HarmonyCa
What Is It?
HarmonyCa is a hybrid filler that combines two different substances in one product. You can think of it as a hyaluronic acid filler and calcium hydroxyapatite brought together in one structure. The two do different jobs on different timescales. Hyaluronic acid gives volume and support the moment it is placed. Calcium hydroxyapatite is a collagen biostimulator. It stimulates the cells in your skin we call fibroblasts and, over the following weeks, gets your skin producing its own collagen.
This two-stage action is why the product is called a hybrid. The first stage is the support effect you see on the day of treatment. The second is the collagen response that comes into play as the hyaluronic acid gradually dissolves.
How Is It Done?
We start with a facial analysis. We look at where the support points should be, which part of the face has lost volume and how thick the skin is. HarmonyCa isn’t considered suitable for thin areas close to the surface. We plan it for the deep support layer over the bone. So the choice of points is more limited than with other products.
We place it with a cannula or a needle into the deep layer we planned. We apply topical anaesthetic cream beforehand. The procedure takes about 30 minutes on average. Afterwards we may ask you to massage the area. This step matters for the product to spread evenly in the tissue, and you need to follow the instructions exactly. We usually plan a single session.
Who Is It For?
We offer it to patients with volume loss in the mid and lower face, whose skin has started to loosen, and who want both support and a tissue response. We usually choose it for patients over 35 whose skin is thick enough.
We don’t use it in very thin-skinned areas such as the under-eyes and lips, or for placement close to the surface. In advanced sagging we discuss surgical options. We don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an active infection in the area, in bleeding disorders, in uncontrolled autoimmune disease, with a history of keloids or excessive scarring, or with a known allergy to any of the product’s ingredients.
Process & Recovery
Facial analysis
We look at the support points, the area of volume loss and the thickness of the skin. We draw up the map of injection points with the deep layer in mind, since that is where this product goes. We take photographs for your record.
Treatment day
After the topical anaesthetic cream, we place the product in the deep layer we planned; it takes about 30 minutes. At the end we show you the massage that helps the product spread.
First 48 hours
Swelling, tenderness and bruising may occur. You need to do the massage exactly as we showed you, because the even spread of the product in the tissue depends on it. We advise against heat and strenuous exercise during these days.
Weeks 2-4
The swelling goes down and the support from the hyaluronic acid becomes clearly visible. We do the assessment at this stage.
Months 2-3
The collagen response comes into play during this period. Whether the support continues as the hyaluronic acid gradually dissolves depends on this stage. We do the second assessment here.
Results & Duration
We expect a result in two stages: the support effect you see on the day of treatment, and the collagen response that comes into play within 2-3 months. The final look becomes clear once the swelling settles, in 2-4 weeks on average.
The range generally reported is 18-24 months. This varies with your skin structure, the amount used and the area. The effect isn’t permanent and fades over time. We usually plan a single session. If the volume loss is marked, we can split the plan into two stages.
What Is Not Promised
HarmonyCa doesn’t replace a facelift and doesn’t gather up excess skin in advanced sagging. We don’t use it in thin areas close to the surface such as the under-eyes and lips, so it offers no solution for problems there. It also has no effect on pigmentation or the surface quality of the skin.
There is an important difference when it comes to reversing it. The hyaluronic acid part can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, just as other fillers are. There is no enzyme that dissolves the calcium hydroxyapatite part. Within the first two months we can reduce its density and volume effect by injecting saline where it was placed. Once three months have passed, it largely can’t be undone. That is why we plan the product choice and the amount more cautiously than with reversible products, and we discuss this openly at the consultation.
We don’t promise a particular look or duration.
Key Benefits
- Instant lifting
- Collagen stimulation
- Long-lasting effect
“I don’t rush with HarmonyCa. Once three months have passed, the calcium hydroxyapatite part largely can’t be undone, so “just a little more” doesn’t apply here. I use a small amount and wait, and if needed we add more later.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
How does HarmonyCa differ from ordinary filler?
Besides hyaluronic acid, it also contains calcium hydroxyapatite. The hyaluronic acid gives support straight away, and the calcium hydroxyapatite stimulates the skin’s own collagen production over the following weeks.
When will I see the result?
You see the support effect on the day of treatment, and the final look becomes clear 2-4 weeks later, once the swelling settles. The collagen response comes into play within 2-3 months.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported is 18-24 months. It varies with your skin structure, the amount used and the area, and it isn’t permanent.
Is it reversible?
Partly. The hyaluronic acid part can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. There is no such enzyme for the calcium hydroxyapatite part, and after three months it largely can’t be undone. That is why we plan the amount cautiously.
How many sessions are needed?
Usually a single session. If the volume loss is marked, we can split the plan into two stages.
Why is massage needed afterwards?
So that the product spreads evenly in the tissue. Following the instructions we show you exactly is important for avoiding problems caused by uneven spreading.
Can it be used under the eyes?
No. It is a product for the deep support layer over the bone. We don’t use it in thin areas close to the surface such as the under-eyes and lips.
Who is it not suitable for?
We don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an active infection in the area, or with bleeding disorders, uncontrolled autoimmune disease, a history of keloids or excessive scarring, or a known allergy to any of the product’s ingredients.