They call it glass skin: skin so hydrated, even and luminous that it seems to reflect light. It began as a Korean skincare trend, but the real, lasting version isn't achieved with creams alone — it's achieved by hydrating the dermis from within.
It's a common request at Dr. Sandro Florez's practice in Bogotá: patients who don't want to change their features or look worked on, but rather to recover a skin quality that makeup imitates and never replaces. And it's a reasonable request, because luminosity isn't simply a trait you're born with: it depends largely on the skin's hydration status, its texture and its ability to reflect light evenly.
What skin boosters are
They are microinjections of low-density hyaluronic acid (sometimes enriched with amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants) distributed superficially across the whole area being treated. Unlike a filler, they don't add volume: they raise the skin's level of deep hydration and improve its elasticity, texture and glow.
That difference is what causes the most confusion in consultation. A filler is placed at specific points and in deeper planes, with the intention of supporting or projecting a structure. A skin booster is spread across many small, superficial points and pursues a different goal: treating the skin as tissue, not as contour. That's why someone looking to change the shape of their face isn't actually looking for a skin booster, even if they arrive asking for one.
How it works
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule the skin itself produces, and it has a strong affinity for water. By depositing it superficially and evenly, the aim is for the dermis to work in a better-hydrated environment, and for that hydration to translate into what you see: elasticity, texture and glow. This is why the effect doesn't appear overnight or run its course in a single session; it builds progressively, and that's why it is planned as a scheme rather than as a standalone procedure.
The effect
Visibly plumper, more luminous skin, less noticeable pores, makeup that sits better and that rested look concealer can't deliver. The result is built over 2 or 3 sessions and is maintained with periodic touch-up reminders.
It tends to be a change the patient notices before anyone else, and that those around them read as "you look rested" without being able to point to what exactly changed. For many people that is precisely the goal: looking good without the treatment showing.
Where is it applied?
Full face, eye contour, neck, décolletage and hands. It's one of the favourite treatments before important events — and one of the most requested by patients who don't want to change anything about their face, only to look radiant.
Neck, décolletage and hands deserve a separate mention: they are areas that usually get less attention in the daily routine than the face, even though they are equally exposed. Treating them together with the face helps the result look coherent, avoiding a visible difference between one area and another.
Who it's for and who it isn't for
In well-selected patients, skin boosters tend to be a good option when the main complaint is dull, dehydrated or unevenly textured skin, and when the goal is to improve skin quality without modifying features. They also work as a complement within a broader plan of facial aesthetic medicine or anti-ageing.
They aren't for everyone. During the assessment the doctor reviews medical history, medication, skin condition and expectations, and may advise against or postpone treatment in situations such as active infection or a lesion in the area, clotting disorders, pregnancy and breastfeeding, a history of reactions to similar treatments, or expectations that don't match what the procedure can offer. Dr. Sandro Florez decides case by case, not by general protocol.
How it's done in consultation
Everything starts with the assessment: examining the skin, understanding what is bothering you and agreeing on a realistic goal. If the treatment is indicated, the session follows a straightforward order. The area is cleansed and prepared, the application points are defined according to each face's map, and the microinjections are performed in an evenly distributed way with very fine needles. Comfort measures, the number of points and the length of the session depend on the areas to be treated and on each patient; the doctor defines them before starting and explains them so no one reaches the treatment table with doubts.
What to expect afterwards
It's expected to see small papules or raised spots at the application points, some redness and, in some cases, an occasional bruise. These are transient changes that resolve on their own; the exact time varies from patient to patient and the doctor estimates it during the assessment. That's why it's best to schedule the session with room to spare before an event and not the night before: the treatment is a good ally for an important date as long as it's planned in advance.
Aftercare
- Avoid makeup over the area for as long as the doctor indicates.
- Don't rub or massage the treated points.
- Postpone sauna, steam room, intense exercise and direct sun exposure according to the instructions given.
- Keep up daily sun protection, which is what sustains the result over time.
- Maintain a simple, consistent cleansing and moisturising routine.
- Get in touch if increasing pain, local warmth or any sign that doesn't subside appears.
Smart combinations
Skin boosters are enhanced by polynucleotides (regeneration), microdosed botulinum toxin (texture) or biostimulators (firmness). In your assessment we design the exact combination for your skin type and your goal.
The order and the timing between procedures are also part of the plan: not everything is done on the same day, and there's no point stacking treatments without a thought-out sequence. Combining well usually gives better results than doing more.
When it is NOT the best option
If what really bothers you is marked laxity, volume loss or evident sagging, hydration won't solve it. In those cases it's worth looking at other tools within facial aesthetic medicine, anti-ageing or, in selected cases, plastic surgery. They are also not a treatment for active acne, melasma or rosacea, which need their own medical approach, nor do they replace daily skincare. A good treatment applied on the wrong diagnosis doesn't give good results.
A decision that starts with the assessment
Before talking about sessions, it's worth talking about diagnosis. If this option interests you, you can book your appointment with Dr. Sandro Florez in Bogotá (Calle 126 # 7-26, Torre 126 PH-1303) and review there whether skin boosters are what your skin needs or whether there's a more suitable path. You can also see the full picture in the treatments section.
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