A hyaluronic acid-based skin booster works on a different principle from a filler, which builds shape. While a filler creates volume and contour with cross-linked hyaluronic acid, a skin booster adds a small amount of a cross-linked component to low- and high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to fill in hydration and refine skin texture.
This column sets out how the two treatments differ in principle, why results can be slow to appear, and the safety criteria to check. Success depends less on the ingredient than on an injection plan tailored to each individual.
Do skin boosters differ from fillers right down to the ingredients?
A filler uses cross-linked hyaluronic acid to create supporting strength, and its purpose is to build shape and volume in areas such as the nose or lips. A skin booster is a blended formula in which 5% cross-linked hyaluronic acid is added to low- and high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, and it supports the skin's hydration, firmness and texture.
Rather than ranking the two treatments, it is important to decide the purpose first: building shape and volume, or filling in skin density and refining texture. Setting this criterion in advance makes it much easier to choose the treatment that fits a person's concern during the consultation.
- Low — molecular-weight hyaluronic acid — its small molecules are absorbed quickly and fill in hydration
- High — molecular-weight hyaluronic acid — stays in the skin and sustains the improvement in firmness and texture
- 5% cross — linked hyaluronic acid — adds natural-looking volume together with a soft feel
In which cases is a skin booster particularly helpful?
When the face easily feels tight after cleansing or makeup keeps lifting, this can be read as a sign that the skin lacks moisture beneath the surface, and a skin booster in which low- and high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid act together helps to make up for this inner dryness.
A skin booster is also worth considering early when the artificial look typical of fillers feels like a burden, when nasolabial folds have just begun to show faintly, or when a person aged 30 or older notices general ageing changes. The actual effect, however, can vary with the individual's skin condition and the injection plan.
- Inner dryness after cleansing — skin that feels tight after washing and on which makeup lifts
- The artificial look typical of fillers — refers to cases where a natural-looking result is wanted
- Early changes in the nasolabial folds — the stage at which the folds begin to show faintly
- Ageing changes from age 30 onward — the age range in which signs such as reduced firmness appear
What does it mean if there is no effect even 4 weeks after the treatment?
Firmness returns gradually only after moisture has been replenished within the skin and its condition has recovered, so a certain amount of time is a necessary part of the process. If no change is felt even after 4 weeks, it should be checked again whether the plan took into account the purpose, the area, the skin's thickness and dryness, and its ability to retain moisture.
When volume and lifting are the purpose, about 5 points are chosen and the product is injected in a concentrated way into areas such as deep nasolabial folds or hollowed cheekbones. When the purpose is to improve skin texture or inner dryness, it is spread widely and gently without concentrating on a particular area, and the result depends on the plan and the technique.
Is a larger dose always better?
Someone who wants a subtle glow and hydration and someone who wants to fill the volume of hollowed cheeks need different doses, so injecting a large amount does not make the result better. It is sensible to decide first which area is to be treated and for what purpose, and then adjust the dose.
When a gel form that needs no separate dilution step is used, the likelihood of nodules is on the low side. Even so, this risk can be reduced further only when the product is injected in a way that lets the skin recover by itself, rather than simply being filled in.
