I’ve always been afraid of needles.
Whenever I had my blood drawn or got a vaccine, I’d instinctively look away. It wasn’t the pain that unsettled me. It was the picture in my head—the piercing of skin. And when I gave birth, I found myself more anxious about the epidural than the actual labor.
Which is why, at 39, I had never tried any injectable beauty treatments despite being a beauty editor since my early twenties. Topicals, lasers, peels, ultrasound devices? All good for me. But anything that involved a syringe? I’d always say, “Maybe next time.”
And sure enough, that “next time” came when I started noticing a different version of myself in the mirror. A little more roughness and dryness across my cheeks. Gravity tugging gently at the corners of my lips and eyes. And my chubby cheeks—which helped make me look younger—slowly losing plumpness. I was turning 40, after all, but it still felt jarring to see the signs of aging appear almost overnight.
I realized then that I needed more than my usual routine, but I still wanted to keep things subtle. Nothing drastic or obvious—just a natural-looking glow-up that would last longer than the days I remembered to put on serum and highlighter.
And that’s how I finally dipped my toes into injectables with Galderma’s Glow On Treatment Program.
Mission: Glow Possible
I arrived at The Icon Clinic in Greenhills with a mix of curiosity and nerves. Dr. Eric Yapjuangco, better known as @docyappy, greeted me warmly, immediately putting me at ease. I confessed that this was my first ever experience with injectables, and he reassured me that there’s nothing to worry about. In fact, he said the pricking from a facial could actually hurt more. (Pricking, I could definitely handle—so I was relieved.)
The treatment itself, Glow On by Galderma, is a non-invasive program that pairs Restylane Skinboosters, which deeply hydrate and smooth the skin, with Sculptra, which works by stimulating collagen production. Together, they’re designed to restore firmness, improve texture, and give skin that healthy, lit-from-within glow. The changes would be natural-looking but significant—exactly what I was looking for.
A Two-in-One Treatment
The first half of the program is Sculptra, a regenerative biostimulator that encourages the skin to produce more of its own collagen and elastin. As we age, collagen naturally declines—both in quantity and quality—causing the skin to lose elasticity, which leads to visible wrinkles and fine lines. Sculptra, made with FDA-approved Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA-SCA), gradually helps rebuild that foundation by stimulating new collagen growth in as early as five days, with results that can last several months up to two years. This is ideal for skin that’s starting to lose firmness or show sagging, adding a subtle lift and giving a revitalized look.
The second half is powered by Restylane Skinboosters, an injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) treatment delivered through a series of microinjections. As a skin quality injectable, it works by deeply hydrating the skin from within—attracting and locking in moisture in the deeper layers. The effects: smoother texture, a lasting glow, and a fresher look that topical HA can’t instantly achieve. If you have dull, dehydrated skin with uneven tone or rough texture, this can help. Over time, it can also soften fine lines, minimize acne scars, and improve the look of sun-damaged skin.
Both products are by Galderma, the skincare giant behind some of the most trusted dermatology innovations worldwide.
Ready to Glow: The Procedure
There wasn’t much prep required for this treatment. I was simply advised to skip aspirin the day before (since it can thin the blood and increase the chance of bruising) and to avoid alcohol, which can have a similar effect.
The procedure itself would take less than an hour, but I needed to block off an extra 45 minutes to an hour for the application of Emla cream—a topical anesthetic that numbed the skin and made the process more comfortable. The whole face was also thoroughly cleansed as a first step.
Then came the actual injections. Aside from the numbing cream, Dr. Noviel Dominguez—the dermatologist who performed the procedure—also injected anesthesia into the upper cheek area, where she would begin the Sculptra injections. This part stung a bit, I admit.
For the Sculptra placement, she used a cannula—a flexible, blunt-tipped tool that glides beneath the skin. This makes it easier to distribute the product evenly while minimizing bruising and swelling. To my surprise, I barely felt any pain beyond the initial entry point. The sensation of the cannula moving under my skin was more unusual than uncomfortable, and I was grateful I couldn’t actually see it happening.
Sculptra was mainly injected into the sides of my cheeks, with the product spread out toward the under-eye area, down to the corners of the mouth, and along the jawline. In total, there were just four main entry points (two on each side of the face).
Once one side of my face was done, Dr. Dominguez moved on to administer the Restylane Skinboosters, which involved a series of microinjections across the cheeks and lower face. Because there were more needle pricks here, I felt a bit more discomfort—especially when the injections came close to the nose. Still, it was manageable. For comparison: Pricking usually brings me to tears, but for this, I only almost shed one. The product itself also had lidocaine infused in it, which helped. Dr. Dominguez then did the same procedure to the other side of my face.
There’s little to no downtime after the procedure—I was told I could go back to normal activities right away. Still, with the number of injections, my face showed swelling, redness, and tenderness, along with a bit of bruising at the injection points (like small pimple marks).
Dr. Dominguez also walked me through the “5-5-5” after-care ritual for Sculptra: massaging the treated areas for five minutes, five times a day, for five days. “This helps distribute the product evenly and prevents lumps from forming,” she explained. To complement the treatment, I was given a post-care regimen featuring the Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance line—gentle enough to soothe sensitive skin after injections. This included the Creamy Cleanser, Day Cream, Night Cream, Perfecting Serum, and Instant Radiance Mask.
The Skin Shift: The Changes I Noticed
By that evening, the swelling had already gone down significantly, though my face still felt tender. I started the facial massages that night and noticed tiny bumps at some injection points. Following instructions, I massaged outward and upward, helping spread the product. Honestly, I was paranoid about developing bumps, so I stuck to the routine religiously for five days—sometimes with my hands, other times with a gua sha.
The next morning, there was no more swelling or redness, just a few dark bruises on my cheeks, which completely faded by the second day.
In the days that followed, I noticed my skin feeling less dry, especially around the cheeks. It looked smoother too—likely thanks to the consistent massages. Even without makeup, my face didn’t look as tired as before.
Over a week later, I flew to Tokyo for a family trip. Between chasing after my two kids and averaging 20,000 steps a day, I barely had time to put on makeup. But when I saw myself in photos my husband took, I thought, Wait, something’s different. Even though I was exhausted, my face didn’t really look it.
By the second week (once back in Manila and finally more rested), the results became even clearer. My morning skin looked noticeably healthier and smoother. Before, I’d often wake up with dry, rough patches, but now it stayed soft and dewy—even without moisturizer.
As for lifting effects, it’s probably too soon to see dramatic changes, but I could already tell my face looked less haggard and more refreshed.
A Softer Take on Skin Rejuvenation
Looking back, I now find it funny how terrified I was of injectables when in reality, the experience wasn’t bad at all. It also felt humbling to finally admit that my skin was changing, and so it now needs more than my usual lineup of topicals and facials.
Aging gracefully, I realized, doesn’t mean going without science. It’s about accepting the stage you—and your skin—are in, while making space for care, confidence, and little choices that help you feel your best.
It’s only been three weeks, but I’m excited to see how this treatment continues to work on my skin. Beyond the results, I feel more open to exploring other gentle options to help me maintain a natural, lasting glow. At my age, I’m not chasing transformation—just subtle shifts that honor who I am while giving me the confidence to step into this new decade. If this resonates with you, exploring Galderma’s Glow On Treatment could be a great next step for you, too.
