How long does it take for hyaluronic acid to settle?

Author: Prof. Eudora Reichel MD  |  Last update: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Popular brands like Juvederm and Restylane provide immediate effects, but they generally take about 2 weeks to settle into the surrounding tissues fully.

How long should you wait for hyaluronic acid to absorb?

Always make sure to follow with a moisturizer, this is a skincare must in general, but especially when using Hyaluronic Acid Serum because it locks the moisture in. But it's important to wait 30-60 seconds for the serum to absorb before following with other products.

How long does it take for hyaluronic acid injections to settle?

Dermal fillers can be an excellent way to add volume, shape and hydration to the skin without the need for a more invasive procedure. The CREO Clinic uses hyaluronic acid-based fillers, which can take around 2 weeks to settle – a much shorter time than the months it can take for a surgical procedure to yield results.

What is the downside of hyaluronic acid fillers?

Fortunately, over 90% of adverse events from the use of HA fillers are mild and transient. These include injection site redness, swelling, or bruising. However, disastrous outcomes can occur, including necrosis, vision loss, and cerebrovascular accidents.

How long does hyaluronic acid stay in your face?

This action is termed “isovolumetric degradation.” The effects of hyaluronic acid filler are last up to 4 to 6 months depending on location, a specific brand of filler used, and injection technique.

How long do dermal fillers really last? MRI scans provide evidence.

What happens if you use too much hyaluronic acid on your face?

That's right—using too much HA in a dry climate can make your skin drier. Imagine applying HA in your serum, moisturizer, and those enticing sheet masks you love so much—a triple threat. In a dry environment, all that HA could backfire, sucking moisture from your own skin's reserves.

How long does hyaluronic acid purging last?

So, how long should you expect a purge to last? Typically, a purge is likely to last from 4-6 weeks after adding a new product into your routine. This includes products and treatments that contain retinoids, hyaluronic acid, azelaic acid and niacinamide.

What is a pillow face?

“Pillow face” occurs when too much filler is injected into areas like the cheeks, nasolabial folds (the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth), lips, and under-eye area. This repeated overfilling can result in a bloated, round appearance that looks far from natural.

Who shouldn t use hyaluronic acid?

Hardening of skin and connective tissue (scleroderma): Applying hyaluronic acid to the skin might make skin ulcers worse in people who have a condition called scleroderma. If you have scleroderma, don't use hyaluronic acid on your skin.

What is a late onset inflammatory response to hyaluronic acid?

Late-onset inflammatory response occurs at least 2 months after HA injection, and presents as diffuse, firm, red, nonfluctuant inflammation of all areas containing the dermal filler. Patients are otherwise systemically well.

When do fillers look their best?

So, in essence, there is a 'sweet spot' timeframe, typically a few weeks to a couple of months after the treatment, where dermal fillers often look their best. During this period, any initial swelling or bruising has healed, and the filler has had time to settle into its most natural state.

What is the success rate of hyaluronic acid injections?

For many patients, hyaluronic acid injections are very effective. They report feeling less pain and more mobility in their joints. One HSS study analyzing randomized controlled trials found these injections resulted in successful outcomes for 60.0% of knee osteoarthritis patients.

What is the downtime for hyaluronic acid fillers?

After undergoing dermal fillers for facial asymmetry, avoid intense physical activity for 24-48 hours, including strenuous exercise and cardio exercise. These activities can increase blood flow to the face, potentially causing normal swelling and bruising where the hyaluronic acid-based facial fillers were injected.

What not to mix with hyaluronic acid?

However, there are certain ingredients that should not be mixed with hyaluronic acid:
  • AHAs and BHAs: AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) are chemical exfoliants that can help improve skin texture and unclog pores. ...
  • Benzoyl Peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide is a common ingredient found in acne treatments.

How long does it take for hyaluronic acid fillers to dissolve?

Different fillers tend to naturally dissolve at different speeds. Most hyaluronic acid fillers used in the lips, jawline, and cheeks, including Juvederm and Restylane, metabolize after 6 months to a year. Sculptra can continue to provide results in the face for up to two years.

What is the rule of hyaluronic acid?

The Only Rule for Hyaluronic Acid? Always Apply It on Damp Skin! It might sound surprising, but when hyaluronic acid is applied to dry skin, it can have the opposite effect, leaving your skin even more dehydrated.

Is hyaluronic acid hard on the liver?

10. Is Hyaluronic Acid Bad For Your Liver? In the case of patients with liver diseases, it is advised to avoid using HA as the increased levels of HA in the bloodstream can cause thrombosis. Hence, user discretion and medical supervision are advised.

Are there any negative side effects to hyaluronic acid?

Potential side effects of hyaluronic acid dermal filler include: Bruising. Sore injection site. Swelling.

Is it okay to use hyaluronic acid every day?

Moisturizers. Use a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid twice daily to access the best effects. These products should be used after you have cleansed your skin. If your routine also includes applying serums and exfoliating, apply your moisturizer after these steps.

What is the Ozempic face?

Ozempic face is a colloquial term, not a medically recognized condition. It describes the facial changes that can accompany rapid weight loss when using medications like Ozempic or another version of the same drug (generic name semaglutide) FDA-approved for weight-loss treatment.

Why do celebrities' faces look puffy?

“What is pillow face?” You might have seen this overfilled look on social media or even among celebrities where the cheeks appear overly puffy, and facial contours look blurred. Pillow face is a real phenomenon, and it often results from the overuse or incorrect application of dermal fillers.

What happened to Ryan Gosling's face?

It's worth noting that his face has not changed much over the years and the only noticeable difference is the slight difference in his nose shape. Although Ryan Gosling has never confirmed or denied any rumors about plastic surgery. However, it's also possible that his good looks are natural.

How long does it take for hyaluronic acid to wear off?

The expected permanence of HA fillers has been cited as up to 12 months,4, 7 with potential longer-lasting or permanent effects from stimulation of local collagen production.

How to calm purging skin?

It's recommended to keep your skincare routine to a minimum during skin purging. Aside from the new product that you're testing, stick to the skin-friendly products you've used before. Concentrate on your fundamentals, such as cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and SPF.

Why do I break out when I use hyaluronic acid?

While hyaluronic acid is a humectant it can draw wetness from deep layers of the skin if the bordering environment is as well completely dry. This can lead to a limited, dried-out skin surface area which can be bothersome for people with acne-prone skin.

Previous article
How to avoid hyperpigmentation after CO2 laser?
Next article
What is the most weight you can lose in a month?