Aesthetic medicine has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last twenty years: increasingly refined non-surgical techniques now achieve natural and long-lasting rejuvenation results, without the risks or recovery times associated with plastic surgery. Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are two of the most popular and well-documented approaches in this modern aesthetic medicine—they address different but complementary needs in correcting the signs of facial aging and revitalizing the skin.
Clinique Omicron offers these medical aesthetic treatments at its service points on Montreal's South Shore, performed by physicians trained in aesthetic medicine. Performing these injections by a qualified physician—rather than by non-medical technicians in beauty salons or spas—guarantees a preliminary medical evaluation, a safe injection technique, appropriate management of potential complications, and aesthetic results consistent with the patient's anatomy and individual goals. A preliminary consultation is always conducted before any treatment to assess expectations, skin condition, possible contraindications, and to establish a personalized treatment plan.
Hyaluronic acid fillers: mechanism and treated areas
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan naturally present in the skin, joints, and connective tissues, where it plays a fundamental role in hydration and maintaining tissue volume thanks to its ability to retain up to 1,000 times its weight in water. With aging, natural hyaluronic acid production gradually decreases, contributing to facial volume loss, the appearance of wrinkles and lines, and loss of skin firmness. Cross-linked hyaluronic acid fillers—a chemically modified form to increase their lifespan in tissues—help restore this lost volume and fill hollows and wrinkles precisely and reversibly.
The most frequently treated facial areas with fillers include the nasolabial folds—the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth—the lips to increase volume and redefine their shape, under-eye hollows and tear troughs, the cheeks to restore projection and malar volume, sunken temples, the chin to balance the proportions of the lower face, and the hands to rejuvenate their appearance. Depending on the area treated and the product used, results generally last from 6 to 18 months—softer products used for the lips have a shorter lifespan (6 to 9 months) than denser products used for the cheeks or chin (12 to 18 months). The injected hyaluronic acid is biodegradable and can be dissolved within hours by an injection of hyaluronidase if the results do not meet expectations or in case of complications.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): skin regeneration through growth factors
Platelet-rich plasma — PRP — is a regenerative medicine technique that utilizes the patient's own blood components to stimulate skin regeneration and rejuvenation. The process involves drawing blood from the patient — similar to a routine blood draw —, centrifuging it to concentrate platelets within the plasma fraction, and reinjecting this concentrated plasma into the skin. Upon activation, platelets release growth factors — PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, EGF, IGF — that stimulate fibroblast proliferation, collagen and elastin synthesis, and neovascularization, thereby improving skin texture, firmness, radiance, and overall quality.
Unlike fillers that work by mechanically filling in hollows, PRP works by stimulating the skin's natural regeneration mechanisms. Its effects appear gradually over 4 to 8 weeks and continue to improve for several months. It is particularly indicated for improving the overall quality of the skin—texture, radiance, hydration, fineness of superficial wrinkles—treating dark circles by improving the skin quality of the tear trough, stimulating hair regrowth in cases of alopecia (through intradermal scalp injections), and accelerating skin regeneration after other aesthetic treatments. As PRP uses the patient's own cells, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is virtually nil—this is one of the major advantages of this autologous approach. A PRP session generally lasts 45 to 60 minutes, including blood draw, centrifugation, and injections, and an initial protocol of 2 to 3 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart is usually recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aesthetic Injections
Are dermal filler injections painful? What does a session involve?
Most patients describe the pain associated with filler injections as mild to moderate and quite bearable. Several factors help minimize discomfort: the majority of commercial fillers now contain incorporated lidocaine – a local anesthetic that gradually numbs the area as injections proceed – and a topical numbing cream can be applied to the treatment areas 30 to 45 minutes before the session. Lips are generally the most sensitive area; a local nerve block anesthesia can be performed by the physician for larger lip treatments. The session itself typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes depending on the areas treated. After injections, mild redness, swelling, and bruising are normal and temporary – they disappear within a few hours to a few days. Results are immediately visible, even if initial edema may slightly exaggerate the final result, which is best appreciated 2 weeks after the session once the swelling has completely subsided.
What is the difference between dermal fillers and botulinum toxin (Botox)?
Hyaluronic acid fillers and botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) are two complementary aesthetic medicine approaches that act on different mechanisms and treat distinct signs of aging. Fillers restore lost volume and plump up hollows and lines — they are indicated for static wrinkles (visible at rest), loss of volume in the cheeks and lips, dark circles, and facial contour restructuring. Botulinum toxin, on the other hand, works by temporarily blocking the contraction of facial muscles responsible for expression lines — it is indicated for dynamic wrinkles caused by repeated contractions (forehead lines, frown lines between the eyebrows, crow's feet at the corners of the eyes), and produces its effects in 4 to 7 days with a duration of action of 3 to 6 months. For an optimal and harmonious rejuvenating result, the two approaches are often used in a complementary way during the same session — Clinique Omicron also offers botulinum toxin injections as part of its aesthetic medicine services.
Are there any contraindications to aesthetic injections? Who are they for?
Dermal filler and PRP injections are medical procedures that require a prior evaluation and have contraindications that must be respected. Absolute contraindications include pregnancy and breastfeeding, coagulation disorders or use of anticoagulants (due to the risk of bruising), active skin infections in the area to be treated, uncontrolled active autoimmune diseases, and a history of hypersensitivity to the product's components. The risk of herpes reactivation after lip injections is real in individuals with a history of oral herpes—antiviral prophylaxis (aciclovir or valaciclovir) is prescribed before the session for these patients. These injections are for adults—men and women—who wish to correct signs of facial aging or improve certain aspects of their appearance naturally and non-surgically, with realistic expectations and good general health. The preliminary consultation at Clinique Omicron allows for an assessment of the treatment's suitability for the patient's goals, identification of contraindications, and discussion of expected results and possible alternatives.
Aesthetic medicine - Medical aesthetic care | Clinique Omicron
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