionette line (below the corner of the mouth)
Temples, where hollowing can make the eye area look more severe
Tear trough, the hollow under the eye, in selected cases
Chin and jawline
Bridge of the nose, for small irregularities in the profile (nose filler)

Who it is for

Your face looks "dropped" or tired even when you have rested
Flattened cheekbones, marked folds, downturned mouth corners, a receding chin
A small bump or slight asymmetry on the bridge of the nose, without surgery

When treatment may not be suitable

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Active infection, inflammation, lesion in the area
Active autoimmune disease
Known allergy to hyaluronic acid or to lidocaine
Anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment not agreed with your own doctor
Under-eye shadows not caused by volume (pigmentation, circulation, a fat pad): filler does not correct them and can worsen the swelling
Significant skin laxity. Filler does not lift tissue that has descended: it weighs it down. In that situation, I explain why surgery is more appropriate
A lot of product already in place for years: sometimes the right call is to stop
Facial swelling from an unassessed systemic cause: I investigate the cause first

What happens during treatment

I first assess your face while you are sitting and standing, because facial tissue changes position when you lie down.

I take photographs, mark the injection points and apply an anaesthetic cream. In these areas I often work with a microcannula: less traumatic, less risk of entering a vessel. I inject slowly, in small amounts, checking at each pass. The session takes thirty to forty-five minutes in total.

Dr Ardaist carrying out an injection near the cheek — Image shown for illustration; it is not evidence of a treatment outcome.

How long the effect lasts

From nine to eighteen months, depending on the area and the product. The effect lasts longer in areas with less movement, such as the cheekbones, temples, jaw and chin. It lasts less time around the mouth, where muscle movement breaks the filler down.

The volume shows straight away, but the first days come with swelling: we judge the real result at two to three weeks.

Comfort and recovery

With topical anaesthetic the discomfort is moderate. With the cannula you feel movement under the skin: odd, not painful.

Expect swelling for two to five days, usually less than in the lips. Bruises are possible, more often in the tear trough and at the temples.

Aftercare:

No strenuous exercise, sauna, steam room for forty-eight hours
Do not massage the treated area
Sleep with your head slightly raised for the first two nights
Avoid intense heat
Dental work already booked: have it before, or two weeks later

Risks and contraindications

Common
Swelling, bruises, tenderness to pressure for a few days.

Possible
Asymmetry, irregularities you can feel, or too little or too much correction. I manage these by adding product or dissolving it with hyaluronidase.

Risks specific to certain areas
In the tear trough: the Tyndall effect (a bluish tinge when the product sits too superficially) and persistent swelling (oedema). It is the most delicate area of the face: often the right call is to leave it alone. Over time the product can migrate, mostly in the periorbital and area around the mouths.

Rare but serious
Vascular occlusion (a blocked blood vessel): intense pain, skin that blanches or turns purplish, possible skin necrosis. The highest-risk areas are precisely some of those treated here: the bridge of the nose, the area between the eyebrows, the nasolabial region. Rare cases of impaired vision after injections in these sites are described in the literature.

I use my knowledge of anatomy and follow a protocol to reduce risk: a cannula, slow injections at low pressure, small amounts and hyaluronidase kept to hand. These measures reduce risk but do not eliminate it. The written instructions I give you say what to do and who to call.

When to get help immediately. Unusual or increasing pain, skin turning white, grey or blue, and changes in vision require immediate medical attention. Call 112 for changes in vision or sudden severe symptoms. Let me know, but do not wait for a chat reply before seeking medical care.

Combining treatments

Volume is only one of the levels I work on.

Cost

It depends on the area and the product: sometimes one syringe is enough, sometimes it takes two. I tell you the price at the consultation, before we begin.

About pricing

Frequently asked questions

Is it true that filler later "drops"?

Filler may be absorbed over time, but irregularities, persistent swelling or product migration can also occur. If you notice a change that concerns you, it needs assessment before deciding what to do.

Can I treat only the under-eye area?

First I need to understand what is causing it. If volume is missing, it can be treated. If the colour comes from pigmentation or there is a fat pad, filler makes things worse.

Booking an appointment

If your face looks tired and you are not sure why, the consultation is for exactly that. We treat only what needs treating.

Tell me what you'd like to improveI reply personally with information about your first consultation.